GRAMOPHONES and PHONOGRAPHS
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THE HMV MODEL TOY BUS
FOR SALE - Very Rare
In 1984 HMV collaborated with Corgi in the production of a few models of the Red London Bus bearing the HMV logo.
Some years ago while looking for Gramophones, I was very fortunate to obtain a few models and have decided to sell my spares to other Gramophone and Toy Collectors
The HMV involvement with this Collectable model toy Bus is described in the excellent book
"The Collectors Guide to "His Master's Voice Nipper Souvenirs" by Edge and Petts:-
Corgi's association with EMI dates from the mid 1980's when they adapted their model of London Transport's "Routemaster" bus to produce a special limited edition of the 'Shop Linker' for HMV Shops. The black band between the lower and upper windows runs right round the bus. It is printed on paper which is stuck onto the model. The special lettering is white out' with "the HMV shop" outlined in HMV pink. The destination indicators are printed in black on yellow background. This model must have enjoyed a very limited circulation. ----- There are two pictures of the bus in the book.
The bus is made of die-cast metal and is approximately 5" Long. As far as I know only about 3,500 were produced. Being basically a toy; I suspect the vast majority would have been given to children, played with and thrown away. These models would have already found their way into Collections of Toys and HMV Gramophones. "The London Bus" would have also been bought as a Souvenir of a visit to London.
This might explain their extreme rarity today.
