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janwerner's picture
janwerner
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Private collection catalogues

At last, a printed version of my catalogue supplement 2008-2009! Troubles with my printer and lack of time gave considerable delay in producing some printed examples of my bi-annual supplement to the new catalogue which I started in 2000. Some Dinky friends got a pdf version already, since it was complete as early as last March.
The supplement’s standard contents are an introduction memorating all personal Dinky events of the period in question, a main body including photographs, descriptions, comments and provenance of the newly acquired models listed, an alphabetical index and several appendices i.a. presenting the acquisitions in systematic and chronological order.
Everything is kept up-to-date in the computer file, but, as explained, yearly or bi-annual supplements are printed only. The work on it, containing full size articles per model, is huge, and the editing has prevented me from printing a new overall catalogue for a long time, which would be counting some hundreds, nearing a thousand, printed pages now.
I would love to know how many of you, fellow DTCA members, control your collection, as registrating and cataloguing is concerned. How does your private catalogue look like?
It would be interesting for all of us to be inspired by those examples!

Below some sample spreads from the latest supplement:

Kind regards, Jan Werner

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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Wandering around a little bit I rediscovered this 'tread'. Left without any comment in the past five years it seems that no-one keeps a registration of his collectionwink.

In the past website-less period I directed my Dinky Toys activity towards my own collection and after two months of hard working on it I managed to fully update my Dinky Toys catalogue and remove a retardation of five years since my last supplement of 2008-2009, as shown above. The result is that my catalogue increased with approximately 20.000 words from 290.000 to 310.00 at this moment, including full descriptions, essays and illustrations of all models acquired in the period in between (in which my professonal writing had full priority and attention).

Non-Dutch collector friends repeatedly regret that it is only in Dutch and ask for a version in English. Well, I hope you will excuse me: Dutch happens to be my own language!  Still, I have found a kind of solution, which Mike Forbes, editor of The Journal welcomes. I will supply a stock of incidental translated descriptions for inclusion in issues in The Journal in the near future. That is a more feasible and acceptable construction for me in order to share some descriptions and illustrations of favourite Dinky items of mine.

In the mean time I am considering a complete new concept for my catalogue, laying more emphasis on printed photographic quality. That's for the future! Kind regards, Jan  

 

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dinkyfan
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Jan---Sorry none of us have written a reply or followup to your original post on your cataloging efforts. You and I have traded some private correspondance on this subject, as your efforts inspired me to start one of my own. I think it can be a daunting task, as most of us have sizeable collections. When I started mine, the first thing I had to do was decide just what it would consist of......what will I include, how big will it be, how long will it take? After seeing some samples of yours, I started thnking about what I would do, and what program to use. I ended up using Microsoft Publisher, along with Photoshop Elements, and have it about 90% complete as of now. My first intention was to clearly catalog my collection, with some pertinent information about each model, along with 3 photos of each model, so I ended up standardizing a format that I could then use for each page. I thought about doing a descriptive writeup on each model, including some history of both the prototype and the Dinky version, but I quickly realized that, for me, that would be a very large project, taking a very long time to complete, so I went with an easier route so at least my catalog will be done and complete. My thoughts are to then do some supplements, going in to more detail, and allowing more photos as desired.
Thanks Jan, for offering some advice, sharing some of your work, and mainly inspiring me to do it!
Terry

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janwerner
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Terry, no problem, of course, see the smiley.There is no obligation at all to reply to every post submitted. Yes, it's true, we had private contact on this matter, and I hope you have made satisfactory progress with cataloguing the collection (as it seems). It is a tough and disciplined job indeed, and it depends on the necessity of making it and especially the fun some people - like you and me - have doing so. I can very well imagine that it's not everybody's 'cup-of-tea'. Still, it would be interesting to hear/see from other enthusiasts how they do the job of somehow administratively managing the collection digitally and/or in the form of some kind of presentable printed record with text and/or images. Kind regards, Jan

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dinkyfan
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Jan--Thanks for your always thoughtful reply!  I know we shouldn't expect a reply to every topic listed, but one as broad and interesting as this one should have.  I sure hope we do hear from others, as I would think some sort of catalog would be desirable for most of us.  Part of my motive, besides the fun and satisfaction of doing it, was to provide some sort of written record of my collection in the event something happened to me.  I am sure I am not alone in the fact that no one else in my family has the slightest interest or knowledge of my Dinky collection.....they tolerate it and admire it, but that's it!  So please, the rest of you, let us know your thoughts on this.............

                Terry

 

 

 

 

 

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dinkycollect
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DTCA MemberFrance

Circa 1955 I build a list of French Dinky Toys which was not yet available as there has been no publication and Meccano s.a. was not willing to publish that list. This list was printed into a ring file. The French list was followed by the English list around 1958. I did not know of Gibson's book at the time. I then made a page for each model with a picture by cutting catalogs and copying Meccano Magazines.

At that time, casting and colour variations were not known so it was quite easy. But the catalogs contain many errors which could not be known at the time.

In 2002 digital cameras became available at a decent price and this made photos available at a very small price. Being retired, I started a new catalog on my Mac. It took me some time to learn the .html language and to define a standard page with some pictures, some data on each model etc... I also added many pages on copies of Dinky Toys, wheels and tyres, books, boxes, pat ents, catalogs,code 3, scales, manufacturing flaws, registrations of Dinky etc. You have a question, the answer is probably in there. The catalog soon turned out to be a full Dinky catalog rather than my collection's catalog. The file grew and grew with the help of my TMT friends. It is still growing almost everyday. Ten years ago I thought that other collectors could be interested in my catalog and adapted it so it could be used as a web site with menus, hyperlinks etc... Burnt on a CD the catalog is available to any collector and so far 425 have been made.

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

... and the rest is history ...

Thank you Jacques, for your 'the making of'.

In library terms your (private) catalogue turned into a (universal) bibliography.

In Dinky terms your Dinky Toys catalogue turned into a Dincography.smiley

Kind regards, Jan

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dinkyfan
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DTCA MemberUSA

How wonderful Jacques that your early catalog efforts lead to your very useful Dinky Toys Encyclopedia; I got my copy a few years ago and find it indispensable.....thanks for producing such a valuable tool for us.
Terry

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johnnyangel
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Thank you, Jacques, for the insight into the genesis of the Dinky Toys Encyclopaedia. You showed wonderful foresight in the way you have constructed it.

Younger collectors -- are there many these days -- will have no idea how difficult it was to find out information about Dinky Toys before the initial publication of the Gibson "bible" in 1966, and really for some time after that. Other books (such as the Grielsamer/Azema "Model Cars of the World" from 1967) had only partial lists of French Dinky Toys. And of course in many countries outside the UK the Meccano Magazine was difficult or expensive to come by.

When I was a teen my best friend and I kept card files with an entry for each Dinky we had learned about, but there were constant wonderful surprises as we learned about models we had never dreamt of. Later on, in the very early days of computers, I made a list of all the models I actually had, but this effort quickly got left behind following marriage, raising a family, and several transatlantic moves. Today it is all mostly in my head, alas.

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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Hi all, almost six years have passed since I opened this thread with the announcement of my 2008-2009 catalogue supplement. After all these years I have completed my next Supplement 2010-2015 to the collection catalogue this week - at last. All these years in between occupied me with other business. Retired now this was one of my first private projects to be executed and I am quite happy now that my collection has the up-to-date catalogue it deserves again. Although in Dutch I presume you might appreciate to see a glimpse of it, just some random spreads of the 154 pages.

Some of the entries, each consisting of photos, description and comment of the model concerned, have been adapted, edited and translated into English for my 'From my Dinky Toys catalogue' contributions to The Journal. Kind regards, Jan 

Dinkyman's picture
Dinkyman
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DTCA MemberSweden

Splended piece of work, Jan. Now you can start the other project. wink

Ragnar

 

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

Thank you, Ragnar. But I was thinking about taking some days off ... !frown

dinkyfan's picture
dinkyfan
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DTCA MemberUSA

Jan--I second that motion.......somehow, someday, you simply must do a book of sorts, on some Dinky subject.  Besides all of the tireless work and effort you have made to the hobby, it would be a tremendous gift for the rest of us to permanently enjoy your work.  I won't hold my breath waiting for it, but I do hope you will consider it some day!

                    Best regards,  Terry

john45
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

Hello Jan,

I was very lucky to receive a digital copy of the catalogue and thanks very much for this. It is a endless source of information and I am happy to be a Dutchman so I can read it. Now we can expect even more of your excellent contributions in The Journal and at the Forum. Meanwhile I strongly recommend others to learn Dutch language.

John.

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janwerner
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The last few days I made some progress in preparing my supplement 2010-2015 for a hard cover booklet, by printing on demand order. I ordered one copy so you can imagine that I am anxious to see the final printed and bound result!

As a little teaser my cover design, as made ready for the printing purpose of the hard cover now. Kind regards, Jan  

dinkyfan's picture
dinkyfan
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Jan----Congratulations on completing your supplement catalog and ready to print. You have to be most anxious to see the final result. Both the front and back cover look very nice and appropriate.....well done!
Best regards, Terry

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janwerner
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This afternoon, five days after placing the printing order, my printed booklet arrived. I had prepared myself for possible disappointment, but, on the contrary, the result easily comes up to my most critical expectations! It is lovely, well-executed, well bound, solid hard cover with a satin finish, crisp printing, fine paper. In fact this printing-on-demand experiment was a test for a format of my whole catalogue, for which I have been looking for quite some time already. Now I strongly believe I have found the definite format, which a can recommend to everybody! I will need considerably more than one, and thicker, volumes, for my complete catalogue, but I trust this will succeed.

Some data: Hard cover, satin finish, 24,5 x 17,5 cm, 154 pages, 135 grams MC paper, 80.270 words, 268 ill.

Kind regards, Jan 

Dinkyman's picture
Dinkyman
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DTCA MemberSweden

Congratulations, Jan! Looks great.

Ragnar

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

You being an expert in this field, Ragnar, I have a high esteem for your positive comment, thank you very much!

It seems clear that I will most probably continue this reproduction policy in order to reach my ultimate goal: a printed catalogue of the whole Dinky collection (which, no doubt, will take considerably more time than the few months that I have been working on this). Kind regards, Jan 

dinkyfan's picture
dinkyfan
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Jan-----No surprise here.....it looks positively lovely, and you have to be so pleased with the end result. And that sizr format looks just right. I really like your cover, and it must look striking in person. Nicely done, and I am sure you will be encouraged to do a similar treatment on the rest of your catalog.
Best regards, Terry

David1971's picture
David1971
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DTCA MemberItaly

I am wondering if you are putting some copies for sale. Knowing German language, Dutch should not be an insurmountable issue.

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

Hi David, thank you for your interest. I have no intention at all to make some kind of 'business' of this personal document.  I show it here and share it with you all because I am really very satisfied with the result (and I am rather critical on these matters), and because it might give an idea/inspiration for fellow DTCA enthusiasts to do so with their collections. Of course a lot of data, illustrations and references are given of more general importance and that's why some close friends 'ordered' a copy. I consider to take one or two with me to the DTCA AGM in Derby, a fortnight from now. To be honest, I don't really look forward to any worries and administration of dispatch, payment etc.

Still, I appreciate your interest and I will remember your request and reconsider. Anyway, I know now already that a copy will cost a mere 33,22 euro (+possible mail costs), because that is exactly what they cost me to order from the printer/publisher. I, for me, was very surprised to be able to produce such a nice booklet with hard cover and well bound at such a low cost! Kind regards, Jan  

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David1971
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DTCA MemberItaly

Thanks Jan, I just asked as your publication would be fun to read and important to own. If everything works ok, I should be able to attend the DTCA meeting so I am looking forward to meeting you all in the UK.

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

That would make things considerably easier! As soon as you can confirm (as quickly as possible, Send email) I will order an extra copy to take it with me to Derby. Kind regards, Jan 

dinkyfan's picture
dinkyfan
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Jan's wonderful work on his catalogs inspired me to do one on my own Dinky collection. I started a little over a year ago, and am in the finishing stages at present, and should be able to get it printed before too long. Mine is more of a true catalog, with several pictures of each model and the real prototype, along with brief important facts about each model. Jan has put far more time and effort into his, and includes a lot of collateral information. But I am so glad to finally have a record of my collection, which will also be invaluable to my family in the event of my passing. I have also learned a lot more about photography and managing Microsoft Publisher.....not an expert by any means, but I feel reasonably capable now.
All of us can be inspired by Jan and the devotion he brings to our hobby; I just wish I had some of his artistic talent!
Best regards, Terry

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janwerner
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Too much honour, Terry, but indeed, if I can inspire anyone by this other aspect (and many more other aspects) of Dinky Toys than mere collecting I'm happy! In fact this is what this DTCA website forum is all about. Kind regards, Jan 

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janwerner
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Spring is here again, so it was about time to finish my annual catalogue supplement 2016. Writing, editing and layout have been done. Still, I take one month to check and process possible comments before having it actually printed, the same way I did last year. 

The provisional cover layout and two spreads below, a picture of the printed and bound 2010-2015 supplement at the end, as an example format for the present one to be printed.

Not anybody else maintaining a catalogue of his collection? I cannot imagine! Kind regards, Jan 

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Dinkyman
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DTCA MemberSweden

Jan, looks splendid! Congratulations! The same goes for the one you sent me last year. You inspire me and I will start on my "catalogue" as soon as I retire...
Ragnar

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

Thank you Ragnar. The best compliment you make is that I inspired you. Kind regards, Jan 

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dinkyfan
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DTCA MemberUSA

Jan---Your usual wonderful supplement....there is little else to say, as you have already raised the bar so high. I really love the way you mix photos with your text, and the research you do on each one is remarkable. I think you already know you have been an inspiration to my photography efforts, and I have made my own, somewhat lesser catalog, that at least lists my collection, along with photos and pertinent information. Thank you for introducing many of us to the fun and joy of Dinky research and cataloging!
Best regards, Terry

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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Just finished another private photoalbum, the first since 2009. With 50 randomly chosen Dinky items featuring, each topic on one spread, I hope this new effort will turn out to become a prototype for a definite overall image catalogue of the whole collection, which no doubt will take many more volumes. This one with 104 pages, each 30 x 30 cm, the spreads of course 30 x 60 cm. The file has been uploaded now, but I have not seen the printed result yet, which will take about one week. Reduced provisional pictures of some spreads included here (the colours a bit too 'heavy' as reproduced on this place). Kind regards, Jan 

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