Charbens Old Timers / Old Crocks

CHECK LIST FOR THE CHARBENS OLD TIMERS SERIES (links lead to images in my photo-gallery).

COMPILING NOW - Last Updated 30/02/2013

1. Darracq 1904.
2. Spyker 1905.
3. "Old Bill" London Bus 1914.
4. Ford 1907.
5. Vauxhall 1907.
6. De Dion Bouton 1906.
7. Panhard 1898.
8. Rolls Royce Silver Cloud 1906.
9. Standard 6 hp 1903.
10. Wolseley 1902.
11. Packard Runabout 1908.
12. Vauxhall Hansom Cab 1905.
13. Straker Steam Lorry 1900.
14. Stephensons Rocket.
15. Stephensons Rocket Tender.
16. Albion 1909.
17. Rover 2 Seater 1912.
18. Mercedes Benz 1911.
19. Bedford Horse Box 1927.
20. Lanchester 1910.
21. Morris Cowley 1922.
22. Daimler 1900.
23. Autocarrier.
24. Grenville Steam Carriage 1870-1880.
25. Napier 1905.
26. Fire Engine.
27. Articulated Breakdown Lorry.
28. Mercer Runabout.
29. not used.
30. Mobile Searchlight.
31. Twin Bofors Gun.
32. Mobile Radar.
33. Mobile Field Gun.
34. Mobile Rockets.
35. Tank.

Charbens No. 11 Packard Runabout.

Charbens No. 6 De Dion Bouton.

Tri-ang Minix Vehicles. Rovex.

CHECK LIST FOR THE TRI-ANG MINIX SERIES OF VEHICLES (links lead to images in my photo-gallery).

Last Updated 03/12/2018

Tri-ang Minix Vehicles

RC1 Ford Anglia
RC2 Morris 1000
RC3 Vauxhall Viva
RC4 Triumph 2000
RC5 Austin A60
RC6 Ford Corsair
RC7 Sunbeam Alpine
RC8 Hillman Minx
RC9 Simca 1300
RC10 Hillman Imp
RC11 Vauxhall Victor
RC12 Austin 1800
RC13 Ford Thames Van
RC14 AEC Bus
RC15 Vauxhall Cresta
RC16 Caravan
RC17 Rambler Classic

Tri-ang MINIX Brochure - Side 1

 Tri-ang MINIX Brochure - Side 2

HISTORY
Minix, a range of 17 small plastic vehicles, were first introduced by the Tri-ang Company in 1964. Production continued into the 1970's. The range was intended primarily for use with OO scale model railways and many were supplied with various items of rolling stock. Minix were also supplied individually boxed as well as in twin packs. An example of the packaging used for individual vehicles is shown below. Initially the bases of the vehicles, which included mouldings of bumper grill etc., were chrome plated. After 1972 bases were produced in plain plastic.

Tri-ang MINIX - Triumph 2000

TRESCO 'The Submarine' & 'The Diver' Bath Toys

Last Updated 19/09/2020 - Wally the Whale added!

Here are two vintage toys that were regular stocking fillers during my early childhood in the 1960's. They were great fun in the bath. They both work in the same way, you suck on the plastic tube to make them sink and blow to make them surface. They are very simple, cheap, ephemeral toys that must of been produced in large quantities. Of course that means they are pretty hard to find now, forty years later, especially in their original boxes. I've noticed that they are picking up fairly substantial prices at auction.

Tresco - The Diver

Tresco - The Submarine

Both toys were produced by Tresco Plastics Ltd., who appear to have been based near Northampton (U.K.), and who don't seem to have produced any other similar items. The only other toys I have discovered are an interlocking clear plastic puzzle called 'The Mystic Star' and some 'Alpha-Beta' alphabet teaching sets.

Tresco - Wally The Whale

A surprise addition to the list of Tresco products - Wally the Whale. He works on the same principle as the diver and submarine above but he also spouts.