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The range of Tri-ang large scale pressed steel Thames Traders were produced from around 1958/59 through to around 1966. In 1957 the real life Thames Traders were introduced by Ford. |
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In 1958/59 the Tri-ang Thames Traders appeared and there was a range of 15 different vehicles. The Tri-ang range of Thames Traders emulated their real life counterparts so that when the real Thames Trader was face lifted in 1961 with a revised grille arrangement,so too was the Tri-ang version which received its facelift the year after in 1962. So let's have a look at all these great Thames Trader's. |
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Thames Trader Tip Lorry |
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The Thames Trader has two different grills. On the left photo the range Thames with a simple grill. The right picture: a later grill with headlights, who could be switched on at the side. The later, revised version became plastic windows.
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Thames Trader Milk Truck This truck was supplied with 6 "ugly" plastic milk churns. The first series bottles the text "Tri-ang Dairies "" was printed in red, the later series the text was stamped into the plastic. |
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Thames Trader Farm Truck Thist truck is similar to the above Milk truck, |
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I'm not 100% sure, but I think that "roof"the lorry on the pictures right,is not original, but home made. |
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Thames Trader Express Delivery Van |
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Thames Trader Fire Engine According to the catalogue a Fireman comes with this Fire engine. On the underside was a bell mounted, pulling the truck along this bell rings through a simple mechanism. ( Photo's from David Allan, Thank's David!) |
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Thames Trader Crash Truck The Thames Trader Breakdown service has a toolbox on board. This box contains several tools like a hammer and a screwdriver. The same and more tools Tri-ang provided with the Convert- tile of the Ranger serie and in the Fix it -truck. These tools are often missing and very hard to find. |
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Thames Trader Mech. Horse & Open Truck As with any other tipper or open truck this one could be supplied with wooden blocks. |
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Thames Trader Mech. Horse rocket Transporter This Rocker Transporter is far out the most exiting one! |
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Thames Trader Mech. Horse & Car Transporter Again very poor and "ugly" accessories with this transporter |
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Thames Trader Non. Mech. Horse & Low Loader with High Lift Loader |
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Thames Trader Mech. Horse & Flat Truck with boat |
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Thames Trader Mech. Horse & Pantechnicon with furniture Yes, this model had "real" furniture on board. |
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Thames Trader Mech. Horse & Petrol Tanker |
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There was also for a short time in the range an Electric Light version which was battery operated and used small torch bulbs located with in the grille housing but I believe this only lasted for a couple of years midway through the range. As in real life there are far less Mark Two Thames Traders about, both real and Tri-ang Toys than there are Mark One Traders. |
The left photo shows a Thames Trader without battery compartment, the right is with it.
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