Here's an interesting Army truck I picked up last month. I got two of these (one gold, one bronze) that the seller identified as Gilmark - I don't think so. It's not marked Gilmark and the plastic is a bit too much on the thin side for it to be Gilmark. Also, the original price sticker from F.W. Woolworth, Mexico leads me to believe it was made south of the border. That being said, if anyone knows whether or not Gilmark had factories down there (like Marx did) let me know. This is an unusual find in more respects as well. It's small size is compatible to Tootsietoy and Barclay diecast Army trucks, but if it is a modern era truck then the addition of twin AA guns on an Oldtimer chassis is in itself quite different. I like it a lot and it's a great addition to the fleet. The guns rotate and elevate and it measures 3 1/4" (8.25cm) L x 1 1/2" (3.81cm) W x 1 3/4" (4.44cm) H. Enjoy! Opa Fritz and Oma Bettina
Ed . . . these are fascinating - I have two (both on the blog ages ago . . . try 'Tudor Rose'), one of mine is marked Tudor Rose and has the little figures associated with TR, the other is metallic silver-blue, and ties-in with the space toys of Both Tudor Rose and Kleeware.
ReplyDeleteKleeware carried a fair bit of Pyro stuff, before being bought by TR - inheriting TR's moulds; TR carried on as a Trade supplier, using Kleeware as the retail brand.
TR had also carried a lot of US moulds under the mould-swapping that went-on while the import-tariffs (scrapped by Nixon I believe?) existed in that post-war period.
So . . . my guess is your green one is probably a Pyro original (possible Thomas or Banner etc...) and your gold one - either a Mexican copy, or a Mexican moulding from the original (Pyro? et al) mould? While my green one is definitely TR, the silver-blue one 'probably' Kleeware!
I must go now; I have the 3rd unit of my Nerding for Nerds course at 2.30!
H
Great info Hugh! ya know what though? I tried doing the search you suggested on your blog and cam up bupkiss. I do get Tudor Rose and will sort through those. I know about the mold swapping but wasn't aware of Kleeware's buyout by Tudor. In any case this was a cool find regardless of make :-)
DeleteApril 2009, there were several posts next to each other!
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ReplyDeleteHugh, I'll get with you off-line hopefully in the next day or so and try to figure this out :-) Gotta run.....
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