Get my Anorak On!

I am being forced to declare an interest in a previous post regarding toy busses.

I personally collect die cast scale model replica Ford Model T Panel Vans in authentic period liveries. It's only a "small" collection of just under 6,000 and I do actually have some busses (when they come as part of a set including a Van I really want). I am even a member of the LLEDO Collectors Club, Lledo being the name of the original founder of the company, John O’Dell, but spelt backwards. It is possible I failed to declare this membership on my Councillors Interests; do you think I could be up in front of the Standards Board for this?

John O’Dell was one of the original founders of Matchbox (remember them) but set up Lledo after the mass produced Matchbox brand collapsed in 1982. John bought back all the tools and dies for a song and went into small scale, collectable model production in a factory in Enfield. First deliveries were made around April 1983 of the "Days Gone" range and the company turned to the promotions market, offering the models to companies as a quality, British made vehicle to carry logos for gifts, product launches and special promotions etc. These promotional models were mostly produced in limited edition runs of 500 or 1000 models. The sixth type of Lledo model to be produced (the classic Model 'T') was an instant hit and remains one of the most popular and sought after model types throughout the Lledo range. As more and more models were introduced and the collector base grew many more companies began to see the potential for commissioning their own promotional models and the Lledo range became increasingly popular.

Since 1999 the Lledo factory in Enfield, England has ceased producing Lledo models and the new owners, Corgi, now manufacturers Lledo models in China. Because of this the earlier models are often the more sought after on the collectors market.