10 April 2018
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Trains and planes
Australia’s principal toy auction business, that of Trains, Planes and Automobiles, held a sale on 5 March and interest was again buoyant in the Antipodes.
Australia’s principal toy auction business, that of Trains, Planes and Automobiles, held a sale on 5 March and interest was again buoyant in the Antipodes.
A Corgi 420 Ford Thames Airborne Caravan, in two-tone mauve, had suffered a little paint loss and bore some scratches. Nonetheless described as good to very good, and in a good box, it sold for AUS$80 (about £45).
The Winna Bakelite Sports Car, in purple, was something rather different. Around 90mm long and in very good to excellent shape, this carried a very modest AUS$20-40 guideline. It aroused a lot of interest and finally sold for AUS$420 (£240). It was an Australian confection (so a rare sight in Europe); and apparently the winning bidder said that he would have just kept going, since he'd never seen purple Bakelite before…
Meccano also went under the hammer, and it just goes to prove the universal appeal this product has. A Meccano red and green No. 4 Set, appearing complete, came with instruction booklets and was in good condition with a very good box. It was bid to AUS$130 (£75). More interesting, though, was the Meccano pre-war biplane, in blue and white. Overall around 450mm, this large model aircraft was complete with propellers and pilot, although as is normal, it had suffered some paint loss and the rubber tyres were somewhat distressed. In all, a good to very good lot which just about cleared its lower reserve to achieve AUS$320 (£185).
Still on construction toys, the Buz Builder No. 8 Set (a what, I hear you ask? Buz was the Australian version of Meccano, but whether legitimate or not, I can’t say) appeared complete, and came with instructions. Again, very good in a good box, this fetched AUS$160 (£90).
Railway fans had a look in, too. A Kumata HO gauge brass NSWR Garratt 4-8-4 4-8-4 locomotive with Kadee couplings was an interesting lot. The auctioneer noted that the foam packaging had stuck to tender in some places and the loco came untested. In excellent condition and boxed, this achieved AUS$750 (around £425).
Finally, from Minimodels, was the 529 HO gauge NSWGR Sydney Suburban Red Rattler Set. Comprising motor coach, a dummy motor coach and two double deck trailers, with Kadee couplings, here was a real eyeful. Included were decal sheets and an historical leaflet. Again untested, it was in excellent condition and sold for a healthy AUS$460 (£260).