Where to get info on Tootsietoy and other primitive makes of diecast vehicles?

[Dave Farquhar]

An article in either the October or November 2006 CTT (I don't have it in front of me right now) featured a prewar layout made only with the materials a father and son would have had available in the 1930s or 1940s. I've known layouts like this exist but this was the first time I'd seen lots of pictures of one, and to my eye, it looked awesome. I've seen the article before, but this time it really sunk in.

So I considered my layout. I've finally seen the goal I've been working toward for about two years. Now I know what it looks like. I have buildings, and I know where to get metal figures, and of course I have plenty of trains. I have a few Tootsietoy and Dinky vehicles, but I'm going to need more.

Does anyone out there know of some sources of info, whether it's books, web sites, or magazines, on these early diecast vehicles? When I first started buying trains I went in blind and ended up overpaying, and sometimes buying things I regretted because I didn't know a closer fit for what I was looking for existed. I'd like to avoid repeating those mistakes. 

[pbjwilson]

Dave,

I picked up these on e-bay. Probably late forties or early fifties models. Some are Tootsietoy some are Renwal. There has to be some publication out there for early diecast. I'm going to look around on the internet also. The farther back you go the higher the prices. Tootsietoy and Renwal are still affordable.

[Dave Farquhar]

Paul, I think I have that red car on the far right. I picked it up at a train show. I probably paid too much, but I liked it, it was there, and I hadn't found anything else I wanted more.

I don't need to go back too far. I'm trying to make my layout look like it's set sometime in the '40s, so I can go with early postwar cars. Maybe someday I can do a layout set in the '20s, but I have a lot more Marx trains than Ives.

Thanks for the tip on Renwal. Since it doesn't have the name recognition, maybe it's cheaper too. I'll have to look around and see. 

[dwiemer]

Dave,

     I saw a antiques and collectibles book at Books A Million a few months ago and they had some Tootsie Toy cars on the front.  I do not recall the exact title, but it was in the collectibles section.  Good luck, and if I see it again, I will get you the title.

Dennis

[donl409]

 It's hard to find info on the Tootsietoy's, a little bit easier for the Dinky's. I find them in antique stores (for the early 40's-50's) in as bad condition as I can (paint wise), usually around 20.00$, or e-bay (no more then 20.00$ with shipping costs). Once I have them, I will sand blast them, then do the car paint routine, ie. primer, paint,clear coat. Makes for nice trucks and autos for the layout. E-bay will have lots for sale and just keep looking for what you want , you'll find it eventually. Again, as far as info, haven't really found any good books either in book stores or internet for Tootsietoy. Info for Dinky's , Matchbox, Hess, etc seems to be plentyful everywhere.

[Dave Farquhar]

Don, you bring up some good points. Most of the ones I picked up this weekend are in bad shape (missing most of their paint) so I've thought about restoring those, once I'm confident the stuff I have is common and I won't destroy a collectible in doing so.

When preparing to repaint, how do you remove the wheels, if you don't mind me asking? Do you have to cut off the axle? And then how do you replace the wheels afterward?

Bright and shiny vintage cars would be nice to have, of course, and restoring them myself would cost a lot less than buying originals in mint condition. And I could let kids play with them without wondering if I might be exposing them to lead paint.

[donl409]

 Well, thats a good question on the tires. What I have been doing on all but the cement trucks with the worm gear rear axle ( and I haven't figured out a way to that with those yet) is with a pair of pliers gently pull and twist the tires off of the axel then tape up the axel well to protect it from the paint. Clean the tires in soap and water and then spray just the clear coat on the tires. At the end I will clear off the tape then with pliers or my hand (be careful when using the hand as the last time I finally pushed the axel end through the tire, which was good, but also on into my finger, which is NOT good. Bit of a puncture there). So far this is good for one time only, I would not attemtp to pull and push the tires back off/on the axel more then once, so make sure that you are ready to put the tire back on at the end of the project. All in all it seems to work and gives the tires a nice finished look as well as the truck. My next one I might just try and tape the tires,axel as a unit and see if I can do the painting that way and use a brush-on clear coat for the tires instead of a spray coat. Good luck, its kind of a fun way to restore an old toy and as you say it is still very playable.

[Dave Farquhar]

Thanks for those tips. I'm sure I'll be putting them to use very soon.  I'll keep an eye out for junk lots on eBay and I'm sure they'll turn up at the local antique shops too (maybe even at a reasonable price). Maybe I can find some junkers from the late '70s cheap to practice on first.

[pbjwilson]

Dave -

I was looking on e-bay for Renwal die-cast cars and came across these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Vintage-Renwal-1950-Convertible-104-L-K_W0QQitemZ300076130192QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4943QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Weird thing is I saw one just like it at my brother-in-laws tonight. They are plastic but very nice. Where he got it, I have no idea, either did he. Anyway, these are a nice size to go with Marx and other toy trains. I'd say like 1/50th scale, if you can call these scale anything. I am thinking about getting some of these. Great for a "real" toy train look. And even though they are plastic, its a good quality hard plastic.

[Dave Farquhar]

Paul, those Renwals would look absolutely fantastic driving along a street in front of Plasticville (or Marx or Skyline or Littletown plastic) buildings. Since I'm after more of a prewar/immediate postwar look I think I'll stick with the early diecasts, but I sure hope some postwar enthusiast who will appreciate them ends up with them!

[cnw1995]

I have a whole bucket of these pre-war cars and planes and other items that I got from my dad. I'd love to find out more about them. I've corresponded with Ray Ellen of http://trainmarket.com/ - see his toysofthepast.com website.

[Jumijo]

I can't tell you guys where to buy these die cast vehicles, but I do know that there are reference books available about them. I've seen them in the hobby/collecting section of Border books.

Jim 

[pbjwilson]

Barclay is another brand that made some neat diecast.

Found these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330083871013

 

[Dave Farquhar]

Paul, thanks for the tip on Barclay. I did some looking around, and they are very nice indeed. Some of them look like they may be cast iron, rather than diecast. There certainly do seem to be a lot of options out there.

I just picked up a Goodee Studebaker on Sunday. The price seemed good, and it's something other than Ford or GM. I think it's a 3-incher, so it's a bit small, but it'll make a good back-of-the-layout car.

[Dave Farquhar]

I found a webzine about diecast cars. There's some material about the early stuff like Tootsietoy, but the focus is primarily on later brands like Matchbox and Hot Wheels. Not a lot of 1:43 there, but plenty of 1:64 for AF fans, including some nice roundups showing what's been manufactured in the way of 1940s and 1950s cars.

http://www.breithaupts.com/toycar.html