In Part 28 of Collecting-- and collecting information I tried to fit all the variations of the Shioji friction truck into a timeline. I didn't own the tow truck. But based on photos, I deduced that it was probably a first generation model.
Recently a Shioji tow truck became available at a reasonable price (for me). So I got to compare it first-hand to the trucks I already own.
An early model for sure
Based on direct comparison, I'm confident that this is a first generation Shioji friction truck. The primary markers -- hubcaps, number of tabs in the chassis, chassis contour -- all check out. |
| The Shioji trucks, from the newest (left) to oldest (right) in design. |
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| Left to right: newest to oldest. It's pretty easy to see the changes in the chassis. |
Shared components
In the original post, I speculated that the crank mechanism was the same for the tow truck and the dump truck. That's not quite correct.
The steel crank of the tow truck is different than the dump truck lift. But they both use the same rubber knob.
No strings attached
One additional piece of information I could gather from examining the truck. The crank suggested that there was a hook that could be raised and lowered. Although I've never found an example of the truck with the hook, I have a little better idea of what to look for. |
| The crankshaft still had some of the original twine wrapped around it. |
There was some twine still wrapped around the crankshaft. The age of the twine suggests that it was original to the truck. To me, it suggests that the hook would need a little weight to keep the string taut. Perhaps the hook was cast metal?
A welcome addition
In any case, the tow truck looks good on the Straco Express display layout. It's a little oversized for the service station, but on the road it makes a nice piece. And if I can find a replacement hook of some kind, I might have it displayed towing a vehicle!
- Pegboard: $4.95
- Flathead Screws: $0.40
- Molding: $2.49
- SilClear: borrowed from a friend
- Green Paint: leftover from another project
- Wood Screws: $3.60
- Felt Pads: $1.99
Small Houses: $3.00
Testor's Gray Paint for road: $1.29
Bandai Areo Station: $8.99
Bandai Station: $10.00
2 tinplate signs: $1.00
4 tinplate signs (with train) $5.99
Cragstan HO Light Tower $20.49
4 nesting houses $4.99
Tinplate gas station: $5.00
- Two Japanese toy cars: $2.00
- A.W. Livestock truck: $4.99
- Taxi: $2.99
- Ambulance: $2.99
- Two Japanese patriotic cars: $6.99
- Haji three-wheel sedan $3.00
- Haji three-wheel tanker $5.00
- 1950's sedan $2.99
- LineMar Police Car $9.00
- LineMar Pepco Truck $8.50
- LineMar Bond Bread Van $8.00
- LineMar Fire Engine $4.95
- LineMar Dump Truck $12.99
- LineMar GE Courier Car $10.98
- LineMar County School Bus $9.99
- Nomura Red Sedan $5.00
- Nomura Police Car $2.52
- Nomura lumber truck $3.48
- 6 Nomura vehicles $16.99
- Shioji Express Truck $10.00
- Shioji Covered Truck $12.50
- Shioji Dump Truck $9.95
- Shioji Shell Tanker $10.50
- Shioji Tow Truck $25.00
- Orange Sedan $10.99
- King Sedan $9.95
- Indian Head logo sedan $4.99
- Indian Head (?) convertible $18.00
- Yellow/red Express truck $9.99
- Red limousine FREE
- Jeep $12.00
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