Benbros Qualitoys
Farm Tractor and Log Carrier
Variation 3 : red trailer with log
Variation 3 : red trailer with log
The Tractor & Log Carrier was almost entirely a re-cyled combination of two previous toys, the Ferguson Tractor and the Horse-drawn Log Carrier with the neccesary adaptation of a towbar instead of shafts.
As with the earlier Carrier, the front wheels were fitted directly onto an axle unit on a central pivot enabling wide turning ability. All four metal wheels were the same.
To make the Tractor 'new', Benbros painted it in bright orange with black painted wheels. Often no silver trim was added and the type 2 casting was used. Later another orange variation appeared with blue painted wheels which sometimes had silver-painted centres. This version also had silver trim on some engine parts and occaisionally on the grille.
The first variation of the trailer was painted orange-brown including the towbar, and it was fitted with red painted metal wheels. Next, there followed a yellow trailer, also with with red wheels, and finally a red cart with yellow wheels. This last combination seems to have been the more common choice. On the trailer there was a real log held on by elastic bands although on late wagons the load was changed to lengths of bamboo.
The earlier models with the orange or yellow log trailers were sold in a cream paper-covered lidded box with model details, 'Benbros Qualitoy', and a line illustration printed on the lid in dark red. This is quite a rare box.
Later Benbros designed a 'Farm Equipment' box for all the models in the group and gave it colourful illustrations on all four sides. Interestingly, both the earlier Horse-drawn models were included in the pictures (Hay Cart & Log Carrier) so probably Benbros included these in the Farm Equipment group too. 'Benbros Farm Equipment' and 'Qualitoy Farm Equipment' were printed on opposite sides of the boxes. The end-flaps were yellow with 'Benbros Qualitoy' and 'Made in England' added and a panel was left blank at one end for the model name to be written or stamped when the model was packed.
The Tractor & Log Carrier is scarce, especially the orange variation, and examples are frequently playworn. The boxes are hard to find.
Variation 1: Orange & black tractor, green driver, orange-brown trailer with red pmw & log
Benbros Qualitoys Tractor with Log Trailer
Variations
1) ORANGE tractor BLACK pmw GREEN driver ORANGE trailer RED pmw LOG
2) ORANGE tractor BLACK pmw GREEN driver YELLOW trailer RED pmw LOG
3) ORANGE tractor BLACK pmw GREEN driver RED trailer YELLOW pmw LOG
4) ORANGE tractor BLUE pmw BLUE driver RED trailer YELLOW pmw LOG or BAMBOO
photo JK Die-cast Models
Variation 2 : Yellow trailer, red wheels & log with orange tractor and first issue lidded box
Variation 3 : Red Trailer with yellow wheels and log, type 2 end-flap box
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Variation 4: Orange & blue tractor, blue driver, red cart with bamboo load
Second issue multi-model box with id. on end-flap