Holy smokes, guys, this week's photos are very meaningful for me. As Chris L. observes, "Not tinplate exactly but....".
First, the pictures of those John Deere tractors are similar to one of my fondest possessions. My grandparents and parents took my sister and I to the Flemington (NJ) Fair some time in the 1960s, probably 1967 or 68. My grandmother bought me a die-cast John Deere tractor and accompanying trailer (a.k.a, manure spreader). These sit proudly on a shelf in my office where I can look at them now and again while working.
Next, I was pleased to see Greg Turinetti's photo of his Ambassador Cars in action on a Historical Society layout. Clearly visible on the left side of the photo is a girder structure made with with a Kenner Girder and Panel Building set. I think those were my favorite toy growing up ... after my trains, of course.
Every time a new shopping store or other girder structure was built near where I was growing up, I'd rush home to replicate the steel frame using the Kenner set. The vacuform plastic window panels that came with the set were kind of flimsy but, man, those red girders were great, GREAT fun.
Thanks for the nice memories everyone.
Steven J. Serenska
