Hi ALL!
I just got a hold of a collection of '60’s vintage HO scale trains and layout stuff. I got this real cool loking Red Toy Tractor in HO scale. It says Hong Kong on the bottom of it. It says No. 248 on the side of it above the motor. I know it’s not Plasticville, they look very different. The red plastic almost looks like candy! Any ideas?
Many thanks, Ted
Could be a 50’ Case, but the placement of the number isn’t familiar. It could be a generic look alike for a Case, Massey-Harris or Oliver (would be green and yellow)…
Good luck,
Looks like one of those cheap stocking stuffers they had back then. Not meant to degrade it, just something I remember from back in the 50’s
Quite honestly, it looks to be a cheap early plastic “rip-off” copy of one, or another, of the more crisply detailed, but still dime-store quality, American made die cast small toys by Hubley, et al. so common in the 30’s and 40’s. I recall that such cheap reproduction were imported from the orient during the mid to late 50’s and were often made of a very slightly rubbery, candy-colored and translucent plastic, as your example. The quality of the plastic (as well as that of the models themselves) was a reason that plastic model railroading items of the period were held in low regard by many serious hobbyists of the day.
CNJ 831
Hi ALL!
I disagre with most of you!
The plastic is not rubbery!
If it was a cheap dime store toy, then why the numbering?
Why go through the mold process to put “No.248” ??
I just added another pix of the NO.
Doesn’t make sence! It’s like the number used for MatchBox.
THX, Ted
The Russians, Chineese and others have made copies of early 50’s tractors. They are much simpler machines to work on than the new creations that modern manufacturers have come up with. When you want a tractor to do simple tasks; rake, ted, pull a wagon and the like, you don’t need a monster with fast hydraulics and power enough to pull the whole farm around. The old American made tractors are still around, but are becoming collectors items, usually costing at least twice the original price, if not more.
Also I have never seen a tractor number on the side of the tractor preceded by “No”, though the number certainly is close to some manufacturers model numbers. I still feel it is a generic model.
The thing that looks the least appealing to me is the way the axle appears to slide sideways, wheels aren’t tight to the casting. Also, it appears that the drive wheel tires are on backwards, but that has happened on many models i"ve seen.
From the first photo, I’d say it would tit in a '50’s or later layout just fine with a little detail work to take away the stark red of everything.
Have fun,