The Fabulous Work of T-Reproductions

Saturday, February 24, 2018
Sunny
3 C  37.4 F

The Fabulous Work of

T-Reproductions

Please click here to redirect to t-reproductions' website

    I've seen these beautiful reproduction before, but I kept forgetting to contact the company. Finally, I did so earlier in the week, and received an e-mail reply from the owner.  I got the go-ahead to write a post about the company from the owner, Mr. Norman Thomas. 

So that's my post for today. 

The company produces fantastic reproductions of  pressed-steel toys of the 1930's. These have included some nice Buddy 'L' reproduction toys such as the tugboat below. These reproductions are made in limited  quantities, some of which are limited to 25 copies, and then the model is no longer made.  As well, Mr. Thomas will even make customized  reproductions for you.

All of the models are made of high-quality heavy gauge steel. You can tell this by the weight of the

toys, some of which, whose weight are noted below. If you are familiar with Buddy "L" toys, you can see the fine resemblance of Mr. Thomas' models to the original Buddy "L" toys.

Interestingly,  the T-Reproduction models can be found on ebay in the secondary marketplace. 

Those presented on ebay are past models which have been retired from production.

I've focussed only on the trucks, cars, and one tugboat today.  

However, there is a whole line of fine model trains and accessories for the trains.

The tugboat below is a fine example of the work that T-Reproductions does.
The original toy, manufactured by Buddy "L" is quite rare, and yields high
prices at the final price.

Buddy "L" Tugboat

based on the original 1928 boat by Buddy "L"

Red Baby

Truck & Trailer both included

Doctor Coupe Flivver Model

Past  production, limited to 15 models of production

Green Touring Bus

7 wheels with  red spokes, including one spare

Limited to 25 unita

Originally seen at the World's Fair in Chicago (Illinois, USA)

Length x Height x Width:

20" x 7 1/2"  x 5 3/4"     50.74 cm x 19.2 cm x 14.5 cm  

Orange Touring Bus

Has 7 wheels 

Length x Height x Width: 

17" x 7 1/2" x 5 3/4"   43.1 cm x 19 cm x 14.6 cm

Weight:  10 pounds  4.54 kilos

Huckster Canvas Top

Length x Height: 14 1/2" x 7 1/2"  30.68 cm x 10.90 cm

Screen Side Mail Flivver

The back is encased in a mesh type screen.

14 1/2" x 6 1/2"  30.68 cm x 10.65 cm

Produce Flivver One Ton Stock

Powder-coated in high gloss black paint.

Steel-encased pickup bed, with 4 eight red spoke wheels.

Length x Height:  14 1/2" x 6 1/2"  30.68 cm x 10.65 cm

Vegetable Huckster

Powder-coated with high gloss green paint

with 4 eight red spike wheels.

A canvas roof extends over the tail gate.

Length x Height:  14 1/2" x 6 1/2"  30.68 cm x 10.65 cm

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day or night.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

T-Reproductions

Sunday, March 3, 2013

T-Reproductions

(Modern Reproductions of Pressed Steel Originals)

http://www.lloydralstontoys.com

(Please press on the above address to be redirected to the fine site of Lloyd Ralston Gallery)

     I've been  sending e-mails and finally phoned the owner of T-reproductions. We spent a bit of time talking, and I then gave him my website address and asked him to look at it, and to please give me written permission to write about his excellent reproductions. However, businessmen are quite busy, so I didn't hear from him yet.  I will eventually, but I decided to fine other sources of his items and to write about them. Thankfully, the Lloyd Ralston Gallery had some that went to auction, and I was able to use the Gallery's.

     As I mentioned, I had spoken on the phone with Mr. Norman Thomas, the owner of T-Reproductions. We poke briefly, but the conversation was interesting nevertheless. His toy reproductions are made from pressed steel, then  spray-painted with electrically-charge paint particles.  The metal is charged with 1 polarity (+ or -) and the paint is opposite. So when the micro-particles are sprayed out, then migrate to the metal. What was interesting is the explanation of how Mr. Thomas can reproduce the toys. If someone still owns the copyright (the name, logo, or other intellectual property), then he has to arrange for a license to be able to use the name.In this case he's produced both Buddy "L" and Lionel Items.  However, products are patented, and as Mr. Thomas explained with an analogy to the drug industry, patents run out in time. 

    The interesting thing here is that the reproductions are now making their way into the auction market. The company has been around for a while ( I don't know the date when they started up), so there are already a number of the older models around. The company produce limited numbers in a production. Also, these items are well-made.

     I didn't want to "compare" these fine models to the original from 80 year ago. However, if you were to find some in either excellent condition or repainted, you'd have trouble telling the old from the new.

 Thanks for dropping by, 

and have a great part of the day, 

wherever you may be.

Stacey