#933 FX SCHMID - SIGFRIED DIE NIBELUNGEN (60720) (1966)

There was a time in which big movie events were rare, really big movies that children were waiting for months to come, premiered only a couple of times per year. Among these superproductions, some even had merchandise produced to be sold in kiosks or toy stores. Nowadays, this is something very common.

Each country had their own favorite themes, many of them related to their historical epic events or literary works. In this case, Germany was looking back at "the Nibelungs", the German epic poem written around the year 1200. In 1966 and 1967 it was taken to the screen in two parts in a production of Constantin Films. The first part was Siegfried von Xanten and the second one Kriemhilds Rache.

This deck was done for the first movie from 1966, and is the classic card deck with 9 families, that when read in order explains the plot of the movie with one rather big picture and a short line of text in each card. I haven´t seen the movie, but the pictures are great, I guess it was a big success in Germany and Scandinavia.

There is a second deck for the second part of the movie, but I do not have it yet.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name:  SIGFRIED DIE NIBELUNGEN (60720)
• Year: 1966
• Company: FX Schmid (Germany)

#656 HUSKY - SEVERAL TRUCKS (From 1964 to 1966)

 

Husky is a brand from the Mettoy Company, the makers of Corgi model cars. We have talked about both Corgi and Husky before. Husky models were all in 3 inches size ("1:box" scale) and originally made exclusively for Woolworth´s in Great Britain, Canada and the United States. They were available in that supermarket chain between 1964 and 1969. However, some models were available in other countries from 1966 on. In 1969, after the Woolworth contract expired, the line was renamed "Corgi Juniors". Many models are available in two different versions that differ only in the logo on the base. Corgi was very popular in 1:43 scale, selling better than Dinky and other contemporary brands.

 

The bases of the different vehicles are mostly made of chromed plastic, although some were made in more robust metal, and originally with plastic grey/greenish wheels. These wheels were later modified for more durable metallic wheels with plastic tyres (see Guy Warrior Milk Tanker, Nr. 17-B2). Most models include windows and interiors, which is fine. The casting is quite good, but the durability is not the best. Another weak point is the suspension based on a plastic flap (in the plastic based models).

 

In 1969, shortly after Mattel´s Hot Wheels and the rename from Husky to Corgi Juniors, the "Whizzwheels" were introduced only in some models, which were more expensive than the "ordinary" series. The "fast" models were included in a series called "Corgi Rockets" that also included some tracksets, but from 1970 on, Corgi decided to mount Whizzwheels in all models, and shortly afterwards, the Corgi Rockets series was discontinued and the models released in the Corgi Juniors series.

 

The competition by Corgi to Hotwheels was successful and they got their own piece of cake. Hot Wheels lost a lot of market share and also started downgrading some features to be able to sell cheaper and cheaper.

 

10-A1 Guy Warrior Coal Truck

25-A1 S & D Refuse Truck

 

 

 

 

17-A1 Guy Warrior Milk Tanker (Oval)

17-B1 Guy Warrior Milk Tanker (Squarish) (only model with 2-component wheels)

 

 

11-A2 Land Rover Forward control

29-A1 ERF Truck (Cement Mixer)

 

 

 

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: 10-A1 Guy Warrior Coal Truck, 11-A2 Land Rover Forward control, 17-A1 Guy Warrior Milk Tanker (Oval), 17-B1 Guy Warrior Milk Tanker (Squarish), 25-A1 S & D Refuse Truck and 29-A1 ERF Truck (Cement Mixer)
• Year: 1964, 1965, 1966
• Company: Husky (Great Britain)
• Size: Around 7 cm
• Scale: Around 1:100 (trucks)

#464 NOMURA – SPACE ROCKET SOLAR X (1966)

This rocket toy is quite a famous one. It was produced in Japan by Nomura a few years before the first moon landing, in 1966.

The rocket is made of lithographed tin with some plastic parts, and contains some electronics inside. The bottom part of the rocket contains a compartment for one battery, that runs a bump-and-go motor, flashing lights (in the nose cone and the afterburner), siren and also some kind of “foot” or lever that rises the rocket as if it was about to take off. The wings also extend or fold depending on if its moving or taking off.

This interesting mechanism has made the Nomura rocket a very sought-after toy. One of these working and in good condition can go over 300 or 400 US$, especially if it comes with the box.

Unfortunately many used models can be found with a broken mechanism or rust in some parts of its body. Batteries in the 60s and the 70s were not as good as they are now, and if they were forgotten inside of toys, they might end up exploding and releasing corrosive acid that would destroy tin. In the toy you see here there is a small defect on the lower part of the toy.

My model is only missing a small black plastic cap. It was intended to protect the nose cone while in the box.

The model (produced in 1966 or 1968, depending on the source), seem to be inspired by the Thunderbird 1, a rocket that appeared in the TV series “The Thunderbirds” by Gerry Anderson (from 1965). As a matter of fact, the toy was designed with a big number one, but it was pulled out of production because of the copyrighted design of the Thunderbird 1. Then it was produced with numbers 7 (second version) or 8. The version with the “8” is a later version with a new lithography design and a new box. This later model features a NASA logo.

 

Here can be seen some catalogue (1971) images of the Solar-X “8” rocket as well of images of a similar rocket that was equipped with a friction motor instead of an electric one, the Lunar-7.
http://danefield.com/alpha/forums/topic/14756-1971-tulip-head-topolino-robotank-z-mini-robotank-by-nomura/

Here a Nomura catalogue from 1969:
http://danefield.com/alpha/forums/topic/15085-nomura-1969/

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: SOLAR-X “7”
• Year: 1966
• Company: Nomura (Japan)
• Size: Around 45 cm.

#363 INTERNATIONAL PAYÁ vs. MATCHBOX - VARIOUS MODELS (Around 1968)

“International Payá” was the die-cast line in 1:64 scale made by Payá, the famous Spanish toymaker from Ibi (Alicante). There were more than 50 references made in the last 60s or the early 70s, and most of them are copies from Lesney’s Matchbox.

B.R.M. F1 and LOTUS F1 (2 models)

One of the most important collectors of this particular brand is Miguel Pascual Laborda, who in www.autoescala.net published a list of all known Payá International models, taking as a reference his own collection, cardbacks, catalogues and everything he could find. The list is the following:

2102 - Lotus Formula 1
2103 - B.R.M. Formula 1
2104 - Chevrolet Impala
2105 - Cadillac Ambulancia
2106 - Ford Galaxie (Jefe Policia)
2107 - Ford Galaxie (Jefe Bomberos)
2108 - Camión Volquete
2109 - Fiat 1500
2110 - Ferrari Berlineta
2111 - M.G. 1.100
2113 - Microbús Mercedes
2115 - Camioneta auxiliar
2116 - Ford GT40
2117 - Seat 124
2118 - Mercedes 280 SL
2119 - Ferrari P5
2121 - Seat 600 D
2124 - Seat 850 Coupé
2130 - Simca 1.000
2131 - Renault R-8
2132 - Citroën Dyane 6
2133 - Road Master
2134 - Ferrari 312 Formula 1 (NM)
2139 - Barreiros Volquete (NM)
2140 - Barreiros S-42 Volquete (NM)
2141 - Pegaso Volquete (NM)
2143 - Jeep
2144 - Barreiros Caja (NM)
2145 - Barreiros Industrias Lácteas (NM)
2146 - Barreiros Maderas (NM)
2147 - Barreiros Correos (NM)
2148 - Barreiros Congelados (NM)
2149 - Pegaso Caja (NM)
2150 - Pegaso Toldo (NM)
2151 - Pegaso Ganado (NM)
2152 - Pegaso Frigorífico (NM)
2153 - Pegaso Mudanzas (NM)
2154 - Barreiros S-42 Caja (NM)
2155 - Barreiros S-42 Abonos Químicos (NM)
2156 - Barreiros S-42 Construcciones (NM)

(NM) indicates that the model is Not Marked on the base as International Payá. These model are all trucks (Pegaso oder Barreiros) plus the Ferrari 312 Formula 1.

All these models were die-cast made. A few models were also made in plastic, those were intended for special racetracks, and were equipped with some kind of wind-up mechanism (I’ll show this racetrack in a future entry).

LOTUS F1 (Matchbox / International Payá)

Vehicles were available in two models of blister cards, being one larger than the other. There are some very rare promotional sets as well: the most complete and famous of these sets were promotional giveaways from a washing powder brand “Skip”. There were 4 sets of 3 cars and a few traffic signs each.

Some of these models were copied from casts made by Matchbox. Other models are not 1:1 copies, but have some differences. In my case, I only have models which are copies from Matchbox, as you can see in the pictures.

CADILLAC AMBULANCE (Matchbox / International Payá )

The condition of the cars varies from one to the other, but they’re all quite worn. Note that the chassis is made in all models except the formula 1s in plastic, so the durability is more limited, than if it was full die-cast made. Paintwork is also not that good; all cars have many chips, probably because of a mixture of bad storage and playtime. Even carded models present sometimes different kinds of problems like paint damage, plastic chassis about to crease and break… definitely, they were not made with the high quality standards that the company applied in its other toys. No matter what, they’re super-rare models, so difficult to find. And even if they’re not mint, they’re very sought-for collectibles.

FORD GALAXY (Matchbox / International Payá)

The models with the lower reference numbers seem to be easier to find than the later ones. Probably, these were available during a longer period of time, and sold more units than the higher reference numbers. It is unknown to me, in which year was each reference available. Maybe in the future, we will be able to find this out.

CAMIÓN VOLQUETE Ref. 2108 (International Payá)

DUMPER TRUCK (Matchbox) / CAMIÓN VOLQUETE (International Payá)

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: PAYÁ INTERNATIONAL: LOTUS F1 (Ref. 2102), B.R.M. F1 (Ref 2103), CADILLAC AMBULANCIA (Ref. 2105), FORD GALAXIE JEFE BOMBEROS (Ref. 2107) and CAMIÓN VOLQUETE (Ref. 2108)
• Name: MATCHBOX: LOTUS RACING CAR (Nr. 19D), S&S CADILLAC AMBULANCE (Nr. 54B), FORD GALAXIE (Nr. 59C), DUMPER TRUCK (Nr. 48C)
• Scale: 1:64 (approx.)
• Year: Payá International: Around 1970
• Year: Matchbox: 19D and 54B (1965-1970), 59C and 48C (1966-1970)
• Company: Payá International (Spain) Matchbox (G. Britain)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm