11 December 2018
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This little lot had travelled a long way from home but found a safe haven for A$130.
The recent Trains, Planes and Automobiles auction in Australia threw up some interesting lots, as ever.
The recent Trains, Planes and Automobiles auction in Australia threw up some interesting lots, as ever. It must always be a source wonder to us Brits that some of our toys end up so far away...
The Britains diecast and tinplate Army Ambulance, complete with driver, stretcher and a wounded soldier, was a case in point. This example had been in the wars a bit, since it exhibited slight paint loss in some areas, and had a little rust on its roof. Classified thus as good to very good, it carried an estimate of A$200-400 but finally sold for A$190.
Another Britains lot was the Ref 2080 Royal Navy Set. This contained eight figures, to wit seven sailors marching with sloped weapons and an officer. In very good to excellent condition and in a very good original box, this delightful lot set the pace, trekking off to realise A$130, a little over the upper estimate.
On to railways and the large scale: a JEP O gauge SNCF bogie breakdown wagon was an interesting lot (how many French toys went to Oz?), and aside from a little scuffing on the roof, its paintwork was otherwise intact. Billed as very good, this desirable bit of rolling stock realised A$180.
On home ground, however, was a rare Australian O gauge 3 rail VR 4-6-2 locomotive and tender, the Matthew Flinders, bearing No.300 and finished in blue. This had come from the Bill Baker collection, and had been built by Alan Shorter of Phoenix Models. One of only two produced and presented in very good condition, this beauty whistled past its upper estimate of A$4,000 to achieve a creditable A$5,100.