Another very nice haul my friend! You have found quite a few nice Dinky’s lately, and these just add to it. I love the colorful mix of those tiny Saloon Cars....nice variety there. And that Lincoln looks wonderful. That was one of the models to acquire on my list when I decided to retire from actively collecting.....so tempting! And nice you found an Ambulance with Windows. I think of all the models that Dinky made, with windows later deleted, that is the most extreme example and the one that suffered the most. Putting them side by side, there is just no comparison between the windows and non-windows versions....
Best regards,
Terry
That is a very nice batch of new additions indeed, Jonathan! As the windows of the Ambulance is concerned: I have a very late example with open windows, as it has ridged hubs already. A closer look at the windows and the condition of the die reveals that there is quite some flash and wear of the die visible. I believe it was both a quality problem and economical problem of Meccano to tackle by switching over to closed windows where they could (blinded windows in the back were no exception for an ambulance after all). Strictly speaking a model with closed windows needed more zamac to produce, but on the other hand the maintenance of the die was less problematic. Kind regards, Jan
Hallo Johnny
This is very beautiful models. I have the ambulance in Beidge. Both have the cast in windows. One has the so called "Blackend" windows. Someone once explained to me that it might have been done with a Koki (permanent marker), but I doubt is as it shown some paint loss in one of the windows. Incidently mine with the non painted windows also have a headlight missing and is well chipped. The other one has only a few marks on it.
I am also looking for the grey one with the open windows.
Well done on your aquisitions.
Dirk Bloem
154
Thanks for the comments, gentlemen! My "new" ambulance does not look very gray, at least in my photos -- but parked beside my beige sample with closed windows, it is clearly a different color.
As for a sample with closed windows that have been painted black, I have never seen one before and would be among those who think it might have been done by an owner. But who knows? If there are any others of these around and they look similar, one could surmise that the factory experimented with that before abandoning it as too expensive!
Here are 3 new arrivals, all aircraft. Firstly the Dinky 708 Vickers Viscount in BEA livery. Secondly the Dinky Supertoys 998 Bristol Britannia Airliner and thirdly the Dinky Supertoys 999 D.H.Comet. All are in excellent condition with good boxes. The Britannia has the internal packing in the box.
My only criticism of the Comet is that the engine intakes are not big enough when compared with the real thing.
Chris.
Hi Guys.
Very nice models you received all of you.
For my part, I slow down a little bit, because now, parking places are missing !
Anyway, my postwoman is so kind, that she brings me some packets with :
-airport fire engine with mat painted baseplate instead of gloss and "orange" light instead of red.
-Ford Thunderbird
-Ford GT
-Chrysler Airflow Streamlined tourer 22g. Probably repainted with a new wind-screen
-Armstrong Siddeley 24b with french baseplate. Wheels and radiator grille have been changed !
I am waiting for 4 others , but it's an another story, and will be the subject for a new message !
Kind regards.
Richard
Very nice Airflow Tourer.....you don’t see these very often.....nice!
Best regards,
Terry
Hello Richard, striking to see that uncommon maroon all-metal wheel no. 24b Conduite intérieure 7 places. Is this a post-war (1948-49?) production? Kind regards, Jan
Hello Jan.
Yes, I suppose that it's a post-war production.
Kind regards
Richard
Hello Richard,
The french 24b is a interesting model. In fact it is the UK 24b Limousine, later 36a Armstrong Siddeley. Were Roulet used the names Conduite interieur 7 places and Limousine 7 places, it is just Conduite interieur in all the Meccano catalogues and pricelists. Three varieties can be found.
1 1934-1936 Dunlop tyres, no indicator lights on french based chassis.
2 1936-1939 Dunlop tyres, indicator lights at front mudgards.
3 1940-1948 Metal wheels.
So your model is a 1940-1948 model.
Regards John.
Two arrivals -- oddly I never had the plain Citroen van before, only the Cibie version and the two Gervais versions. An omission rectified. Meanwhile the 512, with an (acknowledged) repro box, is almost certainly someone's restoration, complete with odd copper-look axles, but I still find it pleasant.
A very nice Citroën van. The grey finish was the only colour available from Citroën. All the other colours were repaints.
Arrived this morning, a no. 252 Refuse Wagon and a no. 29h/282 Duple Roadmaster Coach.
The Refuse Wagon is the earlier version without windows for which I have been waiting so long. I started with my brother's later example with windows and yellow/red plain box, which he bought in 1961. Then, in the 1980s he withdrew his models from my collection and I had to buy a replacement, exactly 30 years ago now. The first one I could find was an example with windows too, whereas I have always preferred the models without windows. Subsequently, some twenty yers later, my brother returned his models to add them to my collection and I suddenly had two examples with windows in my display - albeit with different boxes. So now, at last, I had the opportunity to add the old desideratum - without windows.
The green/cream export Duple Roadmaster is a variant of an example with mid-green hubs which I acquired three years ago. Not a fiercely chased item, with its cream hubs and without box, but it was so cheap that I could not let it escape. Kind regards, Jan
No diecast today, but a big A3 size parcel containing my new 2019 private Dinky Toys calendar, delivered by the postman.
Incredible how easy and quickly nowadays: pictures gathered and assembled last weekend, checked and uploaded on Monday and delivered on Wednesday! And very satisfied with the quality and service. A quick snapshot of the title page below. Kind regards, Jan
The windscreen appears to be silver framed, is it Richard?
Being just an incidental catalogue collector it's only every now and then that I buy a catalogue which strikes me somehow. This one, the general Meccano catalogue of 1955/56 for New Zealand had such an appeal on me. As soon as I will have scanned it entirely I will gladly have all 27 pages published in the 'Publications' corner of the website. Front and back cover below. Kind regards, Jan
Jan, the image on the cover of that catalogue is perhaps the single most evocative image ever produced by Meccano Ltd. It would be wonderful to know if it was originally inspired by a photograph, or all the artist’s imagination. I would also love to see the original art work.
As many may already know, the same art was used on the cover of the December 1954 Meccano Magazine.
What’s interesting is that the figures in the foreground are the same, but the background is somewhat different!
But a wonderful and fascinating image......
Best regards, Terry
Terry,
Right you are -- I noticed the Meccano sign added to the catalogue version of the image, but missed some of the details. The Meccano Magazine version makes a token effort at showing some non-Meccano products (the large-scale airplane and a castle) in the toy store, but the catalogue version doesn't!
Thanks, good observations, both of you. Now you see why I found this catalogue so intriguing and attractive. I have no knowledge of other contemporary (1955/1956) Meccano catalogues for various markets, and if they show the same front cover scene. Besides, the New Zealand provenance and the as new quality were decisive for me too. Kind regards, Jan
An envelope containing the b/w photo on the left fell on the door-mat this morning. A much appreciated gift from 'dinkycollect', the original photographic inspiration for his many-decades-ago-made creation, a conversion of the 555 Fire Engine with Extending Ladder on the right (which he donated five years ago already, in 2013). Jacques, thank you very, very much !!! Kind regards, Jan
Hi Jan
When I saw this beautiful conversion I thought at first it was designed as a 'Tower Wagon' for working on overhead trolley wires but, when I enlarged the image, it seems too tall and too sturdy for that. Then, as it is built on a 555, I thought it might be an escape but there's no obvious stair or ladder. What was the purpose of the original vehicle?
By the way, I hope Sinterklaas will be adding to the pile this pakjesavond.
Kind regards
John
Hello John, regarding your question about the converted 555: Jacques can possibly comment more precise than I can. There are also some comments on this one in the British Emergency Vehicles: 555/955 thread if I'm not mistaken.
About Sinterklaas: yes, tonight is the night, but nowadays for us, adults, the presents (mostly food and drinks) are not as important as for the children and grandchildren. Moreover, in the remaining days of the year I receive too many Dinky Toys already. By the way, some surviving examples of my childhood Dinky Toys presents of Sinterklaas eve can be seen on page 6 of the 'Dinky of the Day' thread. Kind regards, Jan
Thanks Jan. Yes, I saw and enjoyed the Dinky of the Day thread. I always enjoy looking at old photos and I spent some time this morning trying to identify the vehicle in the photo you posted on the 30 series Vauxhall thread. I'm pretty sure it isn't a Vauxhall as it doesn't have the chrome scallops on the bonnet, which were a feature of Vauxhalls for many decades. As to what it IS I cannot yet make a suggestion.
I shall have a look at the 555/955 thread and, if I don't find what I'm looking for, I'll ask Jacques directly.
My ebay lot of 35 series cars arrived this afternoon so I'll post on them soon.
John
John
The truck is based on the pre war Paris tramway company over head repair truck. The original was build by Schneider and one of them is still kept at the Paris transport museum. I think that it was still in use until the 60s when the last trolley buses were witdrawn from sercice.
The model was made when I was 15 - 17 many years ago.
Jacques
-914 AEC Articulated Lorry (1965-70)
-163 Bristol 450 Sports Coupé (1956-60)
-163 Bristol 450 Sports Coupé (1956-60)
-914 AEC Articulated Lorry (1965-70)
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-508 DAF
--14c and 401Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck (1949-64)
FRENCH DINKY TALBOT LAGO
-Boxes General Discussions including end flaps, both British and French
--14c and 401Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck (1949-64)
--14c and 401Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck (1949-64)
-508 DAF
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-508 DAF
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New arrivals
New arrivals
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ORIGINAL MECCANO DINKY TOYS FACTORY BOX ART 175 HILLMAN MINX SALOON + DRAWING
--29c and 290 Double Decker Bus (1938-63)
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