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Topic starter
23/04/2021 7:45 am
CATALOGS! They are delivered to our homes usually from businesses we do business with. I remember back when I was a kid, the biggest catalogs were those sent from Sears Roebuck and Co. and from Montgomery Ward. When they would arrive, my grandma used to page through them and more often than not, she was on the phone ordering something from them.
For us lover of cars and model car collectors, receiving a catalog from one of the Mints that produced the little cars we loved, could make a bad day a better one, and a good day a great one. As we would page through these model car catalogs, just like my grandma did with those department stores, we usually ended up on the phone to place an order one or more of the sensational cars, trucks and related miniatures that "tickled our fancy". Then the excitement and anticipation began, as we waited for our order to arrive!
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George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
23/04/2021 7:52 am
A nice selection. I have to admit, I got far more excited when the DM catalogs arrived than the ones from FM.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
Topic starter
23/04/2021 8:00 am
A nice selection. I have to admit, I got far more excited when the DM catalogs arrived than the ones from FM.
Me too John. I think many of us can agree that over the long haul, Danbury gave us more models to be excited about, and in most instances they were better replicated. But being fair, Franklin had some shining moments and gave us some excellent models as well.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
23/04/2021 8:17 am
I agree guys, Danbury brochures and books were much nicer, but the FM books were nice as well especially since it would show their newest, and then I would head to the FM store in Atlanta and actually see the cars/trucks before making a purchase. Even when this store closed, I was able to purchase a lot of their vehicles through their wholesale stores in PA, & NV. I cannot remember the ladies name that I dealt with in PA, but when they got shipments, she would call me and let me know what just came in. You were able to buy their cars at 1/2 price at these outlet stores. Sometimes I would order 5 or 6 cars at a time, and you would still get the 3 payment plan.
23/04/2021 9:24 am
I agree that DM offerings were generally better than FM but when FM did it right they were superb. Bottom line, I love having both as together they tell a more complete story of the history of the automobile which is what my collection represents.
George Schire and George Schire reacted
Topic starter
23/04/2021 1:54 pm
I agree guys, Danbury brochures and books were much nicer, but the FM books were nice as well especially since it would show their newest, and then I would head to the FM store in Atlanta and actually see the cars/trucks before making a purchase. Even when this store closed, I was able to purchase a lot of their vehicles through their wholesale stores in PA, & NV. I cannot remember the ladies name that I dealt with in PA, but when they got shipments, she would call me and let me know what just came in. You were able to buy their cars at 1/2 price at these outlet stores. Sometimes I would order 5 or 6 cars at a time, and you would still get the 3 payment plan.
Your story is similar to my experience with the Franklin Mint store that was in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota back in the 1990's and very early 2000's. The manager of the store, Matt was his name, would let me know when a new shipment of cars would come in. And I also worked there (part time) for kicks and giggles for three months back in 1999. Of all the different collectibles that FM sold back in that day, according to Matt, the 1:24 scale models represented 67% of their revenue. Now I don't know if that percentage is accurate, but I can attest to the fact that while I worked there, at least four out of five purchases were the diecast cars. So I'd surmise that, that 67% claim might be right.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota