Model car

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One type of model that has definitely attained more collectable status in recent years is the model car.

Not the large scale hand crafted models although there is a market for them but the mass produced variety which is the equivalent of the lead soldier.

I'm not talking about the rc (radio controlled) model car either.Although we'll delve into that area in future posts.

Several manufacturers around the world produce such cars, but we can get a better idea of the procedure if we study just one of those firms-in this case the matchbox model cars manufactured by Lesney products of england.

Lesney produced several series including superfast adventure 2000 and models of yesteryear and it is the latter that is most highly sought after by collectors.

These matchbox models come in their own little boxes hence the name. There is a matchbox only diecast club which needless to say is focused on the diecast model car and an official model car magazine that describes various models provides a means of communication and includes advertisements. And such is the enthusiasm of collectors that good money is offered even for old catalogues.

Collecting diecast model cars only may seem fairly simple procedure, but if youre going to do it properly(which is where the investment potential is) then you need to know all about your product.

If you know what you are looking for you might find that missing modified version for your set of whitlock winkum, dumpers, jeeps, lagondas or model T fords. And the demand of old models exceeds supply as can be seen by the classified ads of the matchbox magazine.

And it is much considered that your item is collectible and in mint condition especially if it still comes in their original boxes like this one in the picture. It is advisable that you have a decent model car display case for your collections.

Remember for all your collecting ideas drop by Rare Antiques Collectibles and Memorabilia.

tags:
model car, diecast model car, model car magazines ,rc model car, model car display case,Matchbox

Model Soldiers

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There's a wide scope of collectibles in this field like the artilleries, battle ships and tanks, the whole diorama. But let's stick with model soldiers for this post.

When it comes to model toy soldiers there are lot of categories to choose from like medieval knights, ancient romans, the samurais, highlanders, the celts and the gauls, civil war and the two world wars. The picture shows a model soldier from the Napoleonic war.

One advantage of collecting model soldiers is that although an individual soldier might have a rather limited value, sets of soldiers, in dress uniforms or particular military settings command high prices.

So it's possible to build up collections that become more and more valuable with each addition. Famous sets such as the Royal Engineer's baloon and Winchwagon or the household cavalry at the trooping of the colour are now greatly sought after by avid collectors.

Britain has in the past been a major manufacturer of model soldiers, and now ranks as the world's largest producer. This means that there is a greater likelihood of finding early examples in Britain than anywhere else in the world.

The earliest model soldiers produced in the 16th century were two dimensional flats made from pure tin and mounted on small stands. The 30mm Nuremberg scale was not adopted until 1848.

In the late 1890's William britain of london developed the process of casting hollow three-dimensional figures. This led to marked changes in the manufacture of model soldiers. Britain's soldiers were not only more realistic and detailed than the German ones, but their hollow structure meant that they required far less metal and were consequently cheaper as a result.

The early British model soldiers can be distinguished by their round bases; square bases came in later. Plastic took the place of lead alloy in 1966.

The fact that lead soldiers are no longer being made, coupled with the world wide demand from collectors and the continued enthusiasm for war games, means that there is an increasing scarcity. So if you gradually build up good sets of soldiers you will probably get a very favourable roi.

Fyi, the publishing icon Malcolm Forbes also collected model toy soldiers.

Remember for all your collecting ideas drop by Rare Antiques Collectibles and Memorabilia.

Radios

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I can still vividly recall when i was just about 5 years old ,i used to listen music and local soap opera to our big wooden boxed radio. I had many good times with that radio.

I can still remember when i took off the back covering of the radio, there were protruding glass tubes.Yes those were the years when the microchip wasn't invented yet and nano-technology was just a figment of someone's imagination.

Now there's that nagging question as whatever happened to my beloved radio? It would really seem nice just to have one of those antique radios around the house. Antiques radios are great conversation pieces and the nostalgia that it would have brought will be greatly welcome.

Unlike modern transistor radios, old radios were designed not only to receive radio waves, but also to be attractive pieces of furniture.

In Britain broadcasting began around 1920 so there were commercial models before this time. But of course the principles have been practised since the turn of a century ago. It was the invention of the radio valve by fleming in 1904 that paved the way to broadcasting.

The earliest models were little more than plain wooden boxes but in no time the radio housing became the focal point for designers and cabinetmakers who produced furnitures which while dated, is still a marvel of workmanship in mahogany, teak,lacquer and other finishes.

In addition this was the era of early plastics, including bakelite which is a collecting subject in its own right.

if we take as a guideline the assumption that antique radios are only of those of the valve era then our collecting period ends just after 1948 when the transistor was invented.

Most mechanical collectibles like typewriters, sewing machines, clocks and radios are better investment collection if they are still working.

So it is much better preferred that you have the knowhow to fix your own "machine". And if you have any interest in the repair and construction side of radios there are other areas that could open up for you.

I can only predict that there will be an increasing demand for radios as collectibles, but a demand for people who can service them as well.

In conjunction with the collecting of radios, keep an eye for literature on the subject. Pre war books in particular are available if you are creative and resourceful enough to find them.

Find the ones with circuit diagrams, for the price will swiftly rise as old radios become more popular.

Remember for all your collecting ideas drop by Rare Antiques Collectibles and Memorabilia.