When the company ceased production in the mid-1950's, two models of trucks were in production. These were the #21 Fire Truck (of MIC style) and the yellow GMC Coke truck. The paint and decals had been applied many years ago; the trucks simply needed to be assembled. Here one of Fred's first production problems arose. The twenty-some year old tires had hardened to the point that mounting them on wheels had become nearly impossible. To remedy this situation, Fred had the original maker produce new tires using the original compound from the original molds. This problem was overcome; the trucks were assembled from the remaining parts on hand; and original boxes were folded and secured to hold the new-old-stock trucks to be sold. (The only known way, to my knowledge, of differentiating between one of the factory leftover trucks and former production ones is by the tires. It really doesn't matter anyway.)
As Fred was moving his newly acquired corporate assets, he discovered a modest quantity of previously produced trucks. Most of these had not been sold, probably because they had not passed final inspection for reasons that would not exclude them from collections today. For example, I obtained an otherwise mint example of an M.I.C. lumber truck with one problem. There was a scratch in the paint on the right fender about one half inch long; it appeared to have been caused by a headlight that slipped during assembly. A second example was a B Mack P.I.E. that was found in the rafters. This truck was sold to a collector in the East and immediately returned because it had an extra spot weld in the trailer roof and bulldog hood ornament. I subsequently purchased the truck and later had the opportunity to thank the wary first purchaser. (No, none of these trucks remain, zero. Don't call or write, at least not in an attempt to score one of these old stock trucks. They are all gone.)
The second course of action was to make new Smith-Miller trucks. The new trucks had to be at least of equal quality and ones that might have been formerly made had production not ceased. In regard to quality, keep in mind that Smith-Miller made toy trucks, not collectibles or models. Minor flaws were not unusual on the original trucks. As examples, LF Mack cabs almost always show file marks, and most show results on the hoods and grills of deteriorating dies. Crooked and missing decals are not unusual, and the paint may sometimes contain a run or a thin spot.
Fred Thompson and the Smith-Miller Corporation of today have produced 48 different toy trucks. These newer trucks have all been serially numbered limited edition issues. They are made from new-old-stock parts, replacement parts made form original dies and/or to original specifications and newly manufactured parts, which are made to exacting standards. The trucks are hand assembled and packed and shipped in the best and probably most secure packaging available.
The approximate year of issue (approximate because Fred was not absolutely certain for some of the trucks) and descriptive information for the limited edition trucks thus far produced.
Previous
|
|
