Model Buses > Tinplate Litho Toy Buses > Other Tin > GM Fishbowl Tin Litho Battery Operated Bus
GM Fishbowl Tin Litho Battery Operated Bus
Model # / Description...
Oversized Japanese tin plate litho battery operated bus from the 1960s
Manufacturer / Country...
Manufacturer unknown / Made in Japan
Dimensions and Scale...
16" long x 5 1/2 high x 5" width
Description, Collector Value ($US) and Notes...
While my girlfriend and I were walking through an antique furniture market she spotted this bus inside a cabinet in one of the numerous dealer stalls. She knows I collect old buses so whenever we go out for Sunday drives she'll keep her eyes open. As soon as she showed me this one I knew I had to have it!
This is a beautifully made Japanese tin plate litho bus of a General Motors (GMC) new-look fishbowl. It dates from the 1960s. What makes this tin toy unique is its large size and the fact that it takes 3 "D" size batteries so it can move around. This bus is easily worth several hundred dollars.
If anyone has more information on this bus please use the form below.
Want to buy this item?: ToyBusExpo.com is a photo showcase for collectible and vintage model buses and toys that are submitted by fellow collectors such as yourself. As such, the item featured on this page is NOT FOR SALE. Please visit ,
and
regularly to see if this item comes up for sale. Patience does pay off :-)
Photos posted by: ToyBusExpo.com
Model Diecast & Toy Collector Comments:
Leave a reply »
-
Jul 14, 10 | 3:43 pmWhat you have there is called the Passenger Bus and it was made by Yonezawa introduced in the 1950's for Rosko. I had a beautiful example with the box and it had all four actions working. I don't know if yours is working but when operational it is quite impressive. First off it had the standard mystery action which would scoot it back and forth and reverse when it bumped something. Second it had lights on the front. But the most impressive attribute was when one would depress the red button on top the bus would stop. The people lithography in the windows would move forward as if they were disembarking, the door would swing open, and a tin litho woman would appear on the step of the bus! It was truly an impressive toy and worthy of the many amazing tinplate battery operated toys from Japan during the Golden Age.
View more: Other Tin buses
1950s Portugese Tin Wind Up Bus1950s RCA Victor / NBC Television Camera Bus
1950s Tin Friction Greyhound Bus w/ Roof Rack
1956 Powered Greyhound Scenicruiser Tin Bus
1960s Greyhound MCI MC-6 Tin Friction Toy Bus
1962 Greyhound Bus Tin Litho
Charmy 1966 Continental Trailways Silver Eagle Tin Friction Bus
Charmy Continental Trailways Golden Eagle Tin Friction Bus
Greyhound New Look Fishbowl Tin Friction Bus
Greyhound Scenicruiser Tin Litho Friction Toy Bus
Kovap Büssing 1959 Bus
Mini Continental Trailways Tin Friction Bus
Mini Greyhound Tin Friction Bus
I had the same toy when I was a kid. It was my favorite. My mom got it from an executive of our local transit agency after looking relentlessly for a toy transit bus for me. I still have the body and chassis, but the mechanisms no longer work and the bumpers are gone... needless to say, this got played with more than any other toy I owned as a kid. I want to say I got it around 1967, but it was used, so I have no manufacture date for you. Nice memories,though, to see one in nice shape. Thank You!