Desde hace algo más de 8 años el equipo de diseño de Matchbox escoge a un miembro destacado de la comunidad de coleccionistas de Matchbox para ser su embajador (Ambassador), una especie de portavoz de Matchbox en la comunidad. La persona elegida recibe información directamente de Matchbox sobre futuros productos, información que luego puede divulgar escribiendo los Ambassador Reports. A su vez estos embajadores tienen la misión de recibir preguntas de los coleccionistas y enviárselas al equipo de Matchbox, el cual responderá a alguna de ellas. El Ambassadorincluye luego las respuestas a las preguntas de los coleccionistas en alguno de sus Ambassador Reports. Como mandar preguntas a Nigel Cooper y el equipo de diseño de Matchbox:
Ha de quedar claro que enviar una pregunta no tiene garantizado que se responda, ya que el equipo de Matchbox está recibiendo preguntas de varios sitios diferentes. Y a veces puede responder a una pregunta diciendo que no puede dar información sobre ese tema. Pero la forma de que vuestras preguntas sean respondidas es hacer buenas preguntas, ¡y para ello necesito vuestra colaboración! * El foro uno64 se reserva el derecho de modificar ligeramente la pregunta en el proceso de traducción para eliminar aquellas partes de la misma que puedan resultar molestas u ofensivas para Nigel cooper y/o el equipo de diseño de Matchbox. No se eliminarán críticas si son constructivas. Desde aquí se pide a todo el que quiera mandar preguntas que intente ser educado para dar así una buena imagen de los coleccionistas españoles de Matchbox. |
A message from the new Matchbox Ambassador, Nigel Cooper...Dear Fellow Collector, It was a great surprise to me to be offered the post of Matchbox Ambassador for the forthcoming year and I would like to thank all those people who have made it possible. I hope that if I can do half as well as previous incumbents of this post, then it will be an achievement. I am relying heavily on previous Ambassadors for technical help but I will be pleased to hear from all collectors with suggestions, comments and complaints! I was heartened when I saw the list of email recipients to see so many familiar addresses and I look forward to corresponding with you. No method of communication will please all collectors but different groups and message boards have different systems and so I intend to use the John Lambert/David Tilley (LAMLEY) link that everyone can use to instantly read all information and look at photos of forthcoming models. I have been given this list as a start and I would ask that if you have contacts that you forward my introduction on to them please. Please send me details of any other collectors who you think should receive this introduction. To those of you who I have not yet had the pleasure to correspond with I think I should give you some indication of my "Matchbox" background, not least to show how passionate I am about Matchbox and how keen I am to help move the famous brand forward. I have been seriously collecting since the mid-1970s and was one of the earliest members of UK Matchbox magazine that started in 1977. I attended the Macungie Swapmeet and the Matchbox Conventions in the US from 1980. In 1985 the "Model Collector" magazine was launched. As I had written articles for Matchbox USA and UK Matchbox magazines, I was asked to be the resident writer for Matchbox models and I have held that role ever since. I write the Matchbox Price Guide which is a large section of the publication. In 1985 I was invited to visit the Thailand factory on behalf of Matchbox. In 1988 the famous MICA publication, "Matchbox - The First Forty years" was published. I wrote much of the Early Lesney history and all of the regular wheel chapter. I visited Jack Odell and the Lesney factory several times and was even invited to Les Smith's home to talk about Matchbox. In the past twenty years I was commissioned to write a detailed article in a Japanese magazine and I have written numerous articles for the MICA magazine, the MICA ebook and the MICA Annual as well as the Model Collector and Diecast Collector magazine. I have also written a price guide for Ramsey's Model Car Price Guide. I currently market a CD with a comprehensive Superfast wheels listing of every known variation issued between 1969 and the present. I realise that many decisions which are taken regarding Matchbox miniatures at Mattel are often the result of communication between many individuals and committees and often compromise is the order of the day. Long gone are the days when Jack Odell took all decisions regarding the range, sometimes on a whim, but they were decisive enough to give all of us a love of the brand and so many of the models. I can only pass on information and views both ways and know that my comments will be read by Dave, Michael, Andrew and the rest of the Matchbox team. My views on a model will, for the most part, be just as forthright as yours and rest assured that I will convey opinion to the team. However, we have to remember that Matchbox Toys are just that - toys for children and the company exists to make a profit and serve its shareholders. Jack Odell continually told me that all collectors are mad. Maybe we are, but there is so much enjoyment to be shared as we enjoy this madness! Kind regards to all of you Nigel Cooper |
September 8 Matchbox Ambassador Update, by Nigel Cooper...Ambassador Report 3 Thank you again for your responses. Keep them coming. I can take both comment and criticism! Although most collectors deduced correctly that the colour schemes for last weeks models were those for 2014, I may have caused a little confusion with the red Ambulance because the 2013 version is the orange and white version which had been shown previously. The three Police models could appear in the same set. I have forwarded many of your questions to Mattel but await their reply together with photos of new items as indicated below. I have received your messages that were sent while I was on vacation last week. We all have returned from the Labor day holiday today so I have been digging thru my 278 e-mail messages. Please let me review these latest batch of questions for your next report. We also have photographed the latest ton of sample images which should be very exciting.I will digest this latest batch. I do have two models to show you in the form of MB-31 Amphiflyer (MB890), a new casting, which may also be known as Coast Guard Hovercraft and MB-99 Desert Thunder V16 (MB712), a recolour. Many collectors felt that the first Hovercraft to join the miniature range in 1972 was of far too small a scale in comparison to the rest of the series, though it was a reasonable copy of the Hovercraft SRN6. However, the real vehicle quickly became the most produced and successful hovercraft design in the world. The miniature version must have sold well as it remained in the range for seven years in the same colour scheme and only minor modifications. It was even produced in the Super Kings range in 1974 and a second miniature version was released in 1977, which shared the same base design. A pre-production version of MB72 was shown in the catalogue and an interesting blister card is shown below together with some pre-production examples of the MB 2 Hovercraft. Of course there have been Hovercrafts in the range recently and it is interesting to see how Matchbox Hovercrafts have evolved over the years. The Desert Thunder has undergone a variety of colour schemes since its introduction and this design is certainly eye-catching. RESPONSES I have been overwhelmed by the number of responses on various websites and sent to me personally. I appreciate that you may have read some of these but here is a sample of comments relative to my previous report. I've translated your recent two reports into Chinese and shared with my colleagues. If you don't object, I will continue my translations. I have a question which other members may also have. I noticed that some newly issued 2013 copyrighted models, the new MB878 Jeep 4x4 for example, have a new Matchbox logo style. It looks like the old Lesney italic logo without frame during mid-1970s and early 1980s, but interestingly the registered symbol "R" and its circle is replaced with "TM". As I know, "Matchbox" is a registered trademark owned by Mattel, and it should be with "R" instead of "TM". Only some creative/non-authentic models such as the "MBX Coupe" will have a "TM" beside the name in honor of its intellectual property. Hence, I don't understand why Mattel changed it for the 2013/2014 new tools or retools. Is it a mistake? Thanks,Lingyun - China I just re looked at the models and noticed the ambulance has "Matchbox Tri-County Department" on the shield, wouldn't something like "Matchbox Tri-County Fire Department" or just "Matchbox Fire Department" make more sense? Our local Rural King store just got in a large batch of RWR's including the Fire Stalker. They have a fairly large amount of other matchbox as well. I don't know if other Rural King stores are the same though. They're priced at $5 each. No Mission Force sets though. Oh, as far as the cement mixer goes, I wish I had bought one or two of those when they were in stores... of course, I would've been too young to even know they existed back then, let alone have money to spend on them... I look at photos of them today and think it has what I most like about diecast toys, it is a realistic MODEL of something that is real (and that I have used throughout my life, even as recently as this summer). That, to me, is what makes Matchbox (and much of the HW line) worthy of constant trips to stores and constant deductions from my billfold. It is nice to see the response from Mattel on different items. I can see where business on their end and a hobby on our end, have to meet in the middle. I appreciate the thought going into the end product like the F-100 vs some crazy graphics nobody wants. Keep up the good work. First off, I'm very fond of the new decos on the 3 emergency models shown, but even with these nice graphics I'll agree with others that it would have been nice to have the Explorer in a more stock body style. I didn't realize any of what Mattel shared about the SKU's and recolors, and I guess the Mbx team is limited because of this........It's always interesting to learn how these things work. I am with you on RWR's. I'm upset to see them go, and this does bring up a burning question that I have. Will Mission Force Sets have a price decrease? RWR's retailed at a price of $3.99 at Target/Wal-Mart originally, so that was their true retail price. However, the RWR is now being replaced with two mainline models, each retailing at $0.97 each. So, there's a $2 loss in value. Will this be deducted from the final cost? And when will another store, preferably Target or Wal-mart, pick up these sets again? Like you said, Nigel, they are way too expensive at Kohl's. $15 is too much. They retailed originally at Target and Wal-Mart for $9.99, their true retail price. I am really looking for an answer to this quibble. We should have a price decrease on these! It is interesting to hear about SKU's. Thanks for the info. I'll bring up another burning question I have, somewhat relative to this. Why are 5-packs continuing with the 4 5-packs having only basic 1/120 models and the other 8 with 1 basic 1/120 model for 2014? Originally, Matchbox said this was to make room for the 60th Anniversary Series. But, like I knew it was going to happen, it stayed in 2014 even though there is NO collector line or any new series. Why can't we have all exclusive 5-packs again? Did the SKU number drop from 2013 to 2014? As for the retooling I will wait till I see the changes to pass judgement on most of them but I can say that the Dennis Sabre should definitely be left alone, swapping a diecast body for plastic is just not on and is more evidence of the destruction of what used to be the "greatest name in diecast" surely it would be better for Mattel to take a stance against Wal-Mart or whomever is dictating their prices and say enough is enough, we can no longer cheapen our product to meet a ridiculous price point. The quality must rise and so must the price, the rest of the world is paying a higher price for Matchbox than those in the USA and it is time they come in to line with the rest of us and accept a higher price. I went to Hamleys yesterday, went up to the fourth floor, and there was a separate Matchbox display, Wow! I thought. Then I had a good look and there were no 60thanniversary models at all and of the four sides of the display , only 3 were Mattel goods. Hamleys had used one side to put some crappy RC models in. Sadly the Hotwheels display was vastly better, with an illuminated display case with loads of unboxed models. Reminded me of a MB display from the 70s. Both MB and HW models were £3 a pop! (Thats $4.50 each to our US cousins!!) I just photographed a bunch of MATCHBOX FEP vehicles this week (final 2013 and a few 2014) so our new Ambassador will be receiving them by next week I imagine. Patience certainly is a virtue! Lol! (not arrived as yet!). On a totally different topic, ... I am currently working on the decoration for the final 9/10 pack exclusive vehicle - anyone have a suggestion on what color to make the body? Damn, what a tease! The color has already been selected and I am just now putting the final touches on it. Maybe a hint is in order.... I was inspired by a Brush Fire Truck I saw parked in the parking lot at the Albuquerque convention back in July. I am NOT referring to the Orange "BEAST" parked in front of the hotel lobby. Peg Warmers and Rare as Hens teeth This has proved more difficult than I imagined as some describe the Peg Warmers as Cadillac CTS Wagons and Fisker Karma with reports as far away as Wales and New Zealand. Others have said that the Fisker in particular flies off the shelves. I never did find the Fargo Police Interceptor from 2011, as was the same as the black & white police Buick issued last year. The 100th Anniversary Pierce seems to be a hot seller as well, at least I'd only ever seen one on the pegs. And actually, most every emergency issue seems to do sell out fairly fast, some a little slower, but most go quick, and few if any have ever warmed pegs for months at a time. The slow stuff, well the Coyote, as mentioned, each and every version has been slow. Some stores still have Coyote 200/300/500 or whatever the real designation is from about two years ago or more, hanging around and not even being sold for "half off" when offered. I wonder just what Mattel sees in the model that brought another recolor into the latest batch (K?)... but then, maybe around these parts ORVs are so commonplace that an imaginary toy can't compete with reality, so they don't sell. (The most common ORVs that I see around here are Jeeps and 4-wheeler ATVs, so maybe that's why the Coyote is a shelf loser... even kids don't see it as a "real" off-road vehicle.) As far as peg-warmers go: Coyote 500. MASSIVE peg-warmer. We STILL have 2012 Coyote's hanging on the pegs at my local Target. At least 5 of them. And, at my local Stop & Shop, there are several 2012 mainlines hanging on the pegs and even the 2011 mainlines! It is a horrid seller. It may have to do with the designs, but I really believe that it has to do with the model itself. As far as hot-sellers; I'd have to say that most of the 4x4 stuff shoots out like a rocket. I hate to say it, but its true. It's actually been super easy to grab Ghia's around here. They stay longer than the Dump Dozer does. Much to my surprise the Dump Dozer flies off pegs and the VW Type 34 Karmann Ghia that debuted in 2013 remains on the pegs. Matchbox Video Finally I received an email from Dirk including a very interesting youtube Matchbox video. He said I could use the video in my report. He had bought an old super 8 movie and transferred it to a digital format. He likes the Uncle Sam part!! Cast your mind back to a time when Matchbox advertisements were like this:http://youtu.be/O5Ie8XlooH0 I understand there will be a Code 1 model at the Leipzig Show. It is a limited edition like last years Seagrave and comes in crystal case. Collectors can get it at the fair ground (all infos on http://www.modell-hobby-spiel.de/) or later in the www.moyshop.de. The models associated with previous Leipzig shows from the 1-75 series are:
Next week I hope to have more photographs and I promise not to ramble on so much. Nigel Cooper September 2013 |
September 23rd Matchbox Ambassador Update, by Nigel Cooper...Ambassador Report 5 Not all collectors were thrilled with the Skybusters and to a lesser extent the Motor Cycles shown last time, but overall there were plenty of positive comments. As we all have different interests and tastes, many collectors just buy what they like. There are still many collectors who collect every miniature issued and I know of two collectors who collect everything with the name of Matchbox somewhere on the packaging. This model is a new casting for 2014 and goes under the name ofMound Mover. Shown here are four models from the 2014 Crime Squad 5 pack. The SWAT truck will also be used in the main line. I like the Buick (MB858) and I think a fabulous decoration job was done on the Convention Fire Chief. However, I would have preferred this Police version to have had its plastic parts chromed. Do you think it matters? The Sport SUV (MB568) has bold print and may be appealing in this livery. I suppose that the only way to get blue roof lights is to make the windows blue. The Road Raider (MB895) has red windows and roof lights and off-road type wheels. The SWAT Truck (MB830) is the fourth of these models and it will be interesting to see which model makes up the set. A second SWAT truck will be released in 2014 with a different decoration as a member of the Mission Force Police pack. This looks to be in dark grey rather than black. These 3 vehicles are part of the exclusive models for the 9/10 packs. The Opel Frogster returns in green as does the Morgan Aeromax (MB754) in a pleasing shade of metallic blue. The Batmobile (MB844) appears in matt black. This next model shown is one of 3 exclusive vehicles that will be used in an upcoming Matchbox play set for 2014. This is one of the few exceptions where exclusive decoration is created for a play set. Most collectors were relieved when exclusive models were not to appear in play sets. It is an expensive way to obtain just one model. In addition, it is not uncommon to see sets, sometimes the large and expensive sets, to be ripped apart by a collector who must have the model but does not want to pay a premium. Questions to Mattel I have been implored to ask whether the Porsche Panamera will return for 2014, whether a Raft Boat or Trailer of some description could be included in the standard range, whether a Cement Truck or Crane Truck in an authentic design could join the range, whether any or all of the new Jaguar cars, Rolls Royce, Bentley and Mercedes Benz could be made. Reference is made not only to the sister brand which is issuing models better suited some would argue, to the Matchbox line, but also to other companies of low cost models manufacturing authentic models. One imagines that the target audience for all of these models is the same. Yes: the Panamera returns in 2014 as one of the exclusive models in the 9/10 packs. No to the Bentley and the Mercedes Benz. We are also having issues with Jaguar and Land Rover at the moment which will delay their use in the 2014 Range. For 2014 we will have the Sea Spy (Raft Boat) which was shown at the Gathering in July . We will also have the Rapids Rescue, which is a truck with detachable raft. This is still in progress. A look back in time It is sad that there are currently no plans to include Mercedes in the range. I thought that those collectors who yearn for a Mercedes to join the range, might at least be heartened by what Matchbox has produced in the past of the famous German car manufacturer. Here is a model from the 1970 range fitted with Superfast wheels with opening doors and opening boot (trunk) with a metal body and base, which was sold for the regular price of all other miniatures in the 1-75 range. Just as todays models, it was designed for children to play with and then there was no collector base to placate. A selection of some other Mercedes cars are also shown here as pre-productions, indicating that it was once an important marque in the Matchbox line-up. Finally, a glimpse of a manufacturer we can all recognize the famous Aston Martin, still made in Britain, but not owned by us! This will be a popular model I am sure but the question has been asked about the 2014 Hot Wheels Aston Martin 1963 DB5 which none can deny is a fabulous casting with detailed front and rear, a license plate, painted front and rear lights and the Aston Martin logo near the front grille all that as a regular model in the standard line. It looks so good apparently that it could have been designed by a former Matchbox designer. Post script - Most of you are aware of a novel idea instigated by Jim Gallegos and Mattel. The idea is for a Matchbox Land Rover to travel as far as possible around the world. It may be followed on Facebook under Mattel Landy Travels. It may also be tracked on SEARCH on Matchbox Collectors Forum. If you want to participate: 1) Email your name and full mailing address to Bill at landytravels@gmail.com 2) Agree to a 2 week turnaround in which you will mail the Landy and the Passport. at your expense to the next address which we will provide. 3) Agree to post pictures on the Facebook page Mattel Landy Travels as soon as your visit is over. Obtain a post mark if possible and sign the Passport. 4) Have fun. Anyone can participate. 5) By accepting these terms, you agree that the Landy is Mattel property and the Journey is a project directed totally by Jim Gallegos Albuquerque, New Mexico USA. 6) Agree to return the Landy and Passport to Jim Gallegos upon request with no objections. Email Jim with any questions to matchb0x1@aol.com EVERYONE IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE< NO EXCEPTIONSlandytravels@gmail.com Nigel Cooper September 23rd 2013 |
November 11 Matchbox Ambassador Report, by Nigel Cooper...Ambassador Report 12 The Matchbox team will be in Asia for a while in November and then will be on holiday in the coming weeks forThanksgiving. Please bear this in mind when making your comments and posing your questions which are always welcome. I may have to store them up and send them later on. I have a few images that I will divide up for the next three weeks as well as some answers to your questions. Recently there have been two offers from collectors for Matchbox to use a real vehicle. If you have access to a real vehicle that you think would appeal to children and collectors alike and would lend itself to a miniature and would not involve licensing costs, please send me a photograph with some details and I will pass it on to the team. The three models shown this week will all feature in the 2014 Jungle Reconnaissance 5-pack. The first design shows the Off Road Rider in white and turquoise. The second model for this week is a further recolour for the Coyote 500. It will be found only in the Jungle Reconnaissance 5-pack. The final new model for this report is sure to be a favourite for many collectors. The Land Rover Defender 110 has had a number of colour schemes but this is possibly one of the best.Your views are welcome on these three new liveries. The Land Rover has long been a favourite in the range and was included in various forms from 1955 until the present with only a few exceptions. Here are a few Land Rovers from over the years. I am sure my gold regular wheel version will win first prize for the poorest condition miniature but though it has been extensively played with, I believe it to be genuine nonetheless. The Police Patrol Range Rovers and 90 models are all pre-production versions. Matchbox answers your questions I try to include as many questions as possible from various message boards. If I am missing out on any boards, please let me know. The Matchbox team are not able to answer all of the questions posed for a variety of reasons but will do their best to respond. The number of questions answered this week is reduced because I will be carrying some answers over to the next two reports. Here is an example of the 2014 long card. The design for the small card will be on the same lines. The main changes areas follows:
2. . Will all 2013 models be presented in the old packaging and will all 2014 models be in the new packaging?Only2013 models that carry over into 2014 will have the new package look but the packaging will say that they are part of the 2013 collection. 3. 3. It would have been ridiculously easy to model that boat on a real boat and have it be spectacular.... It could have been a "Safe Boat", a real military and Coastie model. My Brother in Law is the CEO, and he would have signed off that in an instant. ...and for no monetary payment, just to have one made like it!Wish we would have known this 6 months ago, however the team is satisfied with the design of the Sea Spy. 4. 4. Can we please see the Seagrave in white next year?The Seagrave color for next year is TBD. 5. I'm not a big fan of a Fire vehicle that takes a ladder to get into and a parachute to get out of. But I notice the knobs and gauges are mostly at the bottom of that pump panel, with mostly the discharges and intakes above. If your fire department is composed of college or NBA basketball players, no problem. Was this considered? Our fire department is composed of college basketball players. Lucky guess. 6. I have to start by saying it is great news that the Matchbox team would consider working with us again. I can say with certainty the Wilton Fire Department would look forward to the opportunity. Back in 2011 when the RWR Tower was released for us, an article was ran in a local paper, one of the secretaries when nuts in the weeks that followed fielding phone call and emails from people interested in finding out how to get the model. This ranged from collectors and parents looking for one for their child, to residents of the town, area firefighters and elected officials (among them was the then states attorney general) who wanted one. Please do your best to ensure a Wilton Fire Department model is could join the range in the next 2 years. (Any chance of these two being considered as well?) We will contact the Wilton Fire Department directly should we decide to use their liveries again in the near future. 7. I cannot afford the prices being asked on certain sites for the special Brush Fire Truck so I remain optimistic that it may be released some time. We are optimistic that the brush truck will see the light of day. Keep your fingers crossed. 8. Are there going to be any future releases of the Checker cab in realistic taxi liveries? Yes . 17. You asked for clarification on the "better generics". These are vehicles which are perceived by collectors as being a very good representation of a real vehicle but with the ability to avoid paying a license fee to a specific manufacturer. Both the Swamp Raider and Badlander are vehicles that collectors see using an influence of a certain manufacturer with a sprinkling of other manufacturers and mixing them up to make a generic look that still feels fairly realistic. This is in relation to a vehicle that has huge wheels (Blaze Buster, Flame Smasher, upcoming 2014 4x4 School Bus etc), or a completely fantasy look (Whiplash, Turn Tamer etc). I refer to vehicles that are specifically designed to appeal to younger children. However, the main question for the Badlander and Swamp Raider was asking if they were going to be used as a single issue in the basic range. They have been used in multipacks, but have never been issued on their own as a basic range model. Thanks for defining what was meant by better generics.Based on this definition we will continue to create better generics styling if you will but will also continue to apply our new Matchbox aesthetic if we feel it is necessary. 18. We were wondering if they will ever be issued as a single basic range model? Yes, in the future the Bad Lander and Swamp Raider will be used in the singles line. As we have stated before, these models are not going away. 18. Talking of the Swamp Raider (this could also apply to the new Terrainiac). The rear canopy is detachable, and as such are there any plans to simply create an alternate rear section to insert and therefore create a different look to the vehicle? This is possible. 19. Can Matchbox do any racing? What specifically can Matchbox do? Hot Wheels does racing. We can do exploration, endurance, discovery, rescue and mission based experiences which includes military. We have not completely abandoned city vehicles which will still include sports cars, hatchbacks, luxury cars, delivery & service vehicles. These will still be included in the Adventure City Segment. I have heard from several collectors in the UK who would have liked to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Matchbox Toys in the country of its birth. I was contacted by an editor of the UK magazine Best of British and I wrote an article for them. They are also running a small competition for some of the earlier 60th Anniversary models provided by Matchbox in England. If you would like a copy of the magazine please contact Mark Amies atmark.amies@bestofbritishmag.co.ukand he will do his best to get a magazine to you. 2014 UK MATCHBOX CONVENTION I have been asked to inform collectors that the Matchbox Convention in the UK has been resurrected. The details are as follows: It is being held on Saturday 5th April 2014 at the Queens Hotel in Chester. The average room price with the Matchbox Club discount of 15% is £152 for bed and breakfast for two people sharing (quoted 08.11.2013 by reservations). Parking is £15 per night. The train station is directly opposite. thetrainline.com has tickets available from London to Chester for £50 return if you book them early enough, usually four months in advance. We are close to both Liverpool and Manchester airports. At The Convention it is planned to have a Code 2 Matchbox Club Convention model for attendees, talks by Matchbox specialists, 10 free tables for anyone wishing to trade on the Saturday between 9.30 2.00 and 4.00 6.30 this is going to be in the same room as the talks. There will be a three course dinner with a complimentary pre-dinner drink included. There will be an auction where unique Code 2 models and pre-production Matchbox models will only available at the auction. The price of the ticket is £40 and is available fromwww.matchboxclub.com/events In the past collectors from all over the world have gathered to renew acquaintances and talk Matchbox. Anyone with an interest in Matchbox is invited to attend. Finally, here is a question or two to test regular wheel collectors. Which year do these images involving Land Rovers refer to? Notice the hubs in the Mercedes Truck & Trailer which were never fitted. Fred Bronner had little knowledge of British vehicles and often chose the best name he could in the description. Notice in the military flyer he refers to the Land Rover as a Jeep. |
December 2nd Matchbox Ambassador Report, by Nigel Cooper...Ambassador Report 15 I am not sure how long the Thanksgiving festival lasts. Some American friends in the UK seem to spend a day or more preparing for and then several days recovering from this holiday. The Matchbox team are enjoying a well-earned restafter the trip to Asia but I hope to have more answers to your questions in the next Report. I do read comments on a number of message boards but I wonder whether I am missing some. I would like to thank those collectors who find the time to respond to the Reports on these websites and it is possible on all of these sites to look back to previous Reports and comments made. Your comments and questions enable me to request further information from Mattel. The list below includes those sites that I am aware of where comments are recorded. http://cobratoys.com.au/forums http://www.mbxforum.com/01-News/900-Ambassador/jnambassador.php, I know that the Matchbox Club in England(www.matchboxclub.com) and Matchbox USA (www.CharlieMackOnline.com and board at www.mbusa.net) also print the whole or part of each Report. If there are other accessible sites which also include collector comments, I would be grateful for information so that I may include the comments and pass on the questions to the Matchbox team. I learn so much from the comments as well as being able to smile at the various thoughts, written in a variety of ways, pertaining to various issues. I was not surprised to learn that a new wave has been released in the US with models in the 2014 packaging. Some models are clearly from the 2013 range. I for one find this very annoying as I display the whole years releases in the blister packs and a mixture of packaging spoils the overall effect. It is also confusing when previously released models are packaged on the new years blister cards. I believe that currently there are 14 waves of Matchbox models designated for a particular year which are projected to include all 120 models as well as the five recolours. To date this has not occurred. All retailers receive boxes or cases of models stamped with a letter from A to P, omitting letters I and O as this may cause confusion with numbers. Once wave P has been issued, the whole system reverts back to Wave A again. Thus Wave A, issued in November 2013, includes a mixture of 2014 models and some of the 2013 releases. One would think that this arrangement might give Matchbox a headache in terms of wave management but the poor collectors, especially those outside the US where small numberless blisters are the norm, are leftcompletely bewildered.I am sorry that I do not have the information relating to the content of the waves and the year and so I rely on collectors reporting their finds. NEW RELEASES The images for this Report include a recolour and a new model for 2014, three models from the Construction Zone 5-pack and a Skybuster. Your comments are welcome. The 2014 models shown are the FordF550SuperDuty BDV73MB817 and Rumble Raider BDV79 MB925. The 5 pack models include the GroundBreaker BDV50MB948, Skidster BFN37 MB789 andTractor Shovel BFN38MB029. The Shovel Nose Tractor was originally included in the range in 1977. It has been through a considerable number of colour schemes with yellow predominating. The first issue is shown here together with a colour trial model. Unfortunately I cannot easily remove the other versions from the displays but some versions in other colours are shown. I am sure the designer of more than 36 years ago would have no idea that his creation would still feature as a Matchbox miniature today. The Skybuster is called GeeBee_BFW04_SB118. For years I had displayed my collection in numerical order so that all the No. 1 models, starting with the very first Road Roller in 1953 and progressing through to the Mercedes Truck and Mod Rod when Superfast wheels were fitted. Complications set in with various regional releases and when different numbers were used by Matchbox for the same model. About 20 years ago I took the decision to change to a chronological approach and to have each year displayed in line with what was actually included in the basic range in the UK for that year. Of course, regional variations had to be displayed separately. However, I have a strong nostalgia for original Matchbox displays and I wanted the range to be displayed in its original setting as far as possible. Of course this leads to some duplication though there are usually enough variations to avoid this. The problem is more what to do with the larger number of variations that do not fit into the display. I fill up other displays with these. When I started collecting in the 1970s, the vast majority of UK collectors were only interested in Yesteryears and miniature collectors were treated somewhat disdainfully. The up side of this was that miniatures were usually cheap and plentiful. If only this situation was apparent today!! Fred Bronner was only too aware of the use of displays and whilst wooden and glass displays were charged for and were intended for the larger stores, there were many cardboard displays that were free for the small shopkeeper. These proliferated all over the US and Canada. Later displays were created for the UK and for Germany, the third biggest market, and I am sure for other countries. Eventually, plastic was used predominantly, probably because of production and distribution costs. The German displays are interesting, especially the one showing DMK rather than DM. It may be that this was designed for East Germany though sales were very small there or the UK designer thought that German coinage was in DMKs rather than DMs. Any information on this difference would be appreciated. The first two images show the ranges for 1961 and 1962, whilst the later display is showing models from 1967. The wooden display reflecting a price of DM 1.30 may have been used for the boxes behind the counter or with models displayed and the boxes stored elsewhere. How Children Have Changed Les Smith lived in a grand mansion in north London. Wheninterviewed he was proud to relate that he had a complete set of regular wheels but in fact this meant just 75 models or so as he saw no difference between the four sizes of Road Roller or London Bus and he had no record of what had been made. Sales of the first four models were slow. Smith emphasised that children wanted models they could identify with and the first four models in the range were limited because they were not frequently seen. Presumably children of sixty years ago would not have been interested in many of todays generic offerings. Smith insisted the range was limited until the 5a Bus was made. The first four did not sell well but the Bus sold very well because it was a more familiar sight than the construction vehicles. Once Matchbox miniatures were in full flow, therewere not the production facilities available for large scale modelsand in any case several parts of the larger Early Lesneyitems were sub-contracted out with production problems and varying costs of parts such as rubber tyres. The Fire Engine(9a) was second in popularity to the London Bus. There was never any market research, just personal feelings, suggestions from the employees and flicking through magazines. Above all, it was concluded that children wanted everyday items that they could easily relate to. Leseny were in the fortunate position of there being few toys available so there was little competition and none in the miniature scale. The after effects of the war were still apparent so any toys would sell and indeed rationing was still evident even in 1953. For the most part, there were not the resources to produce models. Dinky had been making war items and now had to re-start making toys and supplies were restricted, not least when the Board of Trade banned the use of zinc except for military purposes. This ban lasted about a year. However, once the range had expanded to 12 models by 1955 Smith knew he was delivering what children wanted and he was able to move forward towards selling toys across the world. How strange that the US became the largest market with hardly a model being familiar to American children! |
ATENCIÓN: Este tema no tiene actividad desde hace más de 6 MESES, te recomendamos abrir un nuevo tema en lugar de responder al actual |
Opciones: Ir al subforo: |
Permisos: TU NO PUEDES Escribir nuevos temas TU NO PUEDES Responder a los temas TU NO PUEDES Editar tus propios mensajes TU NO PUEDES Borrar tus propios mensajes |