I had another model in mind, but I will bump it to next week, this one just seems more appropriate to the date today.
High Speed made a number of models that were issued as premiums for Readers Digest magazine subscriptions, including a series of Fire Engines. This was actually the first I found, in a Salvation Army thrift store years ago. It is also a favorite among the models issued. The models were also issued as Grell (I can't think of any exceptions right now), and there are some Grell issues that were not released as Readers Digest - so the High Speed range of Fire Engines is a good bit larger than just the Readers Digest models. Most of the Grell exclusives are "foreign" to American eyes and likely why they were passed over.
These are heavy on plastic and light on metal, and lack windows or interiors, but make up for it with accurate lines. The range covers models from the horse drawn era (I presume 1890s or so) up to this one in the mid-1970s, and include models not covered elsewhere. The departments are generic (the Grells typically advertise beer). Prices are modest, I think I gave a dollar for this one and I see small lots on the 'bay listing 3 or 4 for $10 or so and shipping...and up from there, which don't usually sell at the higher prices. The Readers Digest issues aren't difficult to find at least in America, but the Grell issues which typically come out of Germany can be a challenge - especially if you are looking for a specific model, and with shipping can be priced several times what the RD models can be had for.
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