Streamlining and the Art Deco period

On my way to the DTCA AGM meeting weekend at Derby I took a detour to the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York. There is until 31st December a exhibition on streamlining and on display a remarkable restoration. First the Dinky Toys interest. Part of the display is a Chrysler Airflow. This is the slightly later version than that modelled for the 32/30a Chrysler Airflow and indeed for the earlier 22g Streamlined Saloon. As can be seen in the text display, the waterfall radiator of the original Airfow was only in production for a short time and was then replaced by the one on display. I hope the text in the following is legible (clicking on it will display full size). [img]/images/sites/default/files/old- forum-images/30a_ChryslerAirflow__2.jpg[/img][img]/images/sites/default/files/old-forum- images/30a_ChryslerAirflow__5.jpg[/img] To be continued ...

Hi Peter, of course this is an extremely interesting topic. I have a Ph.D. thesis by Axel Matthiesen of Hamburg, entitled Vom Kasten auf Rdern zur rollenden Skulptur: die Revolutionierung des Automobildesigns in den 30er Jahren. Or: From box on wheels to mobile sculpture: the revolution of car design in the 1930s (Hamburg 1990). This study exactly covers the streamline revolution in car design. Interesting for those who read German! Here is a vision of Raymond Loewy about the then future streamline development in car design: The nice thing about Dinky Toys (and other models of the period too, of course) is that they mirror the real world and started exactly in this revolutionary age with their models. Many had the proud adjective streamlined, as we know: Streamlined Tourer, Streamlined Saloon, Streamlined Diesel Articulated Train, Streamlined Train Set, Streamlined Racing Car, Streamlined Fire Engine, Streamlined Petrol Tanker, Super Streamlined Saloon etc. Indeed all kinds of vehicles showed this revolution: aircraft (probably the most functional and exemplary adoption of the principle), locomotives, road vehicles and ships. But of course there was a long period in which both categories existed besides each other, both in the real world as in Dinky world. Compare the Normandie and the Queen Mary, the latter one being completed even later than the first one. An inexhaustible subject! Kind regards, Jan Werner

The late fellow Dinky enthusiast Peter Golden started this interesting thread almost four years ago. Time to pick it up again in my opinion. Peter showed the real-world prototypes exhibited. I can show some Dinky's in the streamlined range, but just a few. Others may add and complete. Regards, Jan

A most interesting subject Jan, and thanks for reviving it. There is certainly a lot of material to work with as so much was developed during the mid to late 1930's, and you are quite right in that Dinky was right on top of things and quick to issue models representative of the various vehicles. Nice photos too of the various Dinky efforts.....they are all somewhat iconic now and make splendid models indeed.Terry

The Airflow was also issued in France but with Dunlop tyres. The Peugeot 402 was also a streamlined model fitted with either smooth hubs and Dunlop tyres or solid diecast wheels. The early issued were without a baseplate, this was added later. Note the fine detail of the Peugeot Lion on the rear Wheel cover.

Another great example of streamlining: no. 23d Auto Union Racing Car (1936-1950).