Trade Boxes

Fantastic, can see many trade boxes that I am looking for, pleasing to know examples are still out there of the ones I am missing. My ambition/intention is to try and accumulate an example of each type for each model. This forum taught me to look at the sales of Vectis, which I have done, to establish a comprehensive list of the trade boxes to collect. Ramseys is good but not complete. One section of the trade boxes as yet do not have an example of is the military post war trade boxes, hopfully they will turn up. Am curious and eager to meet or chat with fellow trade box collectors for the benefit of both and all, please contact me if you have a mutual interest. David

One of my secrets is that I am not so fussy about the condition of the trade box, there are many that I have repaired and cleaned. Unfortunatly not many have the original models in, some do and those sometimes have all the original inserts as well as the dividers. I say unfortunatley, but I do enjoy filling in the boxes, which also gives me the opportunity to learn about the variations of a model. The articles in the ' journal', which I know some of you are the authors of many of those articles, are becoming my check lists. My thanks and appreciation goes to you, look forward to meeting you some day. David

David I looked for such a stapler but could not find one. The machine used for Meccano's tradeboxes must have been a heavy industrial machine making it's staples from a real of steel wire as a side feeder can not be used. The price for such a stapler would be way out of what you want to pay for it. There are guys making repro or fake tradeboxes. How do they do the stapling ? Do they simply glue their boxes ?

I wonder if some one can help me with a simple question, have explained how I enjoy bringing the life back into some of the boxes but cannot find a stapler that staples vertically. How is that acheived? David

I'll see if I can make a fake staple making video tonight. Using only tools probably everyone has lying around - a bit of wood, a hammer, pair of pliers and (optionally) some bits of meccano. For staples, I use 23/20 - my brand is 5staroffice. Jacques is very likely correct that a box stitcher would have been used on the original trades.

The methode I have adopted thus far is to remove staples from old similar distressed boxes but would like to get my hands on the appropiate stapler. David

Trade box fake staples - how to make and install them. An original Dinky trade box staple (1) is about 14mm on the crown. Now I could not find any manufactured to size staples but I can buy 20/23 large staples (2) in boxes of 1000 from most stationers, split them apart and scrape off any glue. They are, of course, not rusty staples but a few days exposure on a tissue soaked in salty water soon acquired the required appearance. Then I cut the staples mid-crown (3) with the pliers - just judging by eye. Now it just happens that a Meccano channel bearing is just the right width (4).. but you could make a wad of glued card as your measuring guide. Gripping the leg of the staple with the plier jaws (5), I bend 90 degrees and now I have a new staple with a 14mm crown (6). I locate and tap in my new rusty staples through the first layer of card flap (7). This bit of wood is a good size - about 12' x 24' - which I can straddle across my lap to get on top of the work. Tucking the lower flap and squaring up the corner with the edge of the board, I tap the staples through (. Working the staples all the way through now, their legs are open and somewhat crooked (9) but I can generally fold them down with a strip of meccano - or a butterknife or whatever else you have to hand (10). They will not fold exactly flat (11) so they will need a squeeze from the pliers (12) to close them completely. Of course the pliers will not reach to crimp a deeply set staple but I use the hammer as a last and tap the staple with the nose of the pliers to close them up (13). And there we have the finised effect (14).

Thats really good will try that. I use old dentists tools to repair and reshape the boxes, as well as a little modeling glue and sometimes a travel steam iron. The effect is usually acceptable, 'you can never make a silk purse out of a pigs ears' is the old saying, but a silk purse was not the intention just wanted to place my models into something original. The tool I have also got is an old wooden wheeled decorators jointing roller, really useful, oh and many clamps and weights. Its the roller I use to flaten the staples. Thank you for the contribution. David.

David, I have just talked with a friend who ran a box factory. He confirmed that the staples were made from a reel of wire and he said that this type of staplers is not made any more and have not been for at least 20 years. At the moment he is away at the other end of the country but he promessed to investigate the mater when he comes home a couple of miles from here. I will let you know then.

Yes, that is what I have called the salmon colour, I have one similar to your colour suggesting, in fact I think it is my box you have pictured, and is as it was produced. I also have two yellow boxes for the racing car but they have printing on the flat upper side, so I do not consider fading to explain the difference. Also your 29c trade box, to me is the post war label and therefore a late 1945 or a 1946 example. Your model looks prewar so if the model and box are not a mariage, then your model may well be prewar issued post war but think not. All prewar labels, which also applies to the Hornby Dublo, the Hornby 'O' Gauge and extremley likely Dinky too have the border lines around label hatched like the picture above 'A1002, and yours being solid informs me that it is early post war. If this was mine I would be filling it with type 1 buses, noticeable with the 'V' on the radiator. David David

WoW! What an interesting thread! i can offer nothing to it though as I only have one post-war box for the 29F Observation Coach.

Had not noticed the duplication in this case, other duplication was aware of, do you think this is a timing thing, it seems not on the face of it. Will consult the 50 xx list on this site. Also wondered if these trade boxes had been recorded. David