Chris, I might not collect aircraft, but I know a fabulous collection when I see it.
And Jan, yes, the mobile crane is an earlier version, but we must remember the shop where the display came from was operaeting in a small town in Illinois since 1944, so they obviously had some old stock around.
I am more concerned about the Massey Harris Tractor, Manure Spreader, and the Land Rover, which perhaps are versions too new for 1963. However, we must remember time travel is an inexact science!
Thanks Jan & Johnny for you comments. I have started a more detailed file in British Dinky aircraft, the first being the Fairy Battle.
Here is one photo of the Dinky labels I've just posted about. I shall take some decent photos shortly and post them here for everyone's perusal. I'd particularly like to date the two Pocket Catalogues as I can't seem to find them in the Publications section.
Edit:
Some further photos of the two Pocket Catalogues. Each is 140mm x 114mm or 5.5" x 4.25". The copy that is marked STORE COPY was obviously kept by Hobbyville and used in store for reference and not given or sold to a customer. It is the earlier of the two, based on the prices. The other copy has the correction slip.
A date would be welcome for either or both copies.
John,
As I mentioned in a separate post, the price stickers come from 1961 or 1962. Meanwhile, the pocket catalogues are from 1956 and 1957 respectively.
-- J
Thanks Jonathan for both your posts and the steer towards the thread where so much more interesting US Meccano history abides. Perhaps that is where I should upload a full series of decent photographs.
Incidentally, the two catalogues that you kindly dated for me have H. Hudson Dobson's New Jersey and NY addresses on the cover, but I'm certain that you already know that.
John
Jonathan---A nice model, but what is with the front tires? They look too small for the size of the wheel well....are they the right tires?
Best regards, Terry
Terry ... this is part of the odd charms of the Nicky models. They used locally sourced wheels in India rather than the Dinky cast wheels. Often the wheels are completely plastic, and as far as I know the tires are not removable.
Some wonderful new recent additions:
1. First 1948 version of the no. 521 Bedford Articulated Lorry, which - although seemingly common yellow - is as scarce as the red one.
2. A very nice no. 24u Simca 9 'Aronde' in light grey, a 3rd type of 1956, with a smooth (not stepped) radiator, squared inside roof and chromed convex hubs.
3. An unusual no. 25g Trailer with basically first type casting and early black wheels, but with a 'modern' tinplate hook and wire drawing bar, and even more unusual later domed axle ends. When spotted, the latter only seem to occur on these orange models, or not ...? And does a matching type 4 no. 25c Flat Truck with black wheels and domed axle ends exist, to form a coherent no. 25t?
4. A nice hand painted Hansa 1/1250 model of the Dutch whale factory ship Willem Barendsz II (1954-1965), an non-Dinky addition for my miniature merchant fleet.
I hope to show some more details in the relevant topic threads in due time. Kind regards, Jan
Wonderful new acquisitions Jan.....I have always really liked the Bedford, and that one is lovely. Looking forward to your further posts on these.
Best regards, Terry
Hi all,
It has been some time for me to be able to share a new arrival with you. I try to limit my purchases to scarce or rare models and they do not show up very often. And when they do, I am not the only bidder....
Probably you have seen this one on eBay, I just received a cream 344 Plymouth Estate Car with bright red panels and darker red wheels. The box, which shows this version pictured on one side and the brown version on the other side, comes with cream color dots. The model is from the Arthur Williams collection I wrote about in The Journal of July last year.
Some years ago I bought a similar empty box with brown color dots from a dealer, who told me he had seen a cream model once at Sandown Toyfair in a battered state. I have never seen this color on the Estate Car or a box with cream color dots and I am curious if someone has this model or box in his collection or has seen one before.
The model does have small chips and the box is tatty, but complete. Virtually all models from this collection are unboxed, so I am happy this one still has its box.
The cream and red color seems not to fit the Woody it represents as good as the brown color. Perhaps that is the reason of its rarity. In my view this variation in model and box might be as rare as some of the South African models.
Kind regards,
Rob
Hi Rob, congratulations. I knew about this model, but with some doubts. But you know what you're doing, no doubt.
I would be very curious see see it with my own eyes, once! Perhaps you could take it to Houten, next Saturday? Kind regards, Jan
Hello Jan,
Thanks! I was already thinking about bringing the model to Houten next Saturday, I will do so.
Look forward to see you there!
Kind regards,
Rob
What a rare find. I don't know whether I should cry or not - a few years ago, I saw one of these on a stand at the Buxton Toy Fair, in very good condition but without a box, selling at £20. I was not aware of this variation at the time, and assumed it was an expensive older repaint without examining it - maybe it was a repaint, maybe not, I will never know. Congratulations on your find, and thanks for adding another item to my "wanted" list !
Thank you Kevin! When I bought the 344 "Plymouth" box with the brown color dots, it was the first time I saw the cream variation pictured on the box. The box I now have with the cream color dots and the model of course, only now make sense to me. Both the brown and cream color dots are printed on the box and are virtually impossible to fake. The cream and red model I have is no repaint as far as I can judge by the look, feel and smell. And of course there is the provenance of the Arthur Williams collection with many rarities.
Now there is another model pictured on an early box that I am looking for. A black 106 Austin Atlantic with black wheels in stead of red wheels. It is pictured on some boxes, but sofar I have not seen the model. Definitely on my wants list!
Kind regards,
Rob
That is a remarkable coincidence, Rob! In the forthcoming issue of Auto in Miniatuur I wrote a short article about the Austin Atlantic Convertible, stating there that the black/red version of the Atlantic comes in a box with a black model fitted with black hubs, which has never been spotted. I wonder if you will be able to prove otherwise! Kind regards, Jan
Thanks Jan!
Now I know for sure to put it on my wants list. (I hope to find it a little less expensive!)
Kind regards,
Rob
Good work, thank you Jan!
Yesterday's Namac fair at Houten was really crowded: every now and then the stalls were hardly visible. My own sales of replaced models went that well, that - contrary to my intentions - I could not let this French no. 24ut Simca Aronde Taxi go, in the red/blue colours of Paris, a mere fortnight after having added the 'regular' Simca Aronde to the collection. It was a very happy and busy fair, meeting lots of collector friends and I had the privilege to view and 'feel' Rob's cream/red Estate Car (see #1303)! Kind regards, Jan
Hi Richard, I share your fondness of that red hubbed Mercedes / Large Open Racing Car. In my opinion it is the final issue of this model and I wonder if it was available in the UK at all, or only destined for some export countries, around 1950. Anyway, mine showed up in Peru!! Kind regards jan
Johnny
The roof panels may be under the bonnet
Nice lot anyway
Nice Tailers and very fine matching early post-war half-a-dozen trade box! Congratulations, Jonathan!
It would be nice to see this picture (and more?) added to the 25g thread. Kind regards, Jan
Roof panels for the Matra located, and I added the trailer set to the 25g thread.
Here's today's arrival. One of the harder-to-find Nickys, I believe.
I've included a picture of the baseplate mods. It's strange that they put a cartouche over the number and then used the original sales number anyway. Maybe variants were planned ...
Jan -- Yes, Nicky used a variety of wheels, obviously bought in from various suppliers and often too small for the vehicles they are fitted to. Usually, as with this model, they are of one-piece plastic construction.
Amusingly, one of the end flaps for this model and other Nickys carries over wording from an original Dinky about the dealer being able to supply spare tyres. Obviously impossible in this case. I guess India had no "truth in advertising" rules.
Thanks for the picture of the original Lincoln base, as mine is deep inside a display and not readily to hand. The raised areas are interesting as is the fact that a sales number has been blanked out on the Dinky Toy as well. These modifications tend to support a suspicion I have always had that the Lincoln was originally designed as a Spot-On, just like the six American cars made in Hong Kong. (The Spot-On link is clear in the case of the Hong Kong models, but I suspect it's there for the Lincoln too given that this was the first 1/42nd scale model made in Liverpool, came quickly on the heels of the Lines Brothers acquisition, and marked the debut of that Spot-On-like wheel type.)
I also note that the base you have pictured does not yet include the two holes designed to mount the model in a rigid plastic box. They are obviously there in the Nicky since the tooling was exported after it had been modified!
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Dinky 582/982 Pullmore - Dark Blue Cab/Dark Blue Body
DTCAwebsite upgrade 2023
--33 Mechanical Horse and Five Assorted Trailers
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186 Mercedes 220 SE
186 Mercedes 220 SE
--14a and 400 B.E.V. Electric Truck (1948-60)
--33 Mechanical Horse and Five Assorted Trailers
--25m and 410 Bedford End Tipper (1948-63)
--25m and 410 Bedford End Tipper (1948-63)
Trailer Caravans
Austin Van 470
Meccano Liverpool pricelist French F.A.S. Tarif Exportation 1957
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-274 - A.A. Mini van
Dinky Toys books
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--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)
-066 Bedford Flat Truck (1957-60)
-066 Bedford Flat Truck (1957-60)
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)