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

Jan-- I really like that brick red color, and need to find one in that color someday. Nice Foden's! Best regards, Terry

The more reserved, deep and realistic the colours, the more I like them, especially if they have this original satin finished patina. Another frontal view of this couple, now accompanied by the two tone blue equally herringbone tread tyred 504: Kind regards, Jan

My second contribution to this thread is a 1st Series in its very common and final colour scheme. Nonetheless, it is very much an appreciated model, especially its bargain price, thanks to an extraordinary incompetent cataloguer in a well-known 'world's leading auction house for collectable toys' in the north of England! Of course the seller would not be echoing the same sentiment as me, and may have been a little chuffed on reading the description of it being a repaint! But I can assure the last owner that the model and its box has come to a home that it is highly valued, and one of the few models that I actually have on display. (Oh, the dark blue wagon the subject of my last post is next to it!) Kind regards Bruce

Rob, I just bought the December issue of Model Collector this afternoon and read a nice Foden article: 'Part 1 Dinky Toys 1st series Fodens, Clive Unsworth provides a check-list and pictorial guide to these highly sought after classics ...'. I presume this takes the wind out of your sails, although of course you might consider to present an article here (but a little unhandy on a webpage, in my opinion). This is a pity, because 'only' 19 1st types are presented there, whereas I see - if I'm not mistaken - 25 examples in your display. And I think the subject deserves a more elaborate text (although I understand it's meant to be 'a check-list and pictorial guide'). Perhaps an idea for the DTCA Journal? The second types are scheduled to be published in the next issue of MC. Kind regards, Jan

I agree totally with Jan here Rob You have significantly more examples to show and certainly a lot more rare ones to show. An article for the Journal would be more than welcome, furthermore, as Jan says the article in MC is very light on text. The majority of the Journal readership will never have seen some of the jems you have. Dave

Yes please Rob, I still use the old list in Classic Toys from 20 odd years ago, and could do with an update, even though I'll probably never own most of them, I still like to at least have a list of what to look for. Chris Warr.

Hello Jan and Dave (and others), I would be delighted to write an article on my Fodens for the DTCA Journal. It could be a series of articles. For example, there are ten different variations of the 501 first type Foden (in my collection). These 501's could fill an article easily. Help with making the quality of pictures these articles deserve would be much welcomed and could be realised together with Jan, as we discussed in Houten. Details to be discussed next time in Houten, Jan? Kind regards, Rob

Hi Rob, if you like I will be glad to help you without any obligation and with all pleasure. Without being critical to The Journal, I think both your models AND The Journal deserve good photographs (as far as I can meet expectations in this). Regrettably I will not be able to attend the Houten Fair of 29 November next. I will be present with a table on 14 February, but that will cause unneccessary delay in my opinion. However, if you'd like to contact me by email, please do, and we will find a solution, no doubt. It will be a marvellous and unprecedented article on this subject. Perhaps John will be able and willing to help with the Foden factory drawings. Met vriendelijke groet, Jan

Greetings everybody, as most of us are Foden-lovers, I'm sure we all like to find as much information as we can on the development of the whole Foden range, and eagerly await new feature articles on this subject. I have not seen the article by Clive Unsworth yet, but a few years ago I became fascinated by a number of listings on eBay for 'Rare' Foden models which were all being sold by one particular seller from Pickering, North Yorkshire. I started to record not only his sales, but also his purchases (which was possible in those days because the eBay feedback system showed the full ID of both buyer and seller) and soon realised that this man was buying Fodens and swapping the components to make supposedly 'rare' combinations. Around the same time I came across a website hosted by a long-term Dinky dealer, Mr Kerri Stanley from Essex, who traded as 'Dinky World' (not to be confused with the current 'Dinky-world' from Holland) and who had compiled a most detailed article on the development, introduction and modifications of both the Foden and the Guy lorry ranges, including all known colour and box variations. I found this to be a most absorbing and comprehensive document and have printed off a copy which I use as my 'standard' reference work on these models. Coincidentally, Kerri had also been following the trickery of the Yorkshire eBay seller, so I contacted him (Kerri) by email and we communicated frequently with updates on this man, who kept changing his eBay ID - and now seems to have disappeared from the eBay scene. So the purpose of this contribution is simply to suggest that, if you have not already seen Kerri's website and his detailed Foden and Guy history, have a look - hopefully you too will find it most absorbing: www.dinkyworld.com/history-a-information Regards to all, Adrian (141)

This is a great site, Adrian! It will take some time for me to read it all, but I have asked already to the Administrator have it included in the 'Links' section. I presume Rob will appreciate this information (if he wasn't aware of it yet) Regards, Jan

Adrian, Many thanks for the link to this very interesting web site. Jacques.

Hello Adrian, It is indeed a great site. I know Kerri Stanley and his site for some years. In fact I bought some rare Fodens and other Dinky rarities from him when he shared a stall with his father at Sandown Toy fair. As far as I know he is not selling anymore, but his site is very informative. Kind regards, Rob