Japanese tinplate treasures feature at Vectis auction

Vectis held a slew of auctions recently… In the 8 May sale, a Tri-ang Spot-On 217 Jaguar Type E in green, with a cream interior and grey steering wheel, and in a good carded picture box realised £312, over double its estimate. A stablemate, in the shape of a Tri-ang Spot-On Gift Set, including an Austin 1800 in red with a grey interior; a Morris 1100 in greyish-lilac, also with a red interior; and a Ford Zephyr in red with a grey interior, complete with a dinghy on a trailer. In excellent condition, its estimate of £240-280 was quickly passed, the set fetching £432. The other Tri-ang Spot-On model of note was the ever-popular London Transport Routemaster Bus with "Ovaltine" advertisements. In red and black, it was billed as good plus to excellent and had its box and leaflet present. This bus finally stopped at £480.

Some lovely tinplate has also found its way under the hammer. An ATC (Japan) large tinplate friction drive New Ford 2-door Sedan was quite a sight in turquoise, with a pale blue roof and rear wings. Some surface corrosion beneath the paint on the bonnet and right hand front wing was noted but that aside, it was reckoned to be a good scarce example in a card box with a colourful lid. Estimated at £100-150, this car sped off to achieve £408.

Also sold was an Asahi (Japan) large tinplate model of a 1962 Chrysler Imperial hard top. This is a highly sought after model, which was finished in black with tin printed detail to the interior and seating. Some cracking to the whitewall tyre inserts was evident but the friction drive was working. The car had been the subject of a high quality professional restoration and was the first such example that Vectis Auctions had seen. A reproduction box completed the lot which was contested to £4,320.

An impressive Tri-ang large pressed steel Thames Trader with articulated van trailer in dark blue and bearing the logo "Pickfords Removers & Storage" was another key lot. The Thames Trader tractor unit was wired for battery-operated headlamps and the trailer had working Scammell coupling gear with rubber jockey wheels, as well as opening twin rear doors with a locking bar. This example even retained its load of Spot-on furniture, namely a dining table, four chairs and sideboard, all of which were wrapped in greaseproof paper and with their individual box.  A near mint example within a good card box, it bore the original price label of 64s 6d (£3.23). Put at £200-300, originality won the day, and it made an astonishing £1,320.

Finally, a Matchbox Regular Wheels 6d Ford Pick-up Truck pre-production colour trial, in metallic jade, green certainly caught the eye. With a grey plastic grille, clear windows, ivory interior and a bare metal base (without the letter A cast to the rear of the central platform), the model was near mint, albeit unboxed. This sold for a creditable £816.