Notifications
Clear all
Forum 43
24
Posts
13
Users
49
Reactions
1,556
Views
Topic starter
21/02/2025 1:19 pm
Back in the old days, diecast toy cars were sold in department stores, toy stores, hobby shops, five & dime stores, and even hardware stores. Typically these were the big three - Dinky, Matchbox, and a little later, Corgi. Oh, how I lusted after all those bright shiny models on display all at once! But then the AMT 3 in 1 kits and slot racing appeared, distracting me away from "toys". To enhance my plastic modelling skills, I subscribed to a R&C spinoff, Rod and Custom Models magazine. It only had 8 issues, before being combined back into R&C. But issue #3, as I've posted here before, had an article by Joe Malloy on diecasts, and I was forever made an adherent to our collecting hobby.
Appearing in this issue, besides the "Big Three", were models by Rio, Tekno, Marklin, Dugu, Solido, and others. I never knew so many existed! Apparently, nor did others, and in April, 1965, R&C's Malloy had an article titled "Where to Buy Miniatures". He listed four mail order businesses, which did not include Sinclairs. California Toys, Inc. sold Tekno and Marklin, plus the usual suspects from the UK. R. Gordon and Co., Inc., primarily a retailer of books and magazines, was stated as handling "miniatures for many years", including Rio, Dugu, Solido, RAMI, and Tekno. Auto World's catalog I remember as serving the plastics crowd, but also included Matchbox. The fourth listed was The Lynn Becker Co., but only mentioned Gama from Germany. Becker morphed through Becker's Miniature Cars, Replicars, and finally Marque Products, who many of us remember. So when exactly did Dave Sinclair appear on the scene?
Interestingly, this article also included the addresses of many manufacturers, including an upstart called Marc Europa from Turnbridge Wells in Kent. This is the granddaddy of white metal, perhaps along with Wills Finecast. The first model, a '64 Ferrari GTO, was very crude (there's one on ebay now for $30).
By the late 1960s, things were really taking off, even a Nashville department store that Karl and I shopped at were carrying Tekno and Solido. Magazines devoted to the hobby appeared as well as more mail order houses. And some direct retailing began (I bought my first Brooklins directly from John Hall). Today we all buy a lot via the internet, and only a couple retailers still print catalogs.
I know many of you credit Dave Sinclair for introducing you to the hobby, but I don't think he was first, just marketed himself better. My first mail orders in 1967 included a Rio Isotta Fraschini from Sinclair's and two models from Replicars, a Tekno MG 1100 and a Solido Lola Climax F1. Though I continued to buy from both, most of my business went to Replicars since they carried entire lines whereas Dave sold only items he thought would appeal to US collectors. West coast Replicars was also more into sports/racing cars while Dave favored the antiques and classics, so you can guess which way I leaned.
This topic was modified 1 year ago by Harv Goranson
21/02/2025 3:34 pm
Well, briefly...from
A History of White Metal Transport Modelling by Ray Strutt and David Wright
Sinclair started as a sideline in 1964, but the business really took off in the 1970's.
Keep in mind this information is supplied by the business owner.
21/02/2025 3:52 pm
Excellent info & pics guys, thank you very much!
21/02/2025 5:29 pm
Back in the old days,
Thank you Harv for this bit of model production and selling history. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it and started thinking back to when I got involved with 1/43rd scale, and especially white metal. In fact it was the "old" Forum 43 that introduced me to all the excitement folks had for Brooklin models. So I went in search and found a few in a hobby shop where I purchased supplies and kits. The Brooklin's looked like toy cars to me, but the heft left an undeniable impression, and I seemed drawn to a little red & black LaSalle. Well at about that time my Aunt asked me what I wanted for Christmas, (typical answer was - "nothing") however I mentioned the little red car and she was delighted to purchase it for me. A Merry Christmas indeed because in the new year I found a picture of the 1934 LaSalle, remembered about some BMF just waiting to be used and detailed it. What a difference. My negative thoughts about a heavy but expensive toy car dissipated and metamorphosed into an joyful appreciation of an almost shrunken 1:1. I have detailed many Brooklins now and appreciate that the crisp edges, even of the dash, which make application of BMF much easier, and realism more easily mustered. (Durham and Brooklin models are essentially the same BTW, but that is another story)
The Durham LaSalle on display with two other of my early detailed Brooklins.
This post was modified 1 year ago 7 times by Steve Williams
Models = Miracles in miniature = Holding History in ones hand
Cheers and Happy Collecting,
Steve
21/02/2025 7:53 pm
Great writeup Steve. I started buying Brooklins from John Hall when he was till in Canada. For several years I was buying Brooklins from a dealer in St. Louis who would Bare Metal Foil them for me. Many years later a friend would scrape my Brooklins for me because he enjoyed doing it and was an expert. I believe most detailed Brooklins are as good as models get. Over the years I have bought detailed Brooklins from John Roberts and John White through Dominion Models.
21/02/2025 10:04 pm
I sure miss Bob Hooper and his Dominion Models. Most of my Brooklins and many other model cars besides (Minimarque, MOC, & other quality models too) were purchased through him including a whole slew of stunning Top Marques models.
Loved talking and learning about the hobby with & from him. We discussed many other topics besides. He had my purchasing trust and friendship. May Bob Rest In Peace. 
Models = Miracles in miniature = Holding History in ones hand
Cheers and Happy Collecting,
Steve
21/02/2025 11:14 pm
Thanks everyone for the interesting history of the model cars.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Christopher Moroni reacted
21/02/2025 11:45 pm
I too, miss Bob. Truly a gentleman of the hobby.
He was my model source from 1988 until he stopped his business.
22/02/2025 5:23 am
I remember the Bob webshop were I buy many models of Motor city usa from Europe at very good price and sometimes keep aside the models for me.At those time price were more cheaper than today indeed .
Christopher Moroni reacted
22/02/2025 8:35 am
Here is an old Hemmings article on Sinclair - from the 1970s(?): https://www.hemmings.com/stories/dave-sinclair/
Randy Rusk reacted
22/02/2025 8:38 am
By 1979, Dave Sinclair was at the top of his game, with a beautifully illustrated article in Automobile Quarterly! Have you seen it? Vol XVII, Num 4.
David Green reacted
22/02/2025 1:01 pm
Thank you Karl,
The Dave Sinclair article is a wonderful read and sheds insight into the early days of 1/43 scale collecting. It was much appreciated as I read it this morning with coffee and a cookie. Book marked it in fact. Very enjoyable.
Models = Miracles in miniature = Holding History in ones hand
Cheers and Happy Collecting,
Steve
Karl Schnelle reacted
22/02/2025 1:42 pm
I enjoyed the article. Most of this history is long before I started collecting, or even knew about 1/43 scale models. Thanks for the link.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Karl Schnelle reacted
22/02/2025 1:44 pm
You are a font of little car knowledge Karl. Thank you for this reference too. Looked around for it in the few Auto Quarterlies I have decorating my office floor, and by golly, have it. An 8 page article. What a wonderful Saturday morning treat.By 1979, Dave Sinclair was at the top of his game, with a beautifully illustrated article in Automobile Quarterly! Have you seen it? Vol XVII, Num 4.
The Book Floor, as there is no longer any book shelf space left. Book storage found along all four walls.
This post was modified 1 year ago 3 times by Steve Williams
Models = Miracles in miniature = Holding History in ones hand
Cheers and Happy Collecting,
Steve
Karl Schnelle and David Green reacted
22/02/2025 3:39 pm
As a predominantly Brooklin collector, I recall working with Eric Gabriel (?) of Florissant MO, and then Dominion when he Eric left the business. Having said that eBay was definitely my friend and I got some excellent bargains there over the years, right down to the white Lansdowne Cresta I just purchased for $135 (it was always $200+ before).
Retired in Dunedin, Florida.
David Green reacted
Page 1 / 2
Next