Comparison between the 1964 Hess Tanker and 1960s Jimson Shell Tanker

In 1964 Hess introduced its line of Hess Toy Trucks at their stations which would end up becoming one of the most popular ideas of its time. They paved the way for all the other oil companies to start coming out with their own toy trucks as well but none were more popular than the Hess toy Truck. Here in this article you will be able to see side by side pictures of the similarity between the Hess and Shell Oil Company promotional toy tanker. The Hess tanker was produced by the Marx Toy Company who already had built up their reputation for the most well built and popular toys that children played with over the years. Hess always insisted in the very best detail and that is why right up to today they are the best quality and most durable plastic toy trucks ever made. The 1960s Shell tanker was produced in Hong Kong by a company called Jimson. Jimson produced many small plastic toys throughout the years one of which was a vintage and rare Shell Tanker Truck which featured a chrome plated front bumper & hubcaps along with friction powered front wheels.

Some of the similarities between the two tankers are:

• Both tankers came with a funnel to fill the rear tank
• Rear tank holds water
• Came with a drain hose and nozzle
• Had removable cap to install funnel
• Same rear style tank
• Both do not have any plastic windshield
• Both trucks are the same scale measuring 12" long by 2.5 wide and 2.5 high

Some of the differences between the two tankers are:

• 1964 Hess had battery operated lights
• Shell tanker does not have a rear bumper
• Shell tanker is removable from the cab
• Hess removable funnel cap is rear cap
• Shell removable funnel cap is in the center
• Hess has black plastic hose and Shell is clear
• Shell has removable chrome hubcaps
• Hess has 12 tanker tires / Shell only has 6
• Hess cab has 2 tone paint
• The Shell tanker is friction powered

Below are some picture comparison shots so you can judge for yourself how amazingly close they both are in detail. The Shell tanker is available for sale on our website http://www.raystoytrucks.com



1993 Humble Toy Truck Bank

1993 Humble Toy Truck Bank. Manufactured for Jmt replicas on behalf of Exxon with tiger spirit of Houston, Texas.  This truck it bright white with red front fenders, top of cab and trim color match the lettering and comes with working head and has opening doors. This collectors edition is very rare and hard to find.

Marx Toys - Eastern Airlines Truck & Coin Bank 1993 Special Edition

A beautiful old truck manufactured by MARX in 1993 as the 1ST EDITION in their Golden Memories series. This 1933 Chevy aviation fuel tanker is one good-looking truck molded in dark blue with chrome accents and gold lettering on the tank. It features opening doors, battery operated lights, and is a BANK as well.

1936 Dodge Shell Diecast Tanker Truck

Limited edition Shell bank, a 1936 Dodge tanker truck produced in 1996 by Spec Cast Collectibles. This finely detailed truck is 1:25 scale, comes serialized and is made of diecast metal featuring authentic Shell graphics, steel wheels with hub caps, rubber white wall tires, headlight lenses plus it also has a built in coin bank with key. The measurements are approximately 7 inches long by 2 1/2 inches high by 2 1/2 inches wide.

Amoco 1938 Dodge Diecast Truck

Amoco 1938 Dodge airflow tanker produced by The Scale Model Company a division of Ertl Inc. This finely detailed truck comes serialized, is made of heavy diecast metal featuring authentic Standard Oil graphics, chromed wheels, rubber tires, plus it also has a built in coin bank with key. Another real sharp piece, the measurements are approximately 9 1/4 inches long by 2 3/4 inches high by 2 1/2 inches wide

The Rebuilding of the Original First Hess Truck

The truck (a 1936 1/2 Chevy high cab) was the very first truck that Mr. Hess himself drove around Woodbridge, NJ in the early days. In those days it was not gasoline he hauled, it was primarily heating fuel oil. The truck remained in service up into the early fifties at which time it underwent a partial overhaul. When I met the truck it had spent the last twenty something years in the HOVIC (Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp) plant in the US Virgin Islands being used as a prop. The unit, as a result of being subjected to years of salt air and a hurricane or two (one being Hurricane Hugo), was in EXTREME disrepair to say the least. The engine would run, however the poured rod bearings were knocking very bad. When we pulled the truck into the shop for disassembly the windshield and part of the cab just fell into pieces. This was a complete overhaul right down to cutting the rivets, splitting the frame rails, and hand riveting them back together. I feel this is one of the finest restoration jobs I have ever been involved with and I am very proud of it. The truck (fully functional) is now destined to be displayed at the Hess headquarters in Woodbridge, N.J. and could haul fuel today.

Bill Tabbert

1961 Texaco North Dakota Toy Tanker

In late fall of 1961 Texaco introduced the SS Texaco North Dakota Tanker Ship at their stations for the holiday season. The 27" scale model tanker runs on "C" batteries and is highly detailed after the original ship. All in plastic this toy caught the eye of the kids with the outstanding decals, details and eye catching colors sold extremely well at the stations.

The radar dish was a nice feature but it was far from kid proof. It was not match for small hands and was so broken or lost.

The rear of the tanker displayed where the headquarters was in Wilmington Delaware. The ship also had a working rudder as you can see in the picture.

Check out the great detailing on the bow of the ship showing the draft markings.

The upper deck is where the motor controls are. The one thing that Texaco did not think of and would have made a great feature was that the wheels on the bottom of the tanker do not roll. How cool would it have been to have a motorized tanker that sailed across the floor?

The set came with the ship, box, cardboard packing and booklet. All these items are a must have for the collector who is looking for a "mint condition" collectible.