and as you say, probably made in china or made in japan toy, the problem with them is, thats all they said underneath and most of them didnt have a makers name

Location: Liverpool

That ladder looks to be of much higher quality than I would expect to see from Japanese or Hong Kong tin or plastic stuff of that period. It looks more like it was taken from a model, rather than a toy.

Maybe some of our European friends can shed some light?

You have to remember that most of the vehicles were hand made, in various scales, some were adaptations of regular models, others were adapted, or copied in another scale.
The series was made in the mid 60's, well before many firetruck models were made, especialy the AEC you have pictured.
I can remember as a schoolboy, going to the Earls Court motor show in London, and saw the studio model of Lady Penelopes Rolls, and that was about 6 feet long.
Needless to say, they had lots more in a much smaller scale.
I can remember many large scale tin toys, but most of the ladders were crude pressed silver tin, and looked nothing like the one in the thunderbirds photo.

Location: London UK

thanks Pete and Steve,

Im open to any suggestions, If they never had used the converted toy fire engine as a tanker, then I maybe would have thought the ladder was hand built, but speaking to many people who worked or have researched how the studio model makers worked, have said they where on very strict timescales and would quickly cut and bodge toys of the time, also it saved money.

the rack and gear arrangement on the rear, also makes me think it was from a large model or toy, as I dont think they would have went to the trouble of making that when it wouldnt be used, you do see the ladder being lowered in one shot, but thats by someone holding it by a wire from above.



heres a better shot of the ladder and the kit bits Ive managed to work out so far,

also, they must have bought and used 2 of the toy fire engines, as they also put a ladder on this yellow fire engine, and so would have had 2 spare rear wheels to add to the rear of the tanker




cheers

Mike

Location: Liverpool

Actualy, I may well be wrong about the AEC, it was produced for real in 1966, but I have no idea when any models were made of it, and at best, I can only remember the super king.

Location: London UK

the models where made mid to late 1964, Im not sure when that shape AEC came out, around 1960 Im guessing?

and although not the toy, this is the style of toy Im looking at, made by Hover in Hong kong, a make Ive never heard of before




Mike

Location: Liverpool

hi guys just a quick update, Ive still not been able to track down the large aec merryweather toy yet, but have made some progress on what I have, still not complete but gives an idea.
Ive been told by one of the original studio model makers that it was in fact a large toy aec merryweather that they bought from the local woolworths store.
the white stanchion on this was also made from another 60s toy fire engine