I thought it would be wise to continue the display discussion, started under 'Dinky of the day', under this new thread.
Believe it or not, my display planning runs over 25 years now! When I built my present display complex in 1990 - when my son got another room in the house and I got a hobbyroom/study for the first time - my ideal and goal was to have a full wall filled with Dinky Toys only. So I built that wall of displays in that room - but the Dinky's to fill it were still wanting! So I designed that 'wall' and put in everything in miniature I had: a lot of Dinky's, but also other brands, my ship model collection, my wife's dolls etc. In all those years I kept a steady growth of the Dinky collection by about 15 items a year, and subsequently the ships and dolls were 'driven out'. I was also continuously improving quality and I sold virtually everything non-Dinky, so the real quantitative growth rate was rather modest. When my daughter left, my wife had a room for her stuff and I built a separate cabinet for my ships in another corner of my hobby/study.
At last, after these 25 years I can really boast the wall of Dinky Toys I had always wished, but I kept the shelving so spaciously and flexible, that with the same rate of growth - not big because of improving quality - I can go for another ten years and then the collection should be even more stabilized than it is already at this moment!
So, to conclude with, in my opinion it's rather a matter of planning and collection control, than a space problem. But of course everyone should follow his own 'collection and display policy'!
I think I should write a detailed article on this display history and construction of mine in the DTCA Journal ... Kind regards, Jan
Jan--Nice write up on your display area, and I agree, it would make a nice article for the Journal. I would agree that prior proper planning is the key in designing and building cabinets; what I are your collecting goals and criteria? When I had my cabinet/display area built about 30 years ago, my collection was centered around automobiles, but also had a smattering of planes, military, and commercial vehicles. Much later I developed a love affair with the commercial range, and determined to aggressively acquire them. Many of them are much larger than the cars, so before long crowding set in. And just the past few years I fell for pre-war models......It would be much easier to have a narrow focus in collecting, but that is not me.
Another mistake I made back then was building my cabinet out of oak, and then staining it. Much better to do as you have done and use white interiors, which keep it much brighter.
Terry
Hi all,
Good topic Jan!
When we moved to this house in 2001 it was my chance to have a DTR (Dinky Toys Room) all to myself! I went for wall cabinets that I had made up by a cabinet maker I knew, extra shelves came from a local glass supplier, like Jan I couldn't fill it with Dinky's, so Corgi Classics, EFE, etc all went in.
They have now mostly been sold on, so the DTR is all Dinky, (and Matchbox / Bayco / Britains etc etc...)but at least the room has a cut off date of 1980 that only a few bits don't comply with.
Anyway here it is.........
I went for a very dark colour scheme, and really that is all I would change, I need to re-light the room completely, I've not re-touched the photos so you can see the lighting issue, too many shadows.
I am going to relight the lot in LED, I'm an Electrician so my house gets re-lit every year anyway!
Cheers
Chris Warr.
BTW...Any DTCA members are very welcome to come and have a Coffee / Beer etc and have a look if they want to.
CW.
Very nice to see a similar, but still different approach.
Very nicely done Chris, both presentation and collection, a feast for the eye!
Hope to see many other display suggestions and solutions ...
Kind regards, Jan
Chris--Very nicely done and I really like those tier displays.....reminds me of the old store Dinky displays from the 1950's. Are those real Dinky by chance? Very nice collection you have.....you have many variations of your models; I have enough trouble just getting one of each in most cases!
Terry
By the way, a nice proposal/invitation Chris! I will most probably attend the AGM in Derby. If you are not too far from that place, we might see an opportunity to do so.
Best regards, Jan
Wonderful job you have made Jan of displaying your Dinky Collection.Like it! Regards,Finja
Hi guys ! wonderfull job for both of you.
I am lost in admiration of your work ! When you know that I am not able to fix a nail straight in a wall ! All my displays are bought in IKEA shop and sometime? I have some trouble with the setting !!
Will show you some.
Richard
As you can see, it's a poor showroom !
Hi Richard,
You have some seriously wonderful models there! I wish I had more French Dinky, but there are still so many English ones left to get.
Chris Warr.
That's a really beautiful (but problematic) rush hour scene, Richard! Wonderful models, but a bit crowded ...
I found another picture, of my additional display for occasional small exhibits, a display table based on / inspired by the prototype Dinky Toy Display Board of 1935, as demonstrated in DT&MM, page 258 and the GBofDT page 233. I made it as a board, but lateron I turned it into a table, providing some space for extra drawers and large books underneath. On the photo the glass plate cover is lifted off in order to avoid reflection.
Coming back here to Fred's remarks in the 502 Foden Flat Truck thread, I found a picture of a surviving example of this display board. It was on display in the Derby Dinky Toys jubilee exhibition in 2009. I failed to ask who is the owner. Anyway a real Display Board shown below. It was photographed by Dave Busfield. Kind regards, Jan.
P.S.: to be fully correct, the basic board still is a replica (as the captions states), but the majority of the accesories seem to be authentic!
Richard--I think your display is even more crowded than mine, and that is saying something! But lots of very nice and desirable Dinky's there........looks like you also have many variations of the same model. But is that an Isobloc bus sitting atop some others? Please be careful, and I am sure you are, but that is scary!
Jan, your table display/diorama is very nice, and a great idea. Very well done, and of course, you can vary the vehicles to suit the occasion. Do you use glass for the sides and top, or some sort of plexiglass?
Terry
Chris, Jan and Terry, I thank you very much for your indulgence.
Yes, it is very crowded and as I like to have all the variations of the same model, I am obliged to put some items over the others !!! like for the Isobloc !
I am agree Jan : it will be very interesting to have the complete description in the journal, of your way to build your displays.
I would like to try to build the same !
When I need places, I have an other way of displaying !
Richard--Bottom line is, you do what you have to do.....right?? It sure is fun to see how everyone keeps their precious Dinky's. When I was just a young boy, mine resided on open shelves in my bedroom, followed by frequent dusting. What I cannot imagine is how some guys keep them....in their boxes, tucked away somewhere. That would never do for me...I need and want to see them, and almost every day, while I am on the computer, I reach in and pull out of my prizes just to look at it and hold it again. It would never work for me to box them all up!
Terry
You are right Terry.
I have, on the wall, over my desk, an open shelf where are displayed all my new Dinky bought here and there ! Later, they join the others in the cabinets and are replaced by the new arrivals !
Richard
I don't know such things as Beanie Baby boxes, must be typical British. Seems to be practical too. Nice to see all these display solutions here!
By the way, for my 'pushed out' non-Dinky items I constructed displays on the other side of my study. The only space available was over my book shelves, filling the remaining space above, up to the ceiling. Much of the contents is for sale regularly, in order not to get crowded.
My model ships displays are of an earlier date.
One allowed only in the living room, which I made in the mid-80s already!
Overhaul and renovation of Dinky Toys displays 2014
This week I started an intensive overhaul and renovation of my Dinky Toys diplays. This happens at an average interval of approx. five years. Main purpose is to inspect both interior and the models, as condition and dust are concerned. Every model and every glass shelf is taken out, inspected and cleant, if necessary. Some places and models have become dusty, but most of them are pretty clean after all this time.
This time the special motive was to expand the capacity with ca. 10 running meters. A full reshuffling of all shelves has to be executed in order to accommodate them. I have started with three of the total of eleven units. This means extra glass, extra supports, renovation of the interior paint and a new display order. I dare not predict how long it will take, but care and security will prevent me from hurrying!
Urgently needed: some temporary long stay parking places at a safe distance from the renovation activities:
Kind regards, Jan
Terry,
You are a collector, other people just pile up as many models as they can afford. I think that this is a sort of mental desease. What is the point to have all these nice models in crates, boxes, stacked in unaccessible overheated attics ?
All my 800 Dinky are on display.
I bought six of these in 1969, they were the chepest that I could buy (and aford) at the time which had hinged doors and on which I could add foam gaskets to;make them almost air tight. I have now sold four of them and these two contain a small part of myb Solido collection which I am selling now on eBay.
In 1968, I bought in a farm for a fiver this Citro
Jan
That refurbishment certainly looks like a big project, but knowing how you work, it will give you more space and be better than ever. In the meantime, the overflow parking has to be a concern.....probably not a good time to have several youngsters over running about!
And Jacques, thanks for showing us your displays.....I don't remember seeing them before, but nicely done. Especially the Citroen display...wonderful use of that old radiator shell and how special that you filled it with Citroens!
Terry
Jan and Jacques,
I would love to have your fingers dexterity.
My display are coming from "IKEA"
Richard
It looks like that :
There are ten display like this one :
A bigger one (poor photo !) :( :
An another type with "mon Ch
Problem, with the last one ! probably because of the chocolate publicity :laugh:
Here it is :
Richard
Well, Richard, not too bad, they have a home and a decent display anyway (and no doubt surrounded with love!).
Of course we cannot match Jacques' professional carpenters work, this natural wood perfectly in style with the setting Jacques lives in.
Long time ago when I visited the Normandy border line Dinky castle: September 2006!
And here the present state of affairs with my displays, now exactly 20,02 meters done today, renovated, waiting for the Dinkies to return. All three units with one new shelf added, all shelves thoroughly cleant, and the interiors painted in matt white, reducing reflections and presenting the colours of the contents brighter.
Kind regards, Jan
I just took the decision (owing to space) to cut down my Dinky collection to something much more modest & sensible in size, my issue is display space and I will be maintaining my collection to fit into just two cases. I love to see the displays of other members & would welcome an article in the DTCA Journal on this subject.
Kind regards, Stef
Hi Stef,
This is a good idea and I think that Jan and I could do a joint article as we have both build our cabinets but in very different ways.
All ideas from other members to add to the article will be welcomed on this thread.
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