Vintage Plastic 1960s Eldon Car Ferry #915 w/All 18 Original Cars Red Variant VG

Description: Eldon Plastic “Eldon Car Ferry No. 915” with All 18 Original Cars Red and White VariantEldon Plastics, Los Angeles, CA. Made in USA. Circa 1959-late 1960s . Polyethylene plastic. Measures approx. 17-1/2 inches long. Cars are approx.2-1/4 inches long.Eldon produced this auto ferry from late 1950s to the late 1960s. It was sold in Sears, Montgomery Ward, Alden and a number of other stores. It featured 2 pull-out loading ramps and gates at both ends, 4 lifeboats on davits and rolling wheels on the bottom for floor play. It also floated, even though it was rather long for a tub toy. It mostly came with a red hull and white superstructure but this variation has a white hull and red superstructure. The bridge also sported a pair of searchlights (one on each end) and a radar dish in the center. The radar dish and spotlights were the most fragile parts and are almost always broken off. This example is missing the radar dish and one spotlight.The 18 cars and trucks were all similar to Ford vehicles of the time and included convertibles, sedans, station wagons, pickup trucks and cab-over open back trucks. These vehicles were issued in a variety of colors and most usually in groups of 4 or 3 (each group in the same color). There were most always 3 sets of 4 vehicles and 2 sets of 3 vehicles. Even though Eldon advertising and catalogs usually show a mixture of colors for each vehicle, when it came to filling the bag that they came in, they were usually in groups of the same color. All have the same black one-piece wheels and axles that snap on. All 18 original cars are included with this ship.Polyethylene plastic was a miracle plastic of the 1950s and ‘60s, advertised as “Unbreakable” (a word Eldon used a lot) but remember, plastic production was still in its infancy, a byproduct of WWII research with many different formulas and processes. With age, Poly plastic can change and become brittle, breaking easily. Some collectors claim that long term storage , excess heat and cold and many other factors are to blame. A designer from a plastics company once told me that quality control may be to blame and perhaps the brittle items are just from a “bad batch”. Whatever the cause, older pieces commonly crack or break.This ship and cars is still flexible and has no cracks or breaks.This ship has a broken and missing radar dish (the mount is still there) and is missing one searchlight but no other cracks or breaks. The plastic has a few scuffs on the bottom of the hull but is still flexible and not warped. The colors are still bright.A seldom seen variant.Very Good condition Note: Grid in photos is made up of 1 inch squares. US BUYERS -Choice of FREE USPS Ground Advantage or PRIORITY MAIL (NOT FREE). Buyer pays calculated shipping to your Zip Code International Shipping is by the eBay Global Shipping Program ONLY. They will supply the costs. I have no control over International rates, duties and services. NOTE: COMBINED SHIPPING for Multiple Items (all items in one box) is always applied and is automatically calculated by the eBay shipping program. Most all items are shipped within 2 working days (Mon. – Fri.) of payment. Additional items purchased after payment can not be included in a paid for combined shipping lot. They will be shipped separately. Make sure you have purchased all the items you want before paying for a combined purchase. Please don’t blame me for USPS sipping rates. They are what they are. I will not remove items from their original packaging, try to cram 3-dimensional items into flat envelopes or do anything else that may damage or change the condition of any item that could be returned. A mint, sealed packaged item returned opened or damaged will NOT be accepted. All US shipping includes Delivery Confirmation tracking service (number will be posted on Order Details page). IF YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS that is on file with eBay is NOT CORRECT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. You will be responsible for additional shipping charges if an item is returned for incorrect address. FEEDBACK: I always reply to feedback. I will leave feedback after you receive your item, are happy with it and leave feedback for me. If you have ANY PROBLEMS with your purchase or my service, PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY so that the PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED.

Price: 399 USD

Location: Milton, Massachusetts

End Time: 2024-12-10T01:59:06.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD