What Makes Bertram So...

Super

What makes Bertram so sought after and expensive over say...Duke which is almost his twin? I have always been curious.

Tharazero1

Because Bertram was a HiT Toys only release in 2009, for a relatively short period of time. The reason Duke isn't as rare is because Duke was also released by Fisher Price when they took over from HiT Toys, and was released and re-released multiple times.

Super

Thank you Thara

Well that certainly explains it. So Bertram was only released for one year and was that only in the US?

I think many Sellers on Ebay are confusing Duke with Bertram for its rarity as Dukes price on a lot of Listings is $25usd and up.

Tharazero1

I'm not sure if it was only a year but it must've been close to that. I'm pretty sure he was released worldwide too, but not sure either

Super

Thanks Thara

I assumed that it was a US release because he seems hard to find in other parts of the world but that could just be my mind palying tricks on me. What I haven't seen is a new in the box Bertram. Did he come in a box or one of those clear plastic things with only an engine and tender? Hmmm, maybe HiT didn't have any in the clear plastic. If that is so did he originally come with a piece of rolling stock?

DuckGWR

He seems to have only been available in the HiT Toys Walmart style boxes, at least I haven't seen him in the HiT Toys blister pack style packaging.

He was only released as an engine with tender, no other rolling stock

Super

Thanks Duck

Curious that the box says Trackmaster with no HiT on the front. Might there have been more than one box?

DuckGWR

Hmm, I also see this one, which drops the New friend! blurb. He must have been available for more them one year, then, or at least more then one box cycle. I don't see this one specifically mentioning HiT either, I'm not sure any of that style had it on the front, just the back

confusedanddelayed

Has anyone ever seen a BNIB bertram come up for sale? I certainly haven’t.

Super

@Duck
Come to think of it I am not sure if all the 3 packed trains made by HiT have their Logo in the center of the box. Now I am not sure if I have seen any 2 pack train in a box with the HiT Logo but then I am certainly no expert of the Thomas trains so I am probably wrong.

@Confuse
I don't believe I have ever seen one, if I did I am sure I would have certainly been in on the fun.

MuddyPoppins

The HitToys logo is on the bottom of the box.

Super

Thank you Mr Muddy Man 🙂

MuddyPoppins

Here are the back and sides...

Super

I do like those port holes so one can look in and see his face.

By the looks of that last picture, every one of the trains in this series has only 2 pieces.

confusedanddelayed

Ha! I should’ve known that Muddy has one! That’s awesome! And that’s gotta be one of the few that still exist.

Edited because somehow my exclamation mark was autocorrected(?) to a question mark. Sorry about that!

Fred_Pelhay

Bertram was only available from June 2009 to December 2009. That's only a six-month period where he was on shelves at Wal-Mart (as they liked to cycle new products in and out quickly).

Super

Thanks Fred...6 months is not very long for a release. Now I can see why he is so sought after.