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Gibbs Metal Miniatures was associated with Mercury (Italy, USA, possibly Canada). These Chevy trucks are unique to Gibbs and Lit'l Toy (the two are basically the same company), but many of the models sold by Gibbs / Lit'l Toy started life as Mercury of Italy, and as such have Mercury USA on the base. I am a bit fuzzy on the details, but there was a fire at one factory (Gibbs?), so they packed up and set up shop in a different location and reopened under the other name (Lit'l Toy?). Since Mercury of Italy were selling their heavy equipment models up to around 1963, and Mini Dinky (Lines Brothers) issued their variants of the heavy equipment around 1969-71, I presume that combined Gibbs and Lit'l Toy operated in between, sometime between 1963 and 1969. Gibbs trucks are highly sought, some of their models are darn near impossible to find. On the plus side, because these scale nicely for HO railroads, they were popular for use as model railroad scenery and can be found on occasion priced reasonably, so deals can be found. The lack of window glazing and full interiors may turn off some collectors, but the overall presence of the Chevy trucks (and the full line of models in general) are pretty darn accurate to the real thing.
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Gibbs Metal Miniatures was associated with Mercury (Italy, USA, possibly Canada). These Chevy trucks are unique to Gibbs and Lit'l Toy (the two are basically the same company), but many of the models sold by Gibbs / Lit'l Toy started life as Mercury of Italy, and as such have Mercury USA on the base. I am a bit fuzzy on the details, but there was a fire at one factory (Gibbs?), so they packed up and set up shop in a different location and reopened under the other name (Lit'l Toy?). Since Mercury of Italy were selling their heavy equipment models up to around 1963, and Mini Dinky (Lines Brothers) issued their variants of the heavy equipment around 1969-71, I presume that combined Gibbs and Lit'l Toy operated in between, sometime between 1963 and 1969. Gibbs trucks are highly sought, some of their models are darn near impossible to find. On the plus side, because these scale nicely for HO railroads, they were popular for use as model railroad scenery and can be found on occasion priced reasonably, so deals can be found. The lack of window glazing and full interiors may turn off some collectors, but the overall presence of the Chevy trucks (and the full line of models in general) are pretty darn accurate to the real thing.The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)
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Awesome Chevy dump trucks! I had a red one before trading it to fucumi in the MCCH days. I recall these various construction models showing up in many pictures in the various model railroad magazines in the '60's as well as ads for them. Most of the ones I had in my collection, at one time, came from the base exchange/PX at the Larson Air Force Base in the State of Washington where my dad was assigned. -
Nice looking and hefty dump trucks from the days when toys were meant to be strong and have good play features.DougComment
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Wes is the dump bed functional?
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The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)
Thank you for your understanding.Comment
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That's cool. I thought maybe it had a working piston or was able to hold the bed lifted in air.Comment
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I think with current technology (I've seen piston rams on tractors and such in the past 10-15 years or so) that could be done, but I think this was made a bit before that was practical. I think with window glazing and an interior plus a dump ram this would be right at home today with the likes of Greenlight and Auto World...factory blemish on the windshield frame notwithstanding.
I wonder what became of these old tools? Lines Brothers didn't use them and neither did Universal. I can only guess Gibbs/Lit'l Toy went the way of the Dodo not long after parting with the equipment tools, so odds are pretty good these tools ended up in the scrap yard.The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)
Thank you for your understanding.Comment
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oh neat
I wants one
What else did they make?Comment
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Crafty has or had a standard Chevy pickup truck, what made me aware of this company. I've since picked up a brochure:
I've yet to see the stretching flatbed, the only time I saw the GMC semi with box trailer it sold for over $100 (in package). I have the Schramm compressor, lucky find. The other models are all former Mercury of Italy, thanks to Random I now have the Autocar dump. The only remaining piece in this brochure I do not yet have is the Lima Shovel, and nice ones typically flirt with between $75-100 (Mercury or Gibbs, although I think I read somewhere later Gibbs versions had a plastic base?)
The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)
Thank you for your understanding.Comment
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Here's the Chevy pickup Wes mentioned which I ran for TOTW back in 2016 on Swifty's Garage. I scored this at the Gateway Farm Toy Show in St. Louis in the same year I originally posted pics. I guesstimated it's a 1964 C-10 model.
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I collect these Chevy trucks also. Would love to find that Rogers trailer, the real ones are built in my wifes hometown.
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Only one of these I've been able to find. Missing its wheels and tailgate unfortunately. Thanks to your pictures I know what the wheels look like now!
The cabovers, the red one has GMC markings instead of Chevrolet.
Tire lettering variation...
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all I can say is
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I think if all are in agreement I will move this to the Gibbs database (it is tied to Mini Dinky for the relationship with the equipment). This is by far the most Gibbs / Lit'l toy models, particularly the trucks, that I've ever seen in one place.The image file limits have been reset. Upper limits now are 100,000 when we have some images that exceed 5,000,000. I've set the pixels for no more than 1000 across the longest side, so if you resize to that all should be well. (The limits are larger than what I typically use, and my images turn out just fine, so I know it shouldn't be a problem)
Thank you for your understanding.Comment
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I fully agree, I feel so much like a rookie newbie as I had never heard of 'Gibbs'Originally posted by Frans View Post all I can say is Mr. Bowtie
Past President of the Diecast Liberation Movement & maybe possibly a member of the "Black With Flames" Classification Committee (if such an entity exists and has a classification committee) Which I deny ever being part of.Comment
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