934/943/944 Leyland Octopus (2)

Hi Gents, Pleased to pick up this late Green / Yellow Wagon today....... s276.photobucket.com/user/starni999/medi...zps646b8759.jpg.html ] The mask spray didn't seem to fit very well.... s276.photobucket.com/user/starni999/medi...zps14cbc0ed.jpg.html ] Rivetted rear as opposed to pin and nut... s276.photobucket.com/user/starni999/medi...zps668be931.jpg.html ] Am I right in thinking that the timeline for colours and wheels on this one are: 1. Yellow / Green, 1st type 2 tone, Green metal hubs. 2. Yellow / Green, 1st type 2 tone, Red metal hubs. 3. Yellow / Green, 2nd type 2 tone, Red metal hubs. 4. Blue / Yellow, 2nd type 2 tone, Red metal hubs. 5. Blue / Yellow, 2nd type 2 tone, Red plastic hubs. 6. Blue / Yellow, 2nd type 2 tone, Grey plastic hubs. Here are the other Octo's I've managed so far..... s276.photobucket.com/user/starni999/medi...zpsdbd7642d.jpg.html ] s276.photobucket.com/user/starni999/medi...zpsa1cf2a73.jpg.html ] Chris Warr.

Chris--Nice lineup of Octopus wagons that you have there. Those started coming out about the time that I stopped my original Dinky collecting, so when I started up again years ago I focused solely on the various Fodens. But those also look very nice....sorry I cannot help with the history on those. The Dinky Toys Encyclopedia probably has more info on them though......... Terry

I have just looked through the past results at Vectis and they have never sold a Green/Yellow version with Green hubs, all their examples have Red hubs. Does anyone have an example with Green hubs, I do not remember ever seeing one. Dave

buzzer999 wrote: 'I have just looked through the past results at Vectis and they have never sold a Green/Yellow version with Green hubs, all their examples have Red hubs. Does anyone have an example with Green hubs, I do not remember ever seeing one. Dave' Hi Dave, To be honest I haven't seen one either. I took the info from Stewart Orr and Graham Bridges article in the old Classic Toys mag, issue 6. Here's their table, it's the third one down........

Lokking at it again this variation is listed with a rivetted back, so that would make it a later issue than the first red hubs version, if it exists at all? Chris Warr.

I think it is a myth, I would really love it if someone could prove me wrong. I think I have spent the last few years searching for something which does not exist. Dave

Thinking you are right Dave, I was sure I'd seen a picture of one, but having just gone through all my books and mags, no luck. Ramsey's list it, Mike and Sue say red hubs only. If Vectis haven't sold one, and no one here has one, I'm betting it is indeed a myth. I has always presumed it was the first version as it would follow the Foden wagon in having the hubs match the rear body. In some ways it's a good thing if it proves not to be real, as I can remove a Dinky from my wants list without spending a penny. :laugh: Chris Warr.

Do not burry it too fast...With Meccano, everything's possible... :laugh:

Not a wagon but a tanker. Although I do not like too plastic Dinky Toys, this one came along so relatively cheap and nearly mint recently, that I could not let it escape. And I must admit that the tanker body could not be more precise and smooth in zamac. Still, like the excellently made childhood Tractor-Trailer McLean, with its complete plastic trailer cover, it will remain an exception in my 1934-1959 collection. Kind regards, Jan

Lovely condition on those pair Jan! Gorgeous. I'm not too keen on the later stuff either, but extend my collection to 1964 to let a few nice ones creep in! Plenty of hub / chassis colour variations on the Shell BP too, the black wheels version always looked strange to me, but was probably quite accurate. Chris Warr.

I like the Shell BP tanker, despite the plastic tank. The most annoying feature for me is those fragile labels. I was comparing my two examples recently and noticed that my white-chassis version has the slots at the back of the cab (for locating the other bodies) cast over. Presumably this change was made after the other Octopus variants ceased production, as the slots would no longer be needed. My grey-chassis example has the slots open.

Mine is also a grey chassis version with the open slots. Dave

For comparison: