#881 Rico - Coche Pulga (Around 1950)

I convey been delaying this entry since a really long time. Despite beingness a really pop toy, at that topographic point are no resources on the cyberspace close the famous "Pulgas" (Spanish for "fleas") anywhere on the internet.

There are similar toys made past times dissimilar companies, although inwards Espana it is the "big two” that made them. In this case, the auto shown is made past times Rico, and, of course, the other "big company" is Payá Hermanos.

The auto is closed to five centimeters long, as well as thence its name. Although that size is non so modest compared with the modern iii inches models of the H0 scale, at the time, they were seen every bit really small, compared to the large tin toys that were pop dorsum then. Of course, 1 of these was much cheaper, only squall back that toys at the fourth dimension (30s, 40s) were luxury goods, non affordable for many families.

The mini-car has a clockwork motor within that tin laissez passer on the sack live loaded past times agency of a key. The master copy cardinal is missing, but with similar ones, it could yet live loaded.

Despite their popularity, non many of these convey survived: the tin torso is non every bit resistant every bit modern zamak. Those that convey survived, frequently convey pigment flaws, similar mine or fifty-fifty worse.

The auto was available inwards many colours, as well as some models fifty-fifty came inwards 2 colours (like a black/yellow Barcelona taxi cab). There was fifty-fifty a modest trailer that could live attached to it, althouh I create non know if this was a particular reference. I convey seen some for sale, but they must live really rare.

Here is depicted together with 1 Schuco model that is in all likelihood improve known with toy collectors, for size comparing purposes.