I’d been married to Carol for about a year and a half in the late fall of 2000. She was trying to figure out what to get me for Christmas. I made some passing mention that there was a really cool toy fire truck being sold at the local Hess station. I might have even seen an ad on TV for it.
Still, I was quite surprised when, on Christmas morning, she (or Santa, I forget which) actually got it for me. I must say that I really loved it. It has a couple of different sirens, and flashing lights, and a workable ladder.
So before Christmas 2001, I subtly hinted that I wouldn’t mind getting that year’s model, which was actually a helicopter with a motorcycle and a cruiser. This too was a hit with me; the helicopter features, among other things, rotors that really spin!
Thus a tradition was born, with me getting all of the items through 2010. Along the way, I also picked up a 1998 model.
This does not include the mini-trucks, only one of which I own, and that by happenstance.
I have this friend, Mary, who had a husband named Tom, who I was very fond of. Unfortunately, he died in November 2004 at the age of 49. He had started collecting Hess trucks long before I had. Just this month, Mary sold me Tom’s 1997 and 1999 editions, because she thought he’d want me to have them.
As it turns out, Hess trucks have been coming out since the mid-1960s, and some of them are quite collectible. Check out the lists HERE and HERE
At least in recent times, they’ve been running TV around Thanksgiving for the current year’s models. Here are the ads for 2006 and 2008 and 2009 and 2010 TV ads, all to the unlikely tune of “My Boyfriend’s Back.”
Someone put together a video of all the trucks.
Collecting toy trucks is a side of you I would not have guessed! But then, I don’t know you that well. It sounds like a fun collection. 🙂
There’s quite a trade in toy trucks here in the UK, too. Some become valuable collector’s pieces.
What a fun post for the day, Roger! And I’m so glad to know there’s still a boy tucked away behind the serious and business-like Mr. Roger Green! I love it! Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and that your week is off to a great start! Enjoy!!
Sylvia
ABC Team
What a great tradition and cool toy trucks.
Wonderful truck for gift.
Some cool collectibles on that video! A great T post.
Those are so cool. I remember the products and how my son used to love them when he was little. We live in a relatively small apartment and just don’t have room for more 🙁
What a great hobby! Those toys cars are really lovely. We used to call them dinky toys. I still have some toy cars here because my Dutch grandson used to stay here when his mum had to go to scchool. Now he lives in Rotterdam and my daughter passed her examens.
Well, Roger, EGWoW took the words right out my mouth… who’d’a thunk it? I must say, though, it’s the [good] surprise in life that make it TERRIFIC.
Those are Terrific Toy Trucks. Thats how collections start. We have some collections that practically pushed us out of the house. Now they are mostly in boxes. I can’t bear to get rid of them but they are no longer on display.
Great choice Roger for the letter T.
There’s a boy inside every man, isn’t there … 😉
Toys and trucks! A great combination. I’ve always loved these ‘automotive’ collections. Great job…
Every year in school we have a model makers exhibition. Men and a few women come to display their model trucks, cars, boats, trains and airplanes. Some of them are made from scratch and the engineering is just amazing. I call it “The Boys and their Toys Day”
I bought a 32 yr old his first remote control toy for Christmas. He couldn’t be got in out of the snow except when the batteries had to be charged.
How exciting to have such a wonderful collection. And see how astute Carol was to pick up on your desires for Christmas. She sounds just as terrific as those toy trucks! 😀
Hehe that’s a good idea.
“T”
Well, I wonder why they chose “My Boyfriend’s Back”! LOL, I love that part, Roger. Theoretically, the ads would be aimed at children, who would say “Mom, tell Santa to get that for me, please, please, please!”
I hope they continue to make them for you every Christmas, and maybe some of those collectibles will come your way, too.
Great personal take on the letter T.
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
What can I say except…. A boy and his toys…. Cute post today.
Lucky, lucky Roger, – I can see you are playing the situation to the nth….
Roger I love it when grown men, enjoy the toys of boys. And why shouldn’t you. I love your collection. How special, and how nice to know what to get for for all those occasions they require a gift!!! Nice post.
Big men toys! lol
How adorable. Nice to know you are masquerading as a responsible adult. 🙂
exciting gifts indeed!
LOL! Roger, my husband has a toy truck too-a fire truck no less!! What are the odds. I don’t know if it has as many ells and whistles as yours, but it is pretty neat. I think Santa Claus must’ve gotten it for him. No helicopter, though.
I also forgot to include in my post about the on line auction for the Oaxaca Street Children that is about to begin.
Perhaps you will visit my other blog to find out more about it:
http://molokaigirlstudio.blogspot.com/
I’m not surprised you’re a collector, but I would not have guessed toy trucks. It’s always a treat to learn something unexpected about a fellow blogger. BTW, have you noticed the number of videos posted this week?
How nice to know, another collector ! You trucks, I cats. Now you could do like I do, put the ABC on a truck each week like I do with my cats, lol !
When I was young these were boys toys but I always wanted a truck. Thoughtful wife too
I’d like a full size car inside a car, why have manufacturers not come up with that concept;-) Happy collecting.
Terrific toy trucks!
Those are very nice collections! My son is crazy about trains and cars, lately he has been tearing it apart and dissecting every part of a car. Thanks for the comments Roger!
I really like small scale models like these that have all the details so carefully included.
I appreciated your comment about my rewriting of ‘Mary Anerley’. I agree with the many who do not want classics rewritten, especially as a retired literature teacher. I think I’m going to post a bit of an explanation as to why I did what I did with that book, because it was (I think) an interesting process. So come back and visit in a day or two. You are so faithful about commenting. Thank you so much.
I used to work at Hess gas station when I was in college. Ever since then, my parents have bought me a Hess truck every Christmas & I have saved every one of them in their original packaging.
That was about twenty years ago. Maybe I can sell them to pay for my son’s college tuition!
What a lovely gift! Love them too;o)
Thanks for sharing, Roger;o)
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Hope you are having a nice and happy week****
There is so much detailed work in such models. I love them and can quite see how an interest could grow to form a collection.
toy trucks are cool.
kids love fire trucks, school bus, tow trucks as toys….
Happy Thursday.
Thanks for all the comments left in my blog.
oh my! how sweet…those are cool!
Thanks Roger for your visit to my post about psalm 22. I agree that the rest of the psalm is harsh as well. But the first verse was spoken by Jesus on the cross and the video deals only with the first three verses, which speak about the relationship between God and Daniel. The other verses speak about the relationship between David and the people around him. I think the first verses are more powerful and the music sounds very sad, which appeals to me more than a happy melody at this moment.
I got so much information from here 😀