23a and 220 Racing Car (3rd casting) (1946-56)

The Small open Racing Car was re-issued in 1946 and continued until about 1952, although the US catalogs still show it in the 1954/55 one. Mine shows an added web in the rear section, that was not present pre-war, Best regards, Terry

Hello Terry, thank you for the nice pictures of a very nice example! I am a bit confused. Looking at the header of this thread I wonder, was there a 4th casting then? In my opinion 1952 was not the end of this model, as suggested by the header. It disappeared from the catalogues as late as 1956, as renumbered no. 220, and I believe nothing changed in the casting after 1952. Just the axle ends became rounded and I believe only the version shown above (silver with red hubs and rounded axle ends), was available since 1954. By the way, the second state lasted till the end of the 1940s in my opinion, in several colours and indeed still without the strengthening strip in between. I cannot explain the data 1942-1945 in the header there, Meccano was producing war stuff then, no small racing cars. The model was discontinued 1948/49 (at least on the UK and Commonwealth markets) and re-introduced in 1952, indeed, with the strip added. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm right the headers should be adjusted. My post-war examples below. it's not the original contents of the trading box they're sitting on. Looking at the colour and the number of the trade box the one on the back, with silver hubs and smooth axle ends is the best possible candidate. The blue one is a second state example, with black hubs and crimped axle ends, available ca. 1945-1948/49. In the June 1952 MM issue the re-introduction of some outdated, previously discontinued models was announced, among them the 22a Small Racing Car. A page of the (NL) 1955 catalogue shows the last mentioning (no picture) in a Dinky catalogue. Kind regards, Jan

Should this thread really be about the postwar 23a Racing Car, here are the facts: In 1946, only the British 23a Racing Car got reissued, renamed 'Small Open Racing Car', no more French 23a.Thicker crimped axles than prewar, no raised number circles anymore (already abandoned prewar).At first, many prewar leftovers (smooth rims, prewar color scheme) were used, gradually replaced with postwar black ridged rims and postwar color schemes red/silver, silver/red and blue/silver, always with racing number 4. From about 1947 with central reinforcing rib.From about 1949 only silver/red with silver ridged hubs.From about 1950 with additional reinforcing rib in the tail, both ribs slightly rounded, axles domed on both sides.Soon only with tail rib, central rib abandoned, red ridged hubs.1954 renumbered 220.1956 production ceased.This is my current understanding, comments will be more than welcome. Best regards from Thailand Walter

In my drawer, the front row shows most (if not all) postwar variations described in my previous posting. Best regards from Thailand Walter

Hi Walter, a nice treat to see another glimpse of your wonderful racing cars collection. And thank you for the very helpful detailed list. In my opinion the definite discontinuation of crimped axles ends on all remaining (mostly prewar designed) models took place in about 1952. I cannot prove, but practice does not seem to contradict this up till now. The obscure period 1949-1952 still is not very clear to me. All racers and aircraft are said to have been discontinued in 1949, and some re-introduced in 1952, but there are examples which I think still have been produced in that period, but perhaps for 'foreign' markets only. An interesting detail below, of the Dinky Toy Job List Index, without date or memo number, but which dates from late 1951 in my opinion. There, the pre-war racers are recorded, those definitely not to be re-issued mid-1952 struck out. Kinds regards, Jan

Hi Jan, Unfortunately, the list is not fully visible. Please send again.Walter

Hello Walter, did something change in your discussion? I remember you asking a question about the dating of the list. Well, subsequent to that question I have dived a little bit deeper into this undated index list. My dating by heart (above) should be adjusted a little bit. In fact this list appears to have two layers. Looking more closely at the models and their assembly drawings listed, there appears to be a basic cluster, apparently the original list, that was completed in December 1948. These models and their assys are listed in a more or less systematic order of topics. Within these topics there is an alphabetical order of models. All models in the clear alphabetical order have their drawings completed before January 1949. The last one I can find there is the Estate Car, the known drawings of which date from December 1948 and January 1949. At the end of these listings there are additions, not necessarily alphabetical and sometimes in a slightly different kind of handwriting. These are all models of which the assys have been completed in January 1949 and after. The Estate Car is right on the watershed, its large design drawing for the Body and the drawing for the Base having been completed in December 1948 and the assembly drawing in January 1949 (see the GBofDT page 178). Therefore, it was included in the basic section under E, as well as in an additional listing of post-1948 cars under Motor Cars. So the basic list will have been compiled in December 1948 and completed in January 1949. The additional listings are placed below the initial pre-1949 listings, as long as space allowed. The later ones which could not be added are squeezed in between on less logical places. The youngest model/assy I can find included there is the A.E.C. Monarch Shell Chemicals Tanker, which dates of 11 December 1950. The subsequent known assy, of the Big Bedford, of 1 February 1952 and all subsequent, later assys are wanting. So it appears that this list was discontinued and closed in January 1951. In short: Basic list closed in December 1948 and completed January 1949, additional listings added from February 1949 and discontinued in January 1951. The racers detail above is from the basic list. The dating of the strikings is hard to tell. They may have been done even before completion of the basic list but also much later. I think I will now hurry to combine the five pages into one pdf and send them to Dave and Al for inclusion in the Documents>Factory Drawings section of our website. This way all of you can draw your own conclusions. Kind regards, Jan

Yes, Jan, I had my original comment removed and replaced when I realised that the list didn't look that 'kosher' and needed further examination. Let's see.Best regards Walter

Nice to see that new avatar of yours! I posted such a picture many, many years ago, but where? It is the 24 August 1957 issue cover of the Donald Duck, the Dutch Walt Disney strip weekly. The artist was apparently inspired by the Dinky Toys of his children, using some of them as examples. Easy to identify are the Bedford Van, Volkswagen and 555 Fire Engine on the slope, the Austin Somerset and Ford Fordor(?) down below, and the Oxo Van on the tray. Kind regards, Jan

For the time being: here are the images of the job list index. An important document for the early post war period, with models mentioned that were never issued, apparently deleted models and job numbers of assy's missing up till now. This one and many others are in my possession and I will make them available in the relevant document thread in the course of time, for research and safeguarding their information. Kind regards, Jan

Jan, on your lists the last column apparently contains the job number. What do the numbers/remarks in the column before refer to (e.g. 413 for the racing cars)? Walter

Hi Walter, I presume there was a huge system of entries to all drawings stored in the Meccano factory, not just for Dinky Toys but also for Hornby Trains, Meccano construction etc. The job lists mentioned here should contain the references to those jobs and the related jobs for producing one item each. Those lists may have been stored in dossiers and gave access to the drawings themselves. Anybody being better informed about this, please comment. There must be a thread somewhere dealing with factory drawings. Even if not understanding exactly the precise functioning of this system, this very index list unveils quite some other information. I also have a later one. Kind regards, Jan