STREAMLUX: AUSTRALIAN MADE MINIATURES

If you have any interesting pictures, information or suggestions for this page, please Email me - Pete, Brisbane.

Pictured below is my collection of five Streamlux models of the range of nine produced in Melbourne, Australia, in the 1950's. They are all "chromed" in some way, except for an example of the tractor, which is still in bare metal. The person who sold me this tractor at a swap meet in Melbourne said that he worked in the Streamlux factory just before it closed down, and he had a "boxful" of bare metal tractors.

An indication of their size is that the Streamlux tractor is about the same length as the Matchbox 4A tractor. Nine Streamlux miniatures in total were produced. They were: #1 - Massey Ferguson 35 Tractor (pictured); #2 - FE Holden Sedan (pictured); #3 - Austin Truck; #4 - Austin Petrol Tanker; #5 - VW Van ("Volks-bus" cast on base) (pictured); #6 - Mercedes Benz W196 Racer: #7 - Commer Coach (pictured); #8 - Austin Tip Truck; and #9 - VW sedan (pictured).

Author and collector, David Daw, wrote in Toyzine (© 2000 www.toyzine.com): "By 1962, Streamlux had discontinued production of this short range of miniature models and sold the dies to Underwood Engineering of Inglewood, New Zealand."

Underwood used the Streamlux dies to begin making their now extensive Fun-Ho range of miniature vehicles. A Streamlux VW van and Holden and their Fun-Ho off-spring are pictured below. David Daw: "In the early period of production by Underwood, the Streamlux dies were used without alteration, hence the continued appearance of "Streamlux" and "Aust/Australia" on these first Fun HO! miniatures. In due course Underwood's engineers removed the Australian identification, and so it is possible to find these models with no producer or country of origin indicated. Later, as time permitted, Fun HO! inscriptions were engraved onto the dies."

ABOVE: My Streamlux collection, including an un-chromed tractor at right, rear.

ABOVE: Streamlux VW van, left, with two Fun-Ho vans. The right-hand Fun-Ho has a raised panel on the roof.

ABOVE: Streamlux Holden, left, with "STREAMLUX (AUST)" cast on base, and the later Fun Ho model, with reference to Streamlux removed from the base.

The Streamlux range.