Toy Caravans.

A Photo History of any caravan related items from camping gear to toys.
Richard
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Toy Caravans.

Post by Richard »

Toy Caravans
Tin van25.jpg
An Arcade brand cast iron caravan from the 1930's, with rubber tires and the name The Covered Wagon printed on the top.The caravan is about 150mm long and 50mm wide.

Tin van43.jpg
Schuco mobile home.Made in Germany in the mid 1950's, and is about 250mm long.

Tin van66.jpg
Automec Carlight caravan DIY kit.

Tin van67.jpg
Dinky No 30G pre-war caravan.

Tin van68.jpg
Berlina Car and Caravan set. about 300mm long.

tootsietoy roamer.jpg
tootsietoy roamer1.jpg
1940's Tootsietoy Roamer caravan.
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
griffin
Posts: 942
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:13 pm

Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by griffin »

"MATCHBOX" No. 23 and 74.
These illustrations are from the "MATCHBOX" Collector's Catalogue for 1965.
No. 23 has popped up on ebay selling for about $30 but I've not seen the commercial van No. 74. I don't think I had either in my collection years ago and I still don't have them but the price list on the catalogue for 1965 shows them as 3/6 each, I think that converts to 72 cents in today's money :!: Mind you I saw a catalogue for sale in an antique shop the other day for $35 :o
Matchbox No 23 - 1965.jpg
Matchbox No 74 - 1965.jpg
George
griffin
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Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:13 pm

Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by griffin »

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Powerhouse Museum Annex at Castle Hill (a Senior's Week activity on this occasion :o :o - I suppose at least I've lived long enough to become one :roll:) and as part of the upstairs permanent display they have a cabinet of tin plate toys. I'd seen the display on previous visits but hadn't noticed a very nice Gt. Britain made Mettoy brand caravan. It is labelled as c1945 and was no doubt available in Australia, it even has rubber tyres and an opening lantern roof. It is quite large being about 25cm overall length and has a simple wire hook for a draw bar.

These are a couple of photos of it, taken without flash due to their restrictions :(
Tinplate Mettoy toy caravan - front-c.JPG
Tinplate Mettoy toy caravan - rear-c.JPG
George
griffin
Posts: 942
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:13 pm

Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by griffin »

This Tri-ang Minic Caravan and Vauxhall Cabriolet was a recently unsold item on ebay, at a starting price of 260 English quid I'm not surprised.
Given it's a 1934-6 BX Vauxhall the caravan looks pretty stylish as do the wheels on both models. As far as I know this is a clockwork model car so it would be fun to have it trundle around the table top with van in tow.
Although it was brand new and still in the original box and a Vauxhall I wasn't tempted, well I was a little, but I got over it given the exchange rate.
Nice item though.
Minic Caravan and Vauxhall model.jpg
Minic Caravan and Vauxhall model.jpg (16.13 KiB) Viewed 4453 times
Minic Caravan & Vauxhall box.jpg
Minic Caravan & Vauxhall box.jpg (29.41 KiB) Viewed 4453 times
George
Richard
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Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by Richard »

Hi George.
A couple of car and caravan combos that caught my eye. :D :D
Not the quality tin construction of the last 2 posted but I still like the style.
These two are reproductions, with the originals being sold in Dime stores in America. Or as we would probably call it now a Two Dollar shop. ( damn inflation.)
Dime store 1.jpg
Dime store 2.jpg
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
griffin
Posts: 942
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:13 pm

Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by griffin »

At last I saw a Matchbox 'Refreshments' caravan on ebay, like the one posted previously from the Matchbox catalogue. It was brand new and boxed and after considerable bidding it sold for A$164, so it looks like I'll never own one of them at that rate! However, another sold only a few weeks earlier, attached to a Vauxhall Victor no less, it appeared to be in good condition and unboxed and sold for only A$12.80, BUT I forgot to place a bid!
Some photos of the real thing.
$164 July 2012 b.jpg
$164 July 2012 b.jpg (41.13 KiB) Viewed 4302 times
$164 July 2012.jpg
$164 July 2012.jpg (29.42 KiB) Viewed 4302 times
$164 July 2012 a.jpg
$164 July 2012 a.jpg (20.69 KiB) Viewed 4302 times
George
griffin
Posts: 942
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:13 pm

Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by griffin »

A bit more action on ebay recently with caravan models. This one was listed as a Dinky combination, the car is a 1934 Big Six Vauxhall and the van has a matching colour scheme. It sold for A$510 back in December and attracted 29 bids, I wasn't one of the bidders :roll:
1930s Dinky $511- 29 bids Dec 2012.jpg
1930s Dinky $511- 29 bids Dec 2012.jpg (22.7 KiB) Viewed 4199 times
Maybe I should buy the models, a lot cheaper and take up far less space.

George
Richard
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Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:01 pm
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Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by Richard »

This little toy vintage caravan and car combo was mad by the Cleveland Toy Manufacturing Co of England. It is a rare little model and sold for around $315.00 :o :o
Toy Vintage  Caravan 1.jpg
Toy Vintage  Caravan 2.jpg
Toy Vintage  Caravan 3.jpg
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
griffin
Posts: 942
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:13 pm

Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by griffin »

Here's a couple of old newspaper advertisements for model caravans. The first from The Advertiser (Adelaide) 26-10-1937 was offering suggestions for Christmas presents. There was no description of the make, material or price given.
1 The Advertiser (adelaide) 26-10-1937.jpg
1 The Advertiser (adelaide) 26-10-1937.jpg (32.61 KiB) Viewed 3981 times
The second is from the same paper 25-11-1938 and was again offering Christmas suggestions but this time some more detail about the item is given. I like the fact they were described as 'crash' proof, things must have changed by the time I started getting such things for Christmas. My brother and I generally had our tin plate cars from Grandma in ruin by the end of Christmas Day! Nice style caravan though.
Toy caravan - The Advertiser (Adelaide) 25-11-1938 Miller Anderson store.JPG
Toy caravan - The Advertiser (Adelaide) 25-11-1938 Miller Anderson store.JPG (47.52 KiB) Viewed 3981 times
George
Richard
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Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:01 pm
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Re: Toy Caravans.

Post by Richard »

Joshua and I were out shopping the other day and we ended up in the Kmart toy section.
I was very excited to come across a toy vintage style car and caravan, then sadly disappointed when I couldn't find one in blue. I was told that they only come in pink, so anyone out there with a daughter may be able to buy one for them at around $40.00 which is fairly cheap compared to ( although more popular ) Sylvanian Families caravan which can fetch double the price.
Woodzeez.JPG
Sylvanian.jpg
ourtouringpast.com THE vintage caravan restoration website
and home of The National Caravan Museum.
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