Collecting - And Collecting Information 35

When labels fail

In the early postwar years, Japan provided a steady supply of inexpensive toys to the American market. Many of these cheap tin toys were brought in by American importers under their own brand. Others were simply brought in and distributed to jobbers for placement in dime stores, department stores, and pharmacies.

Margins were low, and it was never about brands -- just price. Many of the small friction cars I've accumulated for the Straco Display Layout have no logos on them. Sometimes it's possible to figure out which company made a particular piece. 

If a company didn't always brand their toys, the original packaging can often help.  But not always.

Another dead end

When I saw this new old stock convertible for sale, I was hopeful. It's identical (save in color) to one I already own (see Straco Express Layout, Part 35). The vehicle itself has nothing to indicate which company made it.

The new old stock convertible (top), and the example
I own (bottom). Origin still unknown.

Unfortunately, neither does the packaging. The label simply reads "Four wheels friction car, Japan" in a generic font. Obviously, these toys were made for the low end of a rack jobbers' selection. My guess is they retailed for a nickel or less, and were sold in the late 1950s.

And another insight

I ran across another vintage Japanese friction car in its original packaging on eBay. The label was of better quality than the convertible's. It was printed on cardstock and in color! The information was equally unhelpful, though. "Assorted Cars" is pretty generic.

But I own an example of that same vehicle (see Straco Express, Part 31). So I know the car itself is branded. On the side is the "TN" trademark of Nomura. And that provides some additional information. Nomura either provided an importer with these cars, or another Japanese company sourced them to put together packages for importers.

Either way, I now know that Nomura was at least one of the suppliers for "Assorted Cars." The next step will be to find other vehicles in bags with this same label. Will they all be Nomura toys? Hard to say. Nomura usually put their brand on the packaging (even when making products for other companies). I think it likely that other toy manufacturers also provided products for "Assorted Cars" (whoever they were).

No question - this is the same car that 's in the bag.

And there's the TN mark on the back.