34c and 492 Loudspeaker Van (1948-57)

Now, I think it's time to create a new topic. So here are my loud-speaker van's family. Still a hard job to do for a complete range ! The Dave series is so nice !Here under are my informations : A) first reference made around 1948: 34c Combinations are : light grey, black loud-speaker and wheels Royal blue, silver loud-speaker and black wheels Maroon, silver loud-speaker and black wheels Green, black loud-speaker and wheels Sand/grey, black loud-speaker and wheelsB)second reference made around 1954 : 492 Royal blue, silver loud-speaker and wheels Royal blue, silver loud-speaker and light blue wheelsDave, which is the colour of yours between the sand/grey and the light grey on your photo ? I heard that there are two other combinations that I never seen : grey with black loud-speaker and grey wheels and maroon with black loud-speaker !! :huh:Are some members able to complete those informations ?Perhaps some moderator can move the beautiful Dave's photo in this topic.Good evening and again happy new year. Richard

Indeed,
Dave has the best
and most varied range of loudspeaker vans.The modest number I can present: [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_6952.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_6955.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_6953.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_6956.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_6957.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_6958.jpg [/img]
And finally,
this makes the difference: [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / dte34c_onder.jpg [/img]

Jan Very nice as usual ! Was that Nestle a special promotion,
or a Code 3 effort by someone ? I have a plain red van
and have not seen this one before.Terry

Jan,
I feel like the colour green of your van is lighter than mine ! are there two green in the range ? Somebody knows ? ? Richard

Jan
and others -- The Delivery Van is interesting, and I sure cannot find much on it at all by looking in the normal references. I did not see it listed in any of the early post war samples of advertising, or even mentioned in the new model area, such as was done when the Loudspeaker Van was introduced in 1948. I also looked in both my 1952 and 1953 Dinky catalogs, and no mention or showing of it there either. Dr. Force's book does not even list the post war version at all, and there is scant mention and no pictures in the GBofDT. And Jan, with yours showing the Nestle advertising...waiting to hear your response as to if it is original. Cecil Gibson, in his early book 'History of British Dinky Toys, 1934-1964', states that the 28 Delivery Van may have been available with advertising...........interesting! I bought mine in 1959 from H. Hudson Dobson, and I looked at the invoice they sent along with it...it is simply referred to as #28 Delivery Van. So a somewhat obscure little model that Dinky re-introduced around 1947 and made until about 1953 or so, but not appearing anywhere and somewhat forgotten today! I will have to take some photos of mine and post later. It is more of a red/maroon color than Jan's and is plain with no advertising. Does anyone else have examples of this model? And a final note Jan; since your van does not have the extra casting area for the Loudspeaker stem to fit into, I wonder if it is a pre-war casting re-used after the war? It appears to have the thicker post war axles. Terry

I managed to find time to take some pictures of both my #28 Delivery Van and also the 34C Loudspeaker Van. Terry

[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / Catalogus_1947_48_USA_p2detail.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / Catalogus_1947_48_USA_p2 -20140102.jpg [/img] Here it is,
numbered 28 in an undated catalogue for the USA market,
which I date at 1947 / 48.It is also shown for instance in Model Cars & Road Vehicles by Patrick Trench on page 66.There,
it is referred to as 280,
which is also used.In fact this reference fits into the old numbering system,
as 280 was later adopted for the Observation Coach.Trench puts the period of availability at 1948 -1951,
which is quite plausible.The model is not scarce,
but indeed it is not paid much attention to in many reference works.I am still looking for mint examples,
both red
and blue.The casting without reinforcement within the roof is the very earliest,
except
for the wider axle holes the same as the pre - war 3rd type van.Shortly
after
that,
early 1948,
the Loudspeaker Van is introduced,
which necessitated the reinforced fitting for the loudspeaker,
which is also seen (unused) on the later castings for the Delivery Van.My red one has later applied transfers,
although I must admit that I had hoped for a long time that they might be original.In fact you can see the edges of the waterslide transfers,
which would not show on originals.Regards,
Jan

dinkyfan wrote : ' I managed to find time to take some pictures of both my #28 Delivery Van and also the 34C Loudspeaker Van. Terry [/url]' Hi Terry, Lovely 'tomato' shade of red there, not seen that before. Chris Warr,

Jan --Interesting observations on the Delivery Van. I am still somewhat troubled by a few things with this model, and just to add one more oddity, Jacques shows no pictures of the post war version at all in his Dinky Encyclopedia, and only barely mentions it in one sentence.For one thing, I do not understand the change going from 28 to 280. It appears that this model was discontinued around 1951.....wasn't that before Meccano started the new numbering system? It was certainly originally introduced post war as #28. The companion Loudspeaker Van was not re-numbered to 492 until the 1954 catalog, where it is dual numbered.And I re-looked at the Great Book of Dinky Toys, and Mike Richardson puts the dates of manufacture as 1945-1951. I didn't think Dinky actually made any new toys in 1945, so am inclined to think it was likely introduced in 1946 or early 1947. 1948 seems a bit late to re-introduce something that was ready to go.Do any other members have any other pictures of this little van to share, or a trade box? Terry

Yes,
Terry,
there is much confusion about the exact data regarding this model.Perhaps - besides the rather simplicity
and not special attractive character of this model - that ' s why many authors avoid this model more
or less.The trouble started when Meccano ran out of numbers,
pre - war already,
for the 3rd type van
and
after
28y continued the range with 280a,
280b etc.- that is,
for the third type van only.So later on the general van was often referred to as 280 by authors.In fact,
post - war Meccano discontinued all advertising on the van
and resumed the numbering with the bare 28 number,
as can be seen in the catalogue reference
and on the trade box shown below.If ' bare ' vans with smooth hubs do exist (
and with oper rear windows
) it can very well have been produced immediately post - war already.Vans are referred to with open rear windows,
but I ' m not sure if I have seen them.If so,
it might have been a very affordable immediately post - war model,
suitable for a poor
and exhausted home market.Trench ' s reference 1948 -1951 seems too tight to me.Anyway,
some time before introduction of the Loudspeaker Van,
so 1947
or earlier,
as considered above.The final date may even be 1952,
because that is the year when the Dinky range was extensively renovated
and virtually all old - fashioned models were discontinued.In fact this model has forward crimped axle ends only,
which lasted on many old - fashioned models until 1952.By the way,
Patrick Trench states in his Dinky Toy Compendium (to the DT & MM book) the even shorter availability of 1949 -1951,
which is easy to argue not to be correct.Although the three digit number looks as a new number,
I intended to stress that is is in fact a number in the old numbering range.Actually is was replaced post - war by 28 again.I am again surprised that such ' old - fashioned ' models were still in stock in the USA at the end of the 1950s,
as you show.Finally,
here is the post - war trade box,
the natural card board one with yellow stickers.[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_3224.jpg [/img] Best regards,
Jan

I found one on the internet ! [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 7460066268_c40ba5c8d4_o.jpg [/img] Here it is,
with smooth hubs,
thick axles
and closed rear windows.This one cannot be later than 1946.

Jan That one you just showed makes it very clear to me that the 28 was very probably introduced in 1946.Another indication involves an old thread on Talk Model Toys,
where
someone posted a picture of a very early postwar with not only smooth black hubs,
but also white tires.I am quite sure that those 2 features,
to me at least,
date it to 1946.As to a deletion date I tend to think likely 1951 as it is not in the catalog any longer,
but possible some we ' re made into early 1952.I guess we can also conclude that the post war model was never officially numbered 280 by Meccano,
but that collectors
and others have adopted it for reference purposes.A good example of how we are still uncovering little mysteries in our Dinky ' s
and will continue to do so ! Terry