Back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's my dad worked as head pressman at a matchbook factory (Called Strike Rite Matches). He was a lithographer by trade and was in charge of printing the larger orders. GM was one of the orders he was in charge of. Well, my sister found this matchbox at an antique shop:
The bottom of the matchbooks says "Strike Rite Matches, Canada". My dad worked at the only plant in Canada so I can say with some certainty that he likely printed this one. Maybe this was what made him decide to buy a 69 Pontiac. I'm really happy my sister picked this up for me! The inside of the matchbook says "John Wright Motor Sales" which was the GM dealer in Thamesford Ontario.
I've got a couple matchbooks with a 70 2+2 hardtop on them. It's the same red hardtop that's in the brochure. Both also have a 70 Skylark if I recall on the backside. One is english, the other is french from a dealership in Quebec. One had no matches in it when I got it (the match portion had been removed, and it was completely flat), so I took the matches from another matchbook. I was sitting at the kitchen table carefully opening the staple on the donor matchbook so I could reuse the staple. My wife thought I was nuts.
I've got a couple matchbooks with a 70 2+2 hardtop on them. It's the same red hardtop that's in the brochure. Both also have a 70 Skylark if I recall on the backside. One is english, the other is french from a dealership in Quebec. One had no matches in it when I got it (the match portion had been removed, and it was completely flat), so I took the matches from another matchbook. I was sitting at the kitchen table carefully opening the staple on the donor matchbook so I could reuse the staple. My wife thought I was nuts.
You know of course that if you enter that matchbook in a show, the judges will know it's a rebent staple.
1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
You know of course that if you enter that matchbook in a show, the judges will know it's a rebent staple.
Never fear, I am working on a repro matchbook staple that will fool the best of judges. I think I"ll list it on ebay as an L79 and L72 matchbook staple too. That should draw a lot more potential buyers.
Good one John!!!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I heard of a fellow, trying to "re-body" his match package!.. Apparantly he found, some virgin match packages, in Texas, and got "caught" changing covers.. apparantly the staple was folded left to right , instead of right to left... rookies!