A nice Franco-American trio indeed. All of them seem to carry a too heavy load in their trunks ...
Kind regards, Jan
Some additions of the past few weeks below. A trade box with three no. 27b Halesowen Harvest Trailers. The same colour racks are still packed underneath in their original tissue papers. A red no. 36e Salmson Two-seater beauty, to replace a poorer example in the collection. Both a green and a grey no. 37a Civilian Motor Cyclist in very fine condition. Mostly they are rather play-worn. They may need some soft, gentle cleaning. A boxed no. 415 Mechanical Horse with Open Wagon too, the latest version without '20' roundel. Both model and box look perfect. It will replace an unboxed example. Also a fine no. 564 Elevator Loader. I have some already, but I could not resist this one for its outstanding 'as new' early all blue box, with all inserts present. Most of these boxes are very poor. Finally four boxes, each with one dozen large grey round tread tyres 10253. They are very welcome for replacing some originals on near perfect models, which often have flattened or crushed tyres. About 1/3 are 'as new' and supple, another 1/3 is a bit stiff, a gamble, but some possibly still useful, and 1/3 is really hard and most probably useless. As usual, I am extremely happy with these!!! Kind regards, Jan
Hello Jan. Perhaps you could try some high quality silicone grease on the very hard tyres. It may make them useable. Gently massage the tyres with your fingers and allow them to absorb the grease. After a few days they should be more flexible.
Thank you, John, for the tip!
I may try if I need more of these spare tyres than I expected. Kind regards, Jan
Don't forget to warm them in water before attempting to fit them. Also use a cloth with a little grease to wipe on elderly tyres to prolong their lives - particularly the melted ones on pre-war models.
Lovely example, Richard. And the 19th forthcoming!
I am still waiting for a first suitable example (near perfect and affordable) to come by ...
They tend to be rather pricey, despite many turning up and being unboxed only. Is that because of the many collectable variants?
Kind regards, Jan
Bravo Richard mais a quand la 20eme ?
Bravo Richard mais a quand la 20eme ?
Jonathan--Another lovely example! I only have the grey version, and actually prefer this color. Yours does not have the decal or wording on the flat surface above the mirrors and glass....is that a later version???
Best regards, Terry
I have several worn pages torn from copies of the Meccano Magazine many years ago, showing the French Dinkys in the UK. I have my first two still pretty much as bought back then from Hamleys, 34B (8/11) and 33C (8/6). 33C is just missing the film and tissue sheets removed from the ‘glass’ and ‘mirror’. It was pretty poor that they couldn’t be bothered to put lettering on the signboard especially as the box shows the grey livery with MIROTIER. Of course discovering the French models was a whole new avenue of collecting and may well have had a subliminal influence on my purchase of a real first car, a Citroen DS 19. My Austin Van “NESTLE’s” is still boxed and near mint with the nice gold lettering too.
I am lucky I suppose to be a bit younger, but ah to have lived through an age when such wonders could be purchased at Hamley's. I envy you the DS19 too, although I did own a 2CV, one of my favorite cars ever.
Yes, it is feeble that they couldn't come up with a replacement decal for the export mirror truck. And why make this change when they did, when the gray one with decal had been exported before all over the world anyway?
A lovely example of a lovely model ... and lovely weather, it seems! Kind regards Jan
Thanks, Jan! It is a delightful model indeed, and I only ever had a gray one before.
(California weather nice for basking in the sun, not so nice for the fires it portends ... )
Thanks also to Terry ... yes, this a later early 60s version, rarer without the decals. I like the yellow too!
Jacques, thank you for your comments! When young I knew the name of Saint Gobain only through the Dinky, but in later years I owned several 1:1 Renaults and enjoyed seeing the company's name on the glass. And now I learn that the company dates from 1665 and was responsible for creating the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
Is this the most venerable firm to have its name appear on a Dinky Toy? Or not appear, in the case of my export model!
On a much less exotic level, here is an addition to my Dinky police force, as devised by John Gay. I believe the humble Bedford Van at least has the distinction of being the last Dinky Toy from Liverpool with a classic tinplate base. Unless I have forgotten something ...
Jonathan----You are on a serious role lately...... congrats, especially on that new Simca Mirror truck. I seem to remember hearing something about that version without the decals, but had really forgotten about it. Yours is so nice and also somewhat rare, so that is pretty special, and your Austin Nestle Van is wonderful.....I always really liked the nice red color with the gold lettering.
Best regards, Terry
Jan—-All lovely additions & I applaud you replacing existing with nicer versions. I had been on a similar mission when my collecting career ended.....several I had were good, but not excellent....
Those 39 series are really nice examples....such an eternally wonderful series Meccano created.
Best regards, Terry
Jan—-All lovely additions & I applaud you replacing existing with nicer versions. I had been on a similar mission when my collecting career ended.....several I had were good, but not excellent....
Those 39 series are really nice examples....such an eternally wonderful series Meccano created.
Best regards, Terry
Thanks, Terry, this policy makes it possible for me to continue collecting, (hardly) without needing more display space or money, and still enjoy a dynamic collection. On the other hand, selling the replaced models at a stall is also great fun! Kind regards, Jan
David Kaun, a long time member of the DTCA and webmaster of this site for many years, sadly died on Friday - 11th December 2020 - after battling a long illness.
I joined David and the website builders about five years ago as a technical adviser and have corresponded with him ever since - and so can certainly say that he will be greatly missed.
So sorry to hear it!
I did not know David, but certainly heard of him many times, and came to know how involved he was with our website. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for helping to refine and improve the website. I am very sorry to hear of his passing, and I pass along my sincere condolences to his family.
Best regards, Terry
A lovely late edition, and to me at least, not as common as the grey one that I have. A very nice add Jonathan!
Best regards,
Terry
2024 AGM
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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)