![[IMAGE]](http://ourworld.cs.com/matchboxtom/vicr.jpg)
I always had matchboxes as a kid, we didn't have much money and they were affordable for my mother to buy and provided us with hours of enjoyment. I was very hard on my cars,
as I played with them in the dirt in the summer and on the concrete floor in the
basement in the winter. They were toys!
Fast forward 30 years.
My neighbor came over in February of 1998 wanting to borrow my newly aquired
computer and my internet access. He is a Coca-Cola collector and needed to
bid on an auction, so I watched as he headed off to eBay and bid on an
original 6 pack of Coca-Cola. Wow, that was pretty cool; what else do they
have I inquired. I received a one word answer: EVERYTHING!
I had this Yesteryear Y-6-B Bugatti sitting on my desk nearby. I'd had it
since some Christmas so long ago my steeltrap mind couldn't remember when. I
couldn't even remember what had compelled me to keep it, as years ago in
college I had heaved all my prized Hot Wheels into the dumpster before
moving into the "Dorms".
My neighbor went home and I stayed on eBay and searched all around untill I
found the Matchboxes and more importantly the "Yesteryears". I found a
Y-13-B Daimler
and the rest is history.
I now have at least one variation of every Yesteryear produced from their
introduction to 1970. Most are Mint/ boxed and only one is a C-8 filler, the
Type B-Bus. (hint, hint)
I also have collected a lot of the regular wheels thru 1970. I have few
boxed models, but the "loose" models I have are all mint or near mint and
some of my older ones are "fillers" for now. I collect to display and have
completed two display cases one for my Yesteryears exclusively and the other
for my Regular wheels, my few transitionals and Superfasts, and my Major
Packs and Kingsize. I will soon be working on a little case for my catalogs
as they are in drawer where no one can enjoy them.
Happy Collecting,
Vic Rutherford
Bothell, WA
Thank Vic for hosting our October 30th 1999 meeting.
See the Summer 1999 Collector Spotlight.