Famous Five cashes in
Talk of collectable tinplate robots to those in the know and the ardent collector will refer to Masudaya and the Japanese company’s legendary tinplate Gang of Five. These are highly sought after and seldom come up for sale. However, a recent Vectis auction included the Non-Stop Lavender Robot dating from 1959. Owned by the vendor from new, this 38cm high, lilac coloured example suffered only a loose head. Some minor spidering to the paintwork was also noted. Estimated to fetch £1,200-1,600, it was pursued to £1,800.
Other tinplate included a Bandai Cadillac with dashboard, a large scale battery operated vehicle in a two-door coupe format. The Japanese excel in the big US land barges and this one was finished in metallic gold with a tinprinted interior and hub caps. It came with a clean battery compartment and hadn’t lost the steering wheel and gear shift handle, although a wing mirror was absent. Boxed, it raised £312.
When someone coughs up over £1,500 for a Hornby Dublo three rail locomotive, it makes one pause for thought. The EDL7 0-6-2 GWR green tank loco No.6231 (with Duchess of Atholl number to the bunker sides) was a possible factory error, yet despite damage to the numbers on the bunker right side, minor corrosion to the handrail knobs on the smokebox and some paint loss to the smokebox door and the section below, it still aroused the railway contingent, who chased it to £1,560.
More down to earth (water?) was the Tri-ang Motor Lifeboat in white and blue. Described as excellent and in working order, with its correct Minic key, it came in a good illustrated box. Estimated at £30-40, the bidders knew better, and it sailed off to make £360.
On the Matchbox front, it was Superfast again that won the day, with a 4b Gruesome Twosome in metallic orange-gold with rare dark amber windows and a lemon yellow interior making the headlines. Complete with a “New" type H box, this went ten times over estimate to make £1,020.
Finally, Meccano is alive and well. A rare Electrical Outfit included the SECO accumulator, with nickel-plated electric motors stamped with “Meccano New York Made in USA”, four small boxes with lamp/lamp holders, insulating brushes and washers, nuts and bolts, together with screws and terminals and instructions in four languages. This rare and interesting set was elevated because it retained the oft-missing accumulator. The contents were contained in early leatherette style original box. Bidding was keen and the set realised £1,560. ■