As the possibility of finding good space toys these days becomes even slimmer, I find I am drawn to other collecting strands to satisfy my demand for nostalgia. As a boy, trains and locomotives were very much a part of everyday life, as my dad kept his own paper version of a 'blog' with scrapbooks full of cuttings from magazines and books. His passion for trains has lately rubbed off on me and was brought to the fore a few years back when I was sat in the attic in Woodsy's, rummaging through some of his old stock. Out came a show box full of odds and ends and within them, were a number of small trains. Being the incredibly generous soul that he is, he gave me them.
Amongst the different types were some tiny, single piece plastic castings with 'Life Guard' written on the side. This week, looking around the worlds attic, Ebay, I spotted some more. Today they arrived, sitting in an old kitchen matchbox.
It's almost impossible to find more information on them, but they appear to be a free premium issued with Life Guard disinfectant, probably in the late fifties, or early sixties. I certainly don't recall them, although I do remember the disinfectant!
Each little piece is around an inch long and will couple together. Hopefully, I now have one of each model - locomotive, tender, freight car, tanker and caboose.
They are lovely little things, reminiscent of the glory days of toys when children could be trusted not to try and mindlessly eat anything big enough to fit in their mouth!
Lovely stuff, Bill!
ReplyDeleteStrange that locos tenders and freight cars all have a sort of bend to their shape. Other than that it's all obviously US-outline material (if the caboose didn't prove that, then the cow-catchers should :) which would make it very likely these will also have been issued in the US (where Lifeguard is also sold by the looks of it).
Anyway, thanks for showing them off!
--
Paul
yep, think its a deformation of the plastic, either with age, as its an odd dense celluloid like material, or its just the way they were cast.
ReplyDeleteyes, I agree, lovely little locos ..... and photos too. How many trains can you fit into a matchbox? I think you've answered it! Weren't some small flat trains premiums with butter as well? As for the matchbox, I love it. My big bruvvs used to collect matchboxes and I greatly admired their collections too. I remember this one!
DeleteAdorable little pieces, love those earth-tone colours. I believe the warping is due to the type of plastic used.
ReplyDeleteThey bring to mind cereal premiums of our neighbouring Sweden, called Kalas puffar,
issued in the late 50's. The plastic is different however, and the colours brighter.
http://www.vingaker.com/museum/k_puff1.htm
ahh now I have to try and collect them too!
ReplyDeleteWoodsy, yes you gave me some larger margarine premiums too, which the eagle eyed Arto identified for me:
ReplyDeletehttp://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/a-trained-eye.html
Kelloggs also gave away some nice small plastic trains and rolling stock kits in the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteAlso worth collecting!