Wednesday, March 12, 2008

FORD MODEL A, MATCHBOX NO.38 AND TIGER BALM

Author : Youkonton Ratarasarn




Die-cast car of this weekend is the car that was used to promote or advertise various commodities. When mentioning to this kind of die-cast car, I have to refer to the Matchbox No.38 which is a Ford Model A. It was initiated the output in 1983 (Real car began the production in 1928 -1931. It had been sold more than 5 million cars)

Matchbox No.38 is the die-cast car that was produced in large amounts. There were hundreds of models. It was used to advertise many kinds of commodities including Tiger Balm of our Asian countries. The first version of Matchbox No.38 was produced in 1982. The body was blue. Champion spark plug was the most popular among the collectors (especially in America and England) until having issued a handbook of Matchbox No.38. Some models were very difficult to find owing to only a few hundred output. Matchbox No.38 was regarded as a well-known all-time favourite matchbox. In England, Matchbox No.38 that advertised Kellogg�s Corn Flakes has been sold more than 2 million cars.





Die-cast Matchbox No.38 showing you today advertises Tiger Balm. The car was produced in Thailand is the year 1993. It is one of six models from �Pill,Potions & Powders� set. It is 7.5 cm. long.


Tiger Balm has a history for more than a century. It began in 1870 by a Chinese herbalist named Aw Chu kin. He set up his humble medicine shop in Rang Goon, the city of Burma and tried to develop the ingredient of the balm. But it was not in fashion and it was not popular using. Up to the progenies, and Aw Boon Haw had developed an ingredient and having a success. They used the Tiger as a logo which was translated from the name of Aw Boon Haw. In 1926 they moved Tiger Balm to Singapore. The two brothers began the expansion of the Tiger Balm to sell around the world. Even the emperor of China uses it. It caused to became a billionaire of Singapore (Aw Boon Par, the elder brother died during the World War II)

Aw Boon Haw built an amusement park and in Singapore and Hong Kong. They became to be tourist attractions until present time. Die-cast Matchbox No.38 had been photo taken by using the amusement park Aw Boon Haw as a background for all three pictures.

The picture of real Ford Model A and advertising of Tiger Balm in the past could be true. Because the business of Tiger Balm passed a period of Model A that was trading at that time (1928-1931). Another event seemed to verify that Ford Model A advertised the Tiger Balm really existed was two of this car underneath. Even though, they were not Model A, it appeared that car were being used as a promotion of products in that period.




Do you see that collecting die-cast car has given knowledge and amusement for us. Everythingalways has a story.

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