Anderson-style Toy Stalwart

Hi,

I picked this Alvis Stalwart friction toy up from an antique militaria stall whilst on holiday (chap who I bought it from was trying to persuade me to buy a real one!). My plan was to make it into an Anderson style background vehicle. This is what I came up with.

Take care,

Kevin D

UK

WIND-UP AUTO TANKER

Another toy that would have been bought during those summer holidays at the seaside, A clockwork  Alvis Stalwart auto-tanker.

I've already featured a friction drive Alvis Stalwart auto-tanker made by Clifford toys.

And, using the wheel set up, a Telsada Airport Fire Tender.

This toy looks a lot cheaper than the other two. The wheels are just moulded rather than having a separate hub, and the blue  plastic windscreen  is very thin acetate.

.

I'm not sure whether the tanker section was originally white like the box photo, as my example looks like its yellowed with age.

It spite of its shortcomings its still a nice little toy 'Stolly', and the wind-up mechanism still works after all this time.

STALWART LEGION

Just rolling into the Wotan Archive today is this wonderful little friction Alvis Stalwart truck. Probably a variation of the Clifford Stalwart that Scoop won, its a little knocked about, but generally a nice looking toy. Its had a splash of gloss black paint on the tyres, but is actually molded in green. The only versions ive seen before are a garish red one and the white tanker.

The only other Stalwarts i'm aware of are the large Airfix version, the fine Matchbox and the rather lacklustre Dinky 'Task Force' version.

Clifford 'Stolly' Toy

It’s no secret that I do have a liking for the Alvis Stalwart or the ‘Stolly’ as it’s informally known.

It’s a nine ton amphibious military vehicle that inspired Clifford toys to manufacture this rather nice friction drive toy of the Mk1 version.

 

 

While most  Stalwart toys and models are open trucks this one is a tanker, although with similar colours to the smaller Matchbox version.

 

It’s got some really nice detail and two top opening hatches. It's a good size too, around 6" long.

I really do love old toys like these that take me back to the halcyon days of holidays by the seaside and the beach shops and markets that used to sell them.

Ah, happy days! 

 

 

Alvis has Left the Biulding

I loved my Airfix Alvis plastic truck during the late Sixties. It could always be found on my bedroom floor full of Airfix troops ready for action in Operation Take The Carpet! I'd say the Alvis was easilly as important as any of my soace toys like SWORD or SPACEX and the great thing was they were all mixed together in glorious play! I must try to find one again. Anyone else like the Alvis?

CARPET WARS

This was a familiar scene in my bedroom during the Sixties. Carpet Wars between the Airfix Army and the Dinky UFO Interceptor. Sheer numbers of plastic infantry were not enough against the battalion-flattening missile of the Interceptor. Perhaps 5 sorties and fifty soldiers were toast. Alas, the Alvis Stalwart troop carrier always went home empty. There was something very SWORD about that Alvis. Did anyone else stage carpet wars?