God bless America and the Dowst industry...Tootsietoy their toys brand was the first to produce O gauge model cars with grille, base & body assembly and rubber tyres, those where the first diecast models.
The Dinky toys resulted from this assembly system, it is said that Frank Hornby copied without the authorization which prevented the export of his miniatures to the USA until 1945.
It is in 1933 that Tootsietoys launched by agreement with Graham Paige the Blue Streak, available in several versions, four bodies were made using one or two spare wheels and three of them were also provided with a touch of tan on the roof simulating a soft convertible top.
Unfortunately, discontinued in 1941, the Graham (as commonly called by collectors) didn't led Tootsietoy to the same way as Dinky Toys and after war the firm produced uninteresting low prices toys...
Here's a #514 convertible coupé finished in maroon and brown with its touch of tan/khaki. Unilke the #614, this one has only one spare wheel situated at the back.
Despite a few nicks and scuffs on the painting, it's still in very nice condition, tyres are dried but not too flat as commonly seen and the grille retains most of its original silver plating.
Tootsietoys in my opinions are less delicate than the Dinky toys of the same era, they seem more massy but they are a very good support for dreaming at a time when 10 cents model cars were really something.
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