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 Posted - August 16 2016 : 08:19:41 AM
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Hey, after many years looking for a Matchbox / Mantua train set I finally found one, but the more I looked at the markings on the box, the more I realized this was a special set. First, if you look on the box it was shipped in, on one side it states it was a Pre-production sample shipped on 9-26-1996, these trains went on sale in December of 1996. Secondly, if you notice the Fed-Ex shipping label, the shipper is Eric N. Tyler from Mantua (Grand son of Norman Tyler) to Berdj Mazmanian; who at that time was the Matchbox Collectibles Design Manager. At first I did not think anything about it, it all checks out. Not sure if there was any changes after they got this one, but I sure would like to know.
 
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Posted - August 16 2016 : 09:19:10 AM
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my set as it came,that's a nicer set you got though pre-production,ken
catfordken
if you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel,try turning around
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Posted - August 16 2016 : 10:44:43 AM
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Oh I been dying to get one of these suckers for years! 
the address is the Corporate HQ for Cornerstone Bank now 
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Posted - August 17 2016 : 09:28:58 AM
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| Big Kat, I see the differences in yours and mine. First, all the steps on your are painted silver, someone at matchbox must have wanted them to stand out. Also, look at the steps on your caboose and look at mine, that whole area is silver where mine is not. Lastly, there could be a chance the set in the advertisement is mine because non of the steps are painted. Not sure about yours, but my set is very shinny, almost like a mirror finish, maybe for the photo. I'm going to send an email to Berdj Mazmanian and see what he remembers anything about this set, I want to know it this was the one used in the photo shoot for the ad.
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Posted - August 18 2016 : 1:38:02 PM
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| Mega score!
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Posted - August 19 2016 : 10:46:24 AM
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hi gg-1,i had 3 of these at one time all had silver steps,so was factory finish,regards the shiny finish its the flash the actual finish is more like satin finish as per black plastic ken
catfordken
if you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel,try turning around
Edited by - catfordken on August 19 2016 10:56:28 AM
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