Tomte Toys
Tomte Big Red Fire Engine - B-1
Type 500
Model 1958
Size:
Lengh: ca. 25 cm (This one 25,2 cm)
(Soft
Rubber Serie 1 - Scale Size 1:19)
These first Models - Made of Soft Rubber
Deep Red Body - Yellow Wheels - Closed
Hub-caps
Specifications:
Length ca. 25 cm (25,2 cm) Weight ca. 330 grams
(#Ref. Weights reg. from 330 - 370 grams - on these 1st models)
This First Edition
is a Heavy-Duty made - next versions lighter
Front:
"TOMTE FIRE ENGINE"
Back: Number: "500"
Ref. Engine size and/or Water-tank capacity on the original Fire-Engine
(Real-size Fire Truck)
All wheels marked:
"TOMTE TOYS - STAVANGER - NORWAY"
Model B-1 "Heavy 330 Editon"
No. B-1 Great Red Fire Engine 500 Made in Soft Rubber
"1959 Model" - B-1 - "330-Version" "Deep Red"
Description:
Deep
Red Sof Rubber with yellow, factory named wheels, with closed metal hub caps
On later Vinyl-models "Ventilated
Metal Hub-Caps)
Driving Fire-Fighters - The Fire-Chief in the front and the Second Fire-Fighter in control
with the water-pump in back - both
men with red fire-man-helmets
(Often heads/helmets are chewed on and/or missing)
Very detailed with the big red fire-bell on front and fire-hose's
and various tubes equipments in back, really a "American Heavy Duty Fire-Engine"
with all needed fire-equipment on both sides:
Fire-axe, pumps, fire extinguishers and all other
tools !
Variation in Colours over the years: Deep Red to Red and later Orange and
Yellow
A very commen colour is the "Pink-version" or also often named as "Faded Red"
A quick check underneath - usually revals the original colour! Ref. Red/Orange/Yellow
is "tricky"
(NB! Number in Tom's Private Collection - New Catalog 2012 - No factory
number on the toy)
NB! This first edition is "Heavy Duty" made
First versions: B-1 330 gr. and B-2 315 gr. The later versions lighter vinyl: B-3 B-4 B-5 only 238 gr.
These first models where "softer" and "heavy-ier" than later editions,
the factory-production tried and experimented
with different material mixture in the early 1950-ies before
the finally models "The vinyl-models" came in the 1960 and 1970-ties!
They also had som "Stability-problems" in the first years - too soft mixture resultet in deforming og the models, so a stronger mixture and added reinforcement underneath solved the problems!
So "Real Collectors"
always check the underneath for changes and variations in mould and markings etc.