Express & Star

Childhood memories fuel model collection for former antiques dealer Martyn

Collecting rare cars has been a labour of love for Martyn Brown. The 67-year-old had been collecting the mini models on and off since he was a child but it was not until he sold his last one about 10 years ago that he was inspired to start collecting in earnest again.

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Mr Brown, of Hagley, said: "In the mid-1950s when I was a child they were the first gifts I had as a Christmas present and I've always remembered them.

"Just before I retired I only had one left and I sold it. But I lived to regret it."

So for the past decade, with renewed interest, Mr Brown has collected dozens of the mini tinplate speed and racing cars – the smallest being just under four inches and the largest about 18 inches.

Mr Brown with his 1930s Silver Bullet from Germany

When Mr Brown was growing up, collectors would have to rely on someone selling one of the cars to a local shop or at auction but now, with ready access to the internet, he has discovered most of the cars he loves are available – albeit at a price.

And when Mr Brown was a child, the cars were still well out of the financial reach of many families.

While his rare chrome variation model by German firm Guntherman was 16 shillings and sixpence in the 1930s, a man's wage at the time would have been under £3 a week, he said.

He added: "Only the most well off children would have them and when I was a child it would have taken me weeks to save up enough for a decent car.

"Most of the toys were clockwork, produced in bright colours and any child of the period would have loved to have owned them."

There is even a Black Country link to the production of the racing cars, with Sunbeam of Wolverhampton making a land speed car known as The Slug which became the first car to travel faster than 200mph and set a new land speed record. It wasn't long before this 1927 history-making event was recreated in toy form.

Mr Brown, who owned Martyn Brown Antiques in Birmingham and Halesowen for about 40 years before retiring, focuses on cars from 1920 until 1950 and he spends a lot of time scouring the internet for any that he might like to collect and has now amassed over 100.

The real Sunbeam Slug, a model of which Marytn treasures

He said: "You get a bit obsessive. I just keep buying them. With the internet I can buy them from all over the world and because of that in the last 10 years they're more available but more expensive."

The cheaper versions can go for £70 or £80 but the more pricey models can fetch many hundreds of pounds.

"You'll probably wonder why old folks like me are so interested in them, but it's about the memories, I guess, and things that aren't going to come again. They are being made but not with the same quality."

His current search is for a 1950s boxed Scalex racing car and the large CIJ P2 Alfa racing car and can be contacted on 07976 252 703 by anyone who might have any to sell.

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