501 - 505 and 901 - 905 + 941 & 942 Foden types 1 & 2 (1952-1964)

Hi all,
Rob ' s photo shows what they looked like on Christmas morning,
here ' s my version
from
about August...
Or by the time I got them
from
my cousins.. [img] http: / / i276.photobucket.com / albums / kk15 / starni999 / DSCF2428 -1.jpg [/img] :laugh: :laugh: Here ' s my Red / Green,
this has to be a back swop I feel,
as the real thing should surely have green hubs,
or is there a riveted back version with red ? [img] http: / / i276.photobucket.com / albums / kk15 / starni999 / DSCF3183_zps28adf4f2.jpg [/img] CW.

Hi Guys ! You forgot those ones in the parade ! [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / CIMG1004.jpg [/img];
)

[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 905_PlasticHubs.png [/img] An other one which is probably unique,
the last 905 with Supertoys hubs
and the first one with plastic hubs.

Very nice,
One of my friends has one with two axles Supertoy
and two axles plastic hubs,
proving again that Dinky ' s quality sytem created a real collector ' s heaven.Lucky for us ! ! Rob

Just one more for the weekend: 503 first en 903 second type in two tone green.The 903 is in a dual numbered 503 / 903 box with H.Dobson label
and an original price tag for $ 2,
75.Rob [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 503_903_Foden_Flat_Truck_with_Tailboard_two_tone_green_Forum.jpg [/img]

Rob,
Is your friend ' s Foden with 50 / 50 hubs a chain one
or other ?

A chain lorry,
as far as I know the chain lorry is the only Foden that has been produced long enough to be able to receive plastic hubs.The production of all other Fodens presumably stopped in 1957.In some catalogues it is mentioned the 903 Tailboard in blue / fawn has been produced until 1960,
but I have not seen a Tailboard box with a later date stamp than 1957.If there is,
I stand corrected of course.Dinky Toys have surprised me often enough before ! ! Rob

The following are the latest production runs for the Foden ' s,
based on the quality control stamps: 901 April 1957 Last catalogue / price list dated April 1957 902 December 1957 Last catalogue / price list dated May 1959 although the model continued in overseas markets,
at least for Australia until January 1960 903 December 1958 Last catalogue / price list dated August 1958,
although like the 902 Flat Truck,
the model made its last appearance in an Australian catalogue dated August 1959 905 February 1963 continued until it made its last appearance in a catalogue / price list in July 1963 The quality control stamps together with the Sales Order Forms are perhaps the most reliable references in determining production runs,
as catalogues generally cover models that Meccano reasonably consider are available through their Agents.With Order Forms,
there are many instances when models were out of stock until a new production run was undertaken.Included in my DINKY NEWS #17 page 9 is a discussion on Production Periods extracting details from the Order Forms for June 1960, February and May 1961 and October-December 1962. The models that were constantly unavailable to order due to no stock were the 252 Refuse Wagon and 982 Pullmore Car Transporter which was unavailable to order in the 1960 and 1961 Order Forms. There were another nine models that were also unavailable during these periods with the 621 unavailable in May 1961 and October-December 1962. The 965 Euclid was unavailable in February and May 1961, this being possibly due to the re-tooling to incorporate window glazing. Meccano also had to reduce quantities a Sales Agent could order in February 1957, such as the Foden Regent was restricted to an order for only two models, 965 Euclid to one model, and for cars 131 Cadillac to a single trade pack of six models. There were many models that had restrictions placed on the quantities that could be ordered in February 1957. The Fodens apart from the 'Regent' had no restrictions so sufficient stock was on hand. (And of course, the 901 was no longer available in the February 1957 Order Form having been replaced by the 934 Octopus although the 901 was still included in the April 1957 catalogue/price list! With a quality control stamp of April 1957 perhaps indicates that even Meccano did not operate under a strict set of deletion rules - with the 934 making its appearance in April 1956, obviously the 901 was continued for a longer period than expected, although the Sales Department were operating under a different set of rules by not including the 901 in the February 1957 Order Form!) But I think I have got well off the track now!! Bruce

Rob & Bruce Many thanks for all this information.Of course things may be slightly different here in Europe
from
what they were down below.The dates of availability may be very different
from
the manufacturing dates,
Dinky were still available ten years
after
the factories closed.

Hi Bruce,
Many thanks for the info on sales ordering etc,
it ' s an area I know very little about,
but am fascinated by.Therein lie some of the answers to things that look so strange to us 50 odd years on.If it ' s OK with you I ' d like to start a new topic specifically on ordering / sales / promotion etc so I can throw a few questions in,
and this info can be found easily in the future,
and isn ' t limited to just the Fodens.Cheers Chris Warr.

Hello Chris I couldn ' t agree more,
so have acted accordingly in your new thread ! Returning to the Fodens,
when it comes to strange combinations,
my immediate thought tends towards suspicion ! I realise that this is wrong,
but when a part can be easily removed
and put onto another model,
using utmost care in doing so,
we all have to be extremely diligent.The only way an unusual colour combination can be proved 100 % correct is if that model was purchased by its current owner when new,
off the shelf.As collectors,
we should not have to take this measure to prove something,
but sadly there are those who can see a quick dollar / pound / euro.I am somewhat surprised with the quantity of 902 Fodens being offered through auction in red
and a green back,
but red hubs,
whereas this variation should have green hubs.It is so easy to change a red 901 to a ' scarce ' 902.Not to forget the box.How many boxed models are being offered these days,
even through highly respected auctioneers,
in a box in which the model was never originally packaged ! Perhaps I should start a new thread on THAT topic ! ! Bruce

Hi Bruce,
Thanks very much for the usefull information !
And Chris,
I would welcom the start of your proposed new topic on ordering / sales / promotion.Rob