Lenny Hummel’s Highway Interchange Set with Alfas.
In December of 2018, we ran an And How! article that featured several green Alfas, the real car, a bubble gum card and a tinplate Alfa, of which we wrote:
“…tucked away on another shelf is a tin plate Alfa Sprint. A child’s toy, really rough and almost hideous. But one just doesn’t throw things like that away. By the looks of the grille it is a 101 series model, maybe a 1600, with a front drive friction motor. It does not even have a manufacturers name anywhere on it, but it’s totally original. The color always put me a bit off but the toy was worth saving.”
Marc Zeboni’s find…
We safely assumed that we possessed the only extant example of this rather poorly done tinplate toy. But again, we underestimated our readers. We really didn’t think there could be another, exact same Alfa tin toy out there. But then Marc Zeboni submitted a comment:
Pete, I have the same tin green Alfa but it came without wheel hubcaps so I made some from thumbtacks to fit in my toy repair home shop. They look exactly like the real ones. These tin Giuliettas were made in Japan.
While we were amazed to find another tinplate Alfa, we were even more surprised to find out that there were at least three more!
Recently we received another email, from Lenny Hummel of Lloyd Harbor, N.Y. Lenny really hit the jackpot with a find that included THREE of the tinplate Alfas. And all three are mint. But wait, there’s more! They were part of a complete toy set that included roadways to represent a modern highway interchange, which due to the construction of the American Interstate system, probably got a lot of attention.
Here is Lenny’s description of the set:
This is a VERY rare set issued by Yonezawa, a respected Japanese tin toy manufacturer from back in the 50s. Looking for more information on the set I found your earlier articles on these tin Alfa Romeos. I was also impressed with the comments and the interest of your readers on everything Alfa Romeo. As a rabid collector of tin cars, I was thrilled to find a complete set of these three cars with steering wheel and track. They are all in remarkable never played with condition. The colors are crisp, chrome unmarred and zero scratches. Even the red button when pushed makes a beeping sound. The cars are battery operated. The track snaps together and the cars run with the raised sides keeping them in check. The track can divide with the use of the single green cable which attaches to the track. There are tin pieces that raise the height.
The set in the original box.
The control box that divides the track.
Three amigos.
Underside with battery box and wheels.
Now, top that!
Fantastic set!
I never saw a battery operated version of these tin Sprints
We would love to see a video of the cars moving on the track!
Interessanti queste Giulietta sprint di latta.
Per chi come me avanti negli anni… una cartolina dal passato.
Negli anni 50-60 il Giappone insieme alla Germania avevano la supremazia sui giochi di latta, a spinta, a frizione, con la sirena, a batteria, filo guidati.
Quanti da bambino ne ho ricevuto in regalo.
Gianni
Interesting, these tinplate Giulietta sprints.
For those like me over the years … a postcard from the past.
In the 50s and 60s Japan together with Germany had the supremacy on the games of tin, push, friction, with the siren, battery operated, guided wire.
How many as a child I received as a gift.
Fabulous set. As a long-time collector of Japanese and German tinplate toy cars (note: I did not say “model cars”, but “toy cars”, a vast difference in customership and children preferences… ), I truly appreciate the charm of such (as I quote you) “ungainly” toys.
To each his own I guess, but I so prefer such a rendition of the Giulietta, of which tooling was lovingly crafted by Japanese tool makers, unlike the cold and heartless models produced in virtual slavery conditions in China.
Yes, make a video, please
fascinating! Never seen before and bleakens my Bandai Giulietta Sprint!