969 BBC TV Extending Mast Vehicle (1959-64)

I got an extending mats vehicle but the string is missing.Does somebody know how to replace it ? and which kind of string ?Thank you for your help.

Hi Richard I don't know the answer to your question but have asked a few people so hopefully we can get an answer. I will get back as soon as I know more. Dave Busfield DTCA Editor

Thank you very much Dave.

I have never owned an extending mast vehicle so I asked some collegues and here are the replies I got. I hope thse will help. The following came from Paul Owen: When I had to restring my model a few years ago I looked everywhere for stringing instructions but did not find any. In the end I worked it out for myself. If I remember correctly the string is a continuous loop with part of it fastened to the inner mast. Part of the loop is wound around the handle so that when wound, the inner part is moved up and down. I seem to recall, once the initial route was worked out for the string, the biggest problem I had was getting tension on the loop so that it did not slip on the handle section. The following came from Jan Werner: I'm not sure about the possible instruction leaflet, although we (my brother and I) had one as well as the Roving Eye Vehicle, right from the start and played a lot with them. Nevertheless both survived in lovely condition in their pristine boxes. What I do remember is that indeed at an unfortunate moment the string was broken. But we did not need a leaflet at all. We just went to the toy shop and the model could be collected a few days later, with a repaired string. Those were the days! I wish we still had toy shops like this nowadays. Dave

Thank you Paul, Jan and Dave for your help. I started to study the mecanism and to work on it. I am going to make a test and will advise you about the result. The Paul description is probably the good one.

Hi Richard I have had a couple more people come back to me and they are absolutely sure that the mast vehicle did not come with instructions. Dave

Dear Dave, First, with the manufacturing date of the vehicle,I made researches into Meccano Magazine and I found an article for the introduction of the toy in the BBC range ! it's in the october 1959 magazine. it's a luck for me because I only have 4 magazines of that year. Unfortunately, they did not write about the mechanism and they did not show any leaflet. I have to leave now but I will come back later, because I found a new trail.

Here I am. I had the idea to look at my fire vehicle The Delahaye 32d. In fact the string is an elastic band and the axis of the crank is quiet different. I found on the Dinky Toys Forum the leaflet and it confirmed that it could not work. Then, a new idea ! what about the Berliet GBK ref.568 ? :laugh: It seems that the mechanism is very similar and I looked for the leaflet on the french forum ! I got it and now I am sure that I will succeed. On the axis of the crank, you have to separate two parts, with a little knife, to introduce the string ! These two parts work as a grip and then the string can'not slip at all ! I will try tomorrow. I hope my english good enough and that you have understand my explanation.

The most important thing is that you find a solution, that is the reason for the site. Keep enjoying Dinky Toys Dave

Richard Have a look at item number 110771362872 currently on e-bay. It shows a 969 Extended Mast Vehicle for sale WITH an instruction leaflet whic is presumably about restringing the vehicle. Dave

Thank you Dave for this information. I sent a message to the seller asking to send me a photo of the document ! will see.

The following is the description of the 969 BBC vehicle sold by Vectis Auctions on the 23rd March 2011: 'Dinky No.969 BBC TV Extending Mast Vehicle - dark green, includes separately applied antenna - Near Mint in a Good Plus blue and white striped box with stringing instructions and inner packaging'. I am now on a mission to get a copy of one of these. Dave