GRAMOPHONES and PHONOGRAPHS
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THE HMV MODEL TOY BUS
(IN ORIGINAL UNOPENED DISPLAY BOX)
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 (Corgi Model Number 483).
Twelve years ago while looking for Gramophones, I was very fortunate to obtain a few of these Buses and have decided to sell my spares to other Gramophone and Toy Collectors
The bus is made of die-cast metal and is approximately 5" Long. It is indeed extremely rare; a respected dealer in model vehicles told me it was made in 1984 and only 3,500 were produced. The story goes that in the mid-1980's Corgi the manufacturer of the Bus had a minimum production run of 10,000 units, evidently HMV (EMI), the owners of Harrods the London Department Store and he thought British Airways got together -- 3,500 models were produced advertising each Company.
Being basically a toy; I suspect the vast majority would have been given to children, played with and thrown away.
Many of these models would have already found their way into the hands of Toy & HMV Gramophone Collectors.
"The London Bus" would have also been bought as a Souvenir of a visit to London.
This might explain their extreme rarity today.
"Nipper" was the name of the Dog that appears on the HMV Logo. There is an excellent definitive book on Nipper Souvenirs by Ruth Edge & Leonard Petts called "The Collectors Guide to "His Master's Voice Nipper Souvenirs". The book devotes over a page (894) including two pictures describing the Bus and HMV's association with Corgi, the book makes the very valid point about the Bus having enjoyed a very limited circulation.
