Tudor 620
Sometime during the summer of 1967, Tudor Metal Products Company began filling the shelves of Hobby stores and toy departments with the new “flagship” model 620 game board featuring the Browns (W) and Giants (D). For the first time, Tudor could manufacture and sell games with NFL logos and teams painted in the latest NFL fashion. The new deluxe figures in the familiar 5 poses were no longer permanently attached to the base as in years past. The figures had a rectangular hole in the platform allowing a single-clip rookie base to be attached. This new configuration allowed for greater versatility in basing up a team so that skill positions could have speed and maneuverability as needed, depending on the quality of basses you received at random. Commonly referred to as the “620 grass field, because of the plain white lines in the end zone, the early model 620’s featured big-men teams and a distinctive double rail on the inside edge. Most models sold between 1968 and 1969 featured a single rail edge and Hog-leg teams. By 1970 the 620 had the new “turf” look with a blue end zone and featured the Rams (D) and Cowboys (W). Later models featured different color schemes like the red and beige AFC model and roughly 6 super bowl versions along with a few versions sold exclusively through Montgomery Ward, Sears and Penney’s. I believe the College Board sold in 1971/72 was also based on the full size 620 model. The 1969 Superbowl model featured unique AFL/NFL logos and the 1970 Superbowl version featured Chiefs and Vikings artwork. Many of these early 620’s are still highly regarded as the best commercially available EF surfaces and are highly sought after in near mint condition costing hundreds of dollars when all original component pieces are included, and there are no dents or breaks. I don’t claim to be the final authority on this subject, but I’ve done some research, listened to those collectors before me and have personal knowledge of a 1968/69 version of the 620 that came with the Packers in white and Colts in dark rather than the Browns and Giants when I received it on a Christmas Day so long ago. Credit for some of the facts included here goes to Mike Pratt, the late Dr. Kurt Smeby and others. Ray F.
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08-18-2008, 03:44 PM
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