Q is for Question Time - Horses

Three of 'em, not big questions as they all have the brand . . . err . . . 'branded' on them, but I think they are probably all die-cast (or plastic) vehicle accessories and it would be nice to track down the sets' numbers or titles.

Relatively common, certainly common-enough for an over-priced buy-it-know example to have been sitting on evilBay for several years now! Tai Sang's subsidiary Red Box produced this 54mm/1:32nd-scale  mare in several colours, possibly for a plastic toy vehicle - farm lorry or horse-box, maybe issuing them in pairs of contrasting colours, although mine came seperately? Thanks to Jim for the black one.

The marking is a clear 'Redbox HONGKONG' and the reason I suspect a toy vehicle accessory rather than a bog-standard farm animal is that most Redbox farm and zoo have the same generic Hong Kong or Made in Hong Kong marks as their Blue-Box sister-stuff; the mark suggests a special purpose for this animal, the lack of similarly marked animals of other species suggests a unique role.

Seen here before I think, but more colours have turned-up! Marked 'J∙K' in a triangle frame the horse is smaller than the Redbox one (around 40mm-compatable) and the pose suggests several roles from circus performer (no other obviously 'circus stuff' similarly marked, has turned up), through rodeo set (similar criticism of a lack of matching stuff) to a horse-box load, or fence-leaner!

Mark is a standard HONG KONG with the J∙K in a small triangle and it could even be a cocktail-glass novelty if it wasn't for the paint, the upper bent knees are in line so suggesting it's designed to be looking over something, rather than rearing-up in the open? And I think Jim or Chris Smith are to thank for one of these!

The previous two were standard polyethylene and probably date from (or started life) in the 1960's, this one is in that dense 'Macau' type PVC and dated to 1972, marked Rae, it is the smallest (around 1:64th) and is almost certainly for a die-cast vehicle or - perhaps - mini-playset?

Photo was harder on shiny white PVC, so I've over-marked; it's not accurate (font wise), but a reasonable guide, anyone got any ideas on any of them?

 

15th Aug. 2021 - Continuing research finds some US evilBay sellers listing RAE - often as Rae - in conjunction with or alongside ARCO/Arco, with reference to to Noah's Ark sets. Which suggests that the same Arco petrol (gas) premium collection was previously or subsequently issued by this RAE/Rae, which would back-up another old contention of mine that Giant/PMC/Arco were jobbers, NOT manufacturers.

 

I've since also found a Hippopotamus who has the clear remains of a - removed from the tool -Rae mark, he seems to be the same as the Arco Hippo'. 

P is for Plunder From The 'Park

My gatherings from Sandown Park at the beginning of March weren’t that numerous or special, but as a 'How they come in' post, are worth a look.

Adrian of Mercator Trading7 had saved a little box of goodies for me and these were they, we've looked at a couple now already the SAE cow is on the Airfix Farm set page as a size-comparison shot and the dispatch-rider was in the recent bike post.

Other highlights are plastic vehicles from Kleeware (yellow lorry), Beeju (rural 1950's bus - this one with better transfers than the last one we looked at here) and Tudor Rose (other truck) along with an HK open-tourer, probably from a Christmas cracker or a rack-toy service-station type set?

Gemodels tennis players and a Lego chestnut tree were other highlights, while the very small green vehicles were 'find of the day'! Back when it was still the 1960's and I was very small myself . . . no, I'll tell the story another day in a separate post - but look carefully - one of them's a Land Rover . . . or is it an Austin Gypsy?!

The purchases from one pocket, again we've looked at several of the better pieces now, the Lido wagons were a surprise, the cat is very odd - being some kind of composition or home-bake modelling compound, but with a human face and coloured all-through the material, it's also a crude cast with heavy fettling and might be from a board game? A Speedwell chief and Tri-Ang's Mr. Periwinkle Pennybrix are also to be seen.

Pieces from the other pocket, the HK copy of a Matchbox Yesteryear 'Old Fashioned Car' (a Renault?) is missing a canopy, but I have an idea I have a spare somewhere, so it may yet be completed! We've looked at the motorcycle since and some of the other pieces will be Blogged soon.

A fiver-each from John at Plastic Toy Soldiers (eBay's PTS52) and both looked at a few weeks ago here - it seems that a complete Food Fighters bag should have another set of the poses in green, so I bought the rejected 'Germans'!

Gareth (who has new figures out) also brought me a bag of bits and it was filled with all sorts of useful stuff, pirates; including a Thomas 'dressing-up kids' copy, two Kellogg's type Jig Toys, the lorry being a different shade of blue to my other one, a pair of [Rocco?] cowboys with the damage these figures always have, another Christmas cracker angel (I have the makings of a whole orchestra somewhere now!), a nice HK gun and equally interesting tipi/teepee, along with another Rae rearing horse in a new colour - Thanks Gareth!

And - speaking of Jig Toys, I posted a link at the top of that page a week or so ago, to Rob's Puzzle Page on Jig Toys, go check it out; it's awesome!

R is for RAE

This has been imported from 'Boring Blog' (which I will close down) and may have images or other text added in the future.

RAE
Produced 40mm'ish horse, no saddlery, probably farm play-set item or die-cast horse-box accessory. Marked; (C) RAE 1972 MADE IN HONG KONG.
List
Horse