Trade Boxes

I can imagine that they sent a full trade box. Writing to the other side of the US and ordering such a tiny piece of metal, with all attention, correspondence and administration involved! This direct consumer - importing agent trade is rather curious and can hardly have been profitable for Hudson-Dobson. With us I presume we immediately would have been referred to the nearest retailer! This must have been a special American facility, as I know of other US collectors who also had this direct personal attentention, communication and trade with H-D. In fact I remember having had such a kind of communication with Airfix in the 1960s. Without hesitation they sent missing or damaged tiny parts in large envelopes. Those were the days ... Kind regards, Jan

It is not only lovely to see the trade boxes, but also to hear the stories behind them: how they ended up in your collections. Empty trade boxes, free of charge, probably saved from the bin 50 years ago... Ordering one Robot Traffic Signal, getting a trade box,offering to send it back and hearing just to keep it....in 1959! Indeed those were the days, memories to cherish, thanks for sharing. Kind regards, Rob

Gentlemen Now this is what I call a 'trade box'!! :laugh: :laugh: Bruce . . . . . . .

Fantastic Bruce! Could be the start of your own obsolete diecast shop! Kind regards, Rob

In fact, these are not Dinky. They are 'Auto Pilen' re branded as Dinky. The six models in the 1154? series were the last French models sold as Dinky, their baseplate was a modified Pilen one hardly modified. Bruce's picture of the largest tradebox that I have seen explains that the models were shipped from Spain in large cartons of fifty and then repacked by six in France. It also explains why I have never found a tradebox or outer for any of the Dinky made in spain. There were some specific tradeboxes for the models packed in cristal boxes. Very scarce boxes are thoses for the Dinky Junior. Bruce, could you please post some large photos (3/4 front, 3/4 rear, base) of any of your Chrysler Simca 1308, the models of the 1154? series are very rare, they came two years after the last Dinky Toys , were never advertised and most collectors were not aware that they existed. They are also rare because some collectors stock them by sets of fifty. :laugh: Do you have several of these cartons ?

139B Hudson Commodore Sedan. The trade box is not full yet. The four models are all different. The light blue model is very rare. Kind regards, Rob

Rob I have never seen that light blue Hudson before......very nice! Terry

30M Rear Tipping Wagon, with some rare color variations. All except the cream hub version have bonnet louvres. Kind regards, Rob

hoort wrote: '139B Hudson Commodore Sedan. The trade box is not full yet. The four models are all different. The light blue model is very rare. Kind regards, Rob Greetings Rob Nice to see that light blue Hudson. I had an example which I sold through a leading Auction House earlier this year. I was 'slightly' upset when I saw it listed with two other common models and given a stupid low estimate. Fortunately it failed to sell, and before it was re-listed, I re-wrote the description and it finally sold for its true value. Mine had large base-plate letters, so would that make this version a 171? Also, as can be seen, it is certainly not in the same condition as yours. Not many collectors are aware of this very rare colour variation, (my example had slightly different coloured hubs compared to the usual blue) otherwise my example would have been snatched up for a very low price. Bruce .. ... ..................

Hi Bruce, Nice to see you had one too! Mine also has large letters on the baseplate and darker wheels than the dark blue Hudson. I think the light blue model was produced in a small quantity around the renumbering. This color scheme with only the roof being a different color, is also seen on the artwork of individual dual numbered and 171 numbered boxes. I bought mine unboxed, so could have been from a late dual numbered trade box. Your guess is as good as mine! Kind regards, Rob

Read all (well, a lot) about it in 'Dinky's American Dream', an article by Nigel Mynheer (Model Collector October 2001 pp. 31-35, there pp. 33-35), and the respective section in the Chistie's catalogue of the Remy-Meeus collection part 1 (24-25 September 2001), pp. 71-73. Kind regards, Jan

The trade box without dividers for 31B TROJAN VAN (DUNLOP)