Click on any photo to see a larger version...
This model is the AHI Dodge Military Missile Carrier Truck in olive and silver missile with red nose cone.
The model has a five-piece metal body, 50mm in length. It has been molded with the cab and chassis casting having representations of the grille, lights, front bumper and doors cast at the front, fuel tanks, rear wheel guards, and tow ring to the rear. The base is a solid, shaped, tinplate item, the rear deck is folded tinplate, as is the missile launcher, and the rear missile appears to be cast metal. The deck and launcher are held together by folded tabs and the deck is attached to the chassis by a single folded tab. There is no glazing. The original wheels are grey plastic and attached to steel axles with a large flat head on one side and crimped ends on the other. They are held to the chassis by means of the baseplate.
The baseplate has the manufacturer's mark "AHI Brand Toy" in a rectangle with the country of origin "Japan" marked just below it. It is held in place by two machined rivets.
The item comes in the distinctive small acrylic display case associated with this series of toys — clear acrylic upper with black plastic plinth. The underside of the plinth is simply marked "JAPAN". The clear acrylic upper carries a pinkish price stamp of 19c.
I do not know exactly when this item was issued but it would have been between 1950 and the early 1960s.
Item: 2932