The description currently reads: "USA Fao Schwarz Exclusive..."
The set was never exclusive to FAO, it was a general department store exclusive.
I've included a single newspaper clipping that has identified seven for 1967
(Albuquerque Journal, November 19th, 1967 (Page 24)) and I also have appearances
from (non exhaustive)Bon Marche, Gottschalks, Greggs, JCPenney, Marshall Fields,
Polskys, Pomeroys, and The Broadway.
Please just call it a department store exclusive, if you think it's worth
clarifying at all.
The description also says: "...as well as the inclusion of Light Gray tires
instead of Black tires."
Please remove this entirely. Light Grey tires were universal in all basic sets
in the US from 1963 to ~1970, when they were completely replaced out by the black
tires. Both the 450 and 502 included grey tires during their run, the color of
the tires had nothing to do with the set number. The note about the baseplates
is accurate.
The description currently reads: "USA Fao Schwarz Exclusive..."
The set was never exclusive to FAO, it was a general department store exclusive.
I've included a single newspaper clipping that has identified seven for 1967
(Albuquerque Journal, November 19th, 1967 (Page 24)) and I also have appearances
from (non exhaustive)Bon Marche, Gottschalks, Greggs, JCPenney, Marshall Fields,
Polskys, Pomeroys, and The Broadway.
Please just call it a department store exclusive, if you think it's worth
clarifying at all.
Gary Istok also says about it:
After 1965 the USA luxury toy store FAO Schwarz commissioned Samsonite to
produce a series of exclusive colorful sets, with stately names such as the #080
Ambassador set, #066 Governor set, #630 Diplomat set, #326 Suburban set, #244
Explorer set and #223 Adventure set. Several of these were also sold in a plain
cardboard box in other department store catalog sets.
The description currently reads: "USA Fao Schwarz Exclusive..."
The set was never exclusive to FAO, it was a general department store exclusive.
I've included a single newspaper clipping that has identified seven for 1967
(Albuquerque Journal, November 19th, 1967 (Page 24)) and I also have appearances
from (non exhaustive)Bon Marche, Gottschalks, Greggs, JCPenney, Marshall Fields,
Polskys, Pomeroys, and The Broadway.
Please just call it a department store exclusive, if you think it's worth
clarifying at all.
Gary Istok also says about it:
After 1965 the USA luxury toy store FAO Schwarz commissioned Samsonite to
produce a series of exclusive colorful sets, with stately names such as the #080
Ambassador set, #066 Governor set, #630 Diplomat set, #326 Suburban set, #244
Explorer set and #223 Adventure set. Several of these were also sold in a plain
cardboard box in other department store catalog sets.
He doesn't say #502 was FAO Schwarz exclusive.
In his list of Dep Stores Sets he lists it as:
#502 Deluxe Set in Suitcase
FAO Schwarz
1969
USA
68, 69? Who knows
I'm talking about what's on bricklink. What's on BL should reflect
reality, whatever something else says isn't very useful, especially considering
he hasn't provided any citation for that claim. He assumed that because it
has a premium sounding name, it was commissioned by FAO. I'll give you several
examples of why that's no longer accepted.
The 326 Suburban Set has two known sources, from Montgomery Ward from 1968-71
in a plain mailer box and from Jordan Marsh/Pogues in 1969, specifically bundled
with "The Wonderful Birthday". That 1969 promotion is the only source
of the colorful box, as Wards never refers to the Suburban Set name(instead assigning
it just "basic set", and continues to refer to the set as Wards exclusive
throughout. I've attached the 1968 Wards catalog as well as a 1969 newspaper
clipping from Jordan Marsh. I have a complete collection of FAO catalogs from
1961-72 and none feature the 326 Suburban Set.
The 630 Diplomat Set was a set released to both drug stores and department stores
in 1970. I've attached a 1970 newspaper clipping from Skaggs. It never appears
at FAO Schwarz and its box design could not predate 1970.
The 080 Ambassador Set released in 1969 and appeared at the following stores
in catalogs and newspaper clippings: Troutmans, FAO Schwarz, Jordan Marsh, M&F,
Marshall Fields, May Co, and Polskys. I've attached the Jordan Marsh Catalog
appearance in 1969.
I can go on. The sets' boxes have very specific design features that place
them within a specific release window (1965-67 two patents vs 1968+ eight patents,
"Some parts manufactured in Denmark" 1970+, "For all ages" 1967+,
tabbed sides/grey tray(for single stack boxes) 1969+), they can't all date
to 1965. I've triangulated everything, box designs, newspapers, catalogs,
form numbers, etc. He's provided no citation, I've provided everything
and I'm happy to clarify any further as I have more.
The description currently reads: "USA Fao Schwarz Exclusive..."
The set was never exclusive to FAO, it was a general department store exclusive.
I've included a single newspaper clipping that has identified seven for 1967
(Albuquerque Journal, November 19th, 1967 (Page 24)) and I also have appearances
from (non exhaustive)Bon Marche, Gottschalks, Greggs, JCPenney, Marshall Fields,
Polskys, Pomeroys, and The Broadway.
Please just call it a department store exclusive, if you think it's worth
clarifying at all.
Gary Istok also says about it:
After 1965 the USA luxury toy store FAO Schwarz commissioned Samsonite to
produce a series of exclusive colorful sets, with stately names such as the #080
Ambassador set, #066 Governor set, #630 Diplomat set, #326 Suburban set, #244
Explorer set and #223 Adventure set. Several of these were also sold in a plain
cardboard box in other department store catalog sets.
He doesn't say #502 was FAO Schwarz exclusive.
In his list of Dep Stores Sets he lists it as:
#502 Deluxe Set in Suitcase
FAO Schwarz
1969
USA
68, 69? Who knows
I'm talking about what's on bricklink. What's on BL should reflect
reality, whatever something else says isn't very useful, especially considering
he hasn't provided any citation for that claim.
The description currently reads: "USA Fao Schwarz Exclusive..."
The set was never exclusive to FAO, it was a general department store exclusive.
I've included a single newspaper clipping that has identified seven for 1967
(Albuquerque Journal, November 19th, 1967 (Page 24)) and I also have appearances
from (non exhaustive)Bon Marche, Gottschalks, Greggs, JCPenney, Marshall Fields,
Polskys, Pomeroys, and The Broadway.
Please just call it a department store exclusive, if you think it's worth
clarifying at all.
Gary Istok also says about it:
After 1965 the USA luxury toy store FAO Schwarz commissioned Samsonite to
produce a series of exclusive colorful sets, with stately names such as the #080
Ambassador set, #066 Governor set, #630 Diplomat set, #326 Suburban set, #244
Explorer set and #223 Adventure set. Several of these were also sold in a plain
cardboard box in other department store catalog sets.
He doesn't say #502 was FAO Schwarz exclusive.
In his list of Dep Stores Sets he lists it as:
#502 Deluxe Set in Suitcase
FAO Schwarz
1969
USA
68, 69? Who knows
I'm talking about what's on bricklink. What's on BL should reflect
reality, whatever something else says isn't very useful, especially considering
he hasn't provided any citation for that claim.
USA, Missouri
France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
also says about it:
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