Posted 9 years ago
Otaco4me
(175 items)
Early 1960's Marusan Ford? Ambulance. 8 1/2 inches long. Opening single rear door. Found this sitting on the top of a shelf of a small antique market. It was being used as a support to hold up a vintage glass triangular shaped exit sign. I could just see a bit of the back and was hoping it might be a Wyandotte ambulance. Moved the offending exit sign and various paper and other debris, possibly mouse doo, lol, as it was just within reach. Had some yellowish patina to it, but looked solid and Japanese. Gave half the asking price on the old sticker and brought it home. About 1/2 hours work, it cleaned up amazing. Back door was a bit stuck at first, but rotating handle freed up and operates excellent. Sometimes little treasures are hidden in these antique markets. This deserved saving rather than being something to use as a support. All round good day picking the little Coast Defence Gun, and this vintage tin Ambulance.
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Great find, that's a good one. It is a 1957 Ford F-100, the only year of that style with single head lights.
I could not find this listed. Is it marked Marusan?
It has the stamp SAN and number 57 Z. Found one online with box. There is also 13 inch model with lights and siren on roof. A few listings online are calling it hospital field ambulance. I first tried searching just SAN , but Marusan kept popping up. The boxed one confirmed it for me, or I would still be guessing. The truck has a little eyelet under front for hooking up a string to pull around. I haven't utilized that feature yet, as I am an adult. lol
Thanks for the lover Caperkid , AZtom, and Nicefice
Thanks for the kind comment Nicefice. I found that if you get enough dust and smoke tar on the old tin toys, it protects them from scratches. The little truck shines like new. Trick I use on them is Mcguires polishing compound. But being light with the touch and careful. Old structo paint is thick and can take a bit of aggression. I am extra cautious on the japan tin and any litho.
Nice score Richard, I can't ever find enough of these little gems either, so detailed!
I use the same cleaning method and it does work great also!!
Cheers!!
Bern
Thank you for the kind comment pickrknows. I have warmed up to this quirky little truck quite a bit. I like the way the handle turns to open the back door and the grafted on the safety rails. I am getting as much enjoyment out of this as I get from my 10x the price Lincolns. It is actually a good scale to park on the shelf with the pressed steel trucks. Sometimes it pays off digging around the dusty corners of antique markets for the stuff that has fallen off to the side and forgotten about.