Collector
& author David Daw searches for answers to little know diecast variations
and manufacturers. In this article he focusing on Australia's little
know but greatly respected Streamlux brand and its connection with
Fun Ho!
One
of many Australian manufacturers of die-cast model vehicles
about
which little is known is Streamlux (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. This producer
was one of a number of such companies active in the industry
in
Melbourne in the 1950's. Despite extensive research I have been
unable to find any contemporary advertising of the short
range of
die-cast models produced by Streamlux before it abandoned their
production in face of the combined effect of changing government
trade policies and the increasing importation of superior models
with such well-known brand-names as Matchbox, Corgi, and
Dinky Toys.
Although
there were only nine models in the Streamlux miniature series they
covered quite a broad range of road vehicles. They were even smaller
than most of the original Matchbox 1-75 series, being around 1:80
scale and in some cases smaller. Almost all bore the inscription
"Streamlux Aust." on the base. In the case of the tractor this may
be found around the rim of the rear wheels, and for the others it
appears on the base or underside of the model, with "Australia"
embossed in full on the airline coach. Apart from the tractor, only
one style of wheel was used, this was black in plastic. The only
reference to these Streamlux miniatures originally being marketed
in boxes goes on to state that they were later issued in clear plastic
packets. The nine models of Streamlux miniatures were:
#1 - MASSEY FERGUSON
35 TRACTOR Length 42mm. This was a simple two-part casting
split along the centre. It featured a driver and was very similar
to the Matchbox Series MB-4a tractor. Unlike its Matchbox cousin,
the Streamlux model featured a towing hook, although nothing was
ever produced for it to tow.
#2 - HOLDEN FE SPECIAL
SEDAN. Length 53mm. This was a reasonably good contemporary
representation of the Holden FE model.
#3 - AUSTIN TRUCK.
Length 50mm - and hence to a much smaller scale than the
first two in the Streamlux series. The cab and chassis components
were also used for two other models in this small series - the petrol
tanker and the tip truck. The inscription "Streamlux Aust." appears
under the cab on all three. For its size, it's an attractive little
model, well designed and simply constructed. The cab had no floor,
and a single rivet held the tray in place. It had dual rear wheels,
and was produced in a number of different colours.
#4 - AUSTIN PETROL
TANKER. Length 50mm. With the same cab and chassis as the
truck, this model also had rear mudguards sitting over the chassis
and held in place under the two-part tank, with the entire rear
unit held in place by one rivet.
#5 - VOLKSWAGEN
COMBI BUS Length 52mm. This too is an attractive little model
though not without its faults. Looking perhaps a little too wide,
it incorrectly features double doors on both sides of the passenger
section. The identification on the base was "Volks-Bus" and "Streamlux
(Aust.)".
#6 - MERCEDES BENZ
W196 RACER. Length 50mm. Quite recognisable as a representation
of the real racer, its features include the Mercedes star in the
centre of the bonnet. The seat was part of the base casting, and
unusually for its period it did not carry a driver permanently cast
in his place. The identification on the base was "Mercedes-Benz
Streamlux (Aust.)".
#7 - COMMER COACH.
Length 52mm. Again, this model is a reasonably good representation
of the real thing, which will be remembered by older collectors
in airline service around Australia, carrying passengers for Australian
National Airways from company's city offices to capital city airports.
Indeed, these one-and-a-half deckers were closely identified with
the airline itself until it was taken over and became Ansett-ANA
late in 1957. It is not a difficult model to find in various colours,
but with ANA decal intact it is now quite rare. Underneath it shows
basic mechanical details, with "Streamlux" cast on one side and
"Australia" on the other. There is some detailing of lights on the
front or lower portion of the roof, offset in appearance by a fairly
obvious casting join along the middle. There is no passenger door
detail, but the rear doors for the luggage compartment are neatly
cast. I find this a little perplexing, as I can vouch from personal
experience that ANA's passengers did not have to scramble through
the luggage compartment to find their seats.
#8 - AUSTIN TIP
TRUCK. Length 56mm. This model is much harder to find
than its two companions are, probably due in part to its
less robust
construction. The tipping or dumper-style tray features heavily
rigid sides and an upturned rear panel. The weakness of construction
lay in the two small spigots at the rear of the body, which held
the tray in place. The tray was thus easily dislodged and
lost.
#9 - VOLKSWAGEN
SEDAN. Length 42mm. The oval rear window model of the real
thing was favoured for this model. The VW emblem is finely cast
on the bonnet, which is a bit too short. Overall, this too is a
nice little model, which unfortunately was the last in the Streamlux
series of miniature models.
ABOVE: Streamlux VW van, left, with two Fun-Ho vans.
The right-hand Fun-Ho has a raised panel on the roof.
By 1962, Streamlux had discontinued production
of this short range of miniature models and sold the dies to
Underwood
Engineering of Inglewood, New Zealand. Underwood had been making
toys including large model vehicles since 1939, but Streamlux
dies
marked the commencement of a range of miniature vehicles, which
became quite extensive over the following 20 years of production.
In the early period of production by Underwood,
the Streamlux dies were used without alteration, hence the continued
appearance of "Streamlux" and "Aust/Australia" on these first Fun
HO! miniatures. In due course Underwood's engineers removed the
Australian identification, and so it is possible to find these models
with no producer or country of origin indicated. Later, as time
permitted, Fun HO! inscriptions were engraved onto the dies. But
that becomes another story...
It is not widely known that the Australian
manufacturer Weico Models of Victoria produced white metal reproductions
of two of these Streamlux models. They were the tractor and the
airline coach. Neither bore the inscription of either Streamlux
or Fun HO!, as production took place well after the original dies
had passed from Streamlux to Fun Ho!. They were available in either
kit or fully built form, but are not often seen on the collectors
market in either form today. Nevertheless, for the serious collector
of either range, or of Australian and New Zealand made toys generally,
they are of considerable intrinsic interest.
ABOVE: Streamlux Holden, left, with "STREAMLUX
(AUST)" cast on base, and the later Fun Ho model, with reference
to Streamlux removed from the base.
Streamlux also produced one large model
of the Holden FE sedan, released by GMH in July 1956. The Streamlux
model, 112mm long, was made in 1957 in about 1:36 scale, but for
whatever reason only a small quantity was produced at the time.
It represented the real thing tolerably well, although the headlights
were too large and prominent. These were re-manufactured in 1977
from the original dies and marketed by Pier van Netten's Model Cars
of the World in kit form using original boxes. The kits make up
into models, which are reasonably attractive and compare well with
other contemporary models. It is likely that more were completed
by collectors than were left in kit form.
This particular model had no known subsequent
connection with Fun HO!, although the Fun HO! museum in New Zealand
today has two examples one of which is fitted with white Fun HO!
plastic wheels. I am grateful to Pier van Netten for some of the
details in this article.
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