480 Bedford 10-cwt Van 'Kodak' (1954-56)

In June 1954, Meccano announced the release of a new model, a Bedford 10-cwt Van with the sales number of 480. Until 2012, I thought the model was only issued in its own individual yellow box, but along came the Vectis Auction held on 19 January 2012, and there it was, a trade box containing six examples! So I just had to add it to my collection! Although at a cost I would not like to talk about! The models are not 100% mint, but that does not matter! The base of the box shows it to have been quality inspected in October 1954, so for at least four months, apparently the model was only sold out of trade boxes. It would be nice to know when it finally gained its own box. This brings out another question - was the 621 Bedford 3- ton Army Wagon released simultaneously with the 480 also issued in a trade box?

[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 480_Type6_Tradebox.jpg [/img] Bruce,
This is a very scarce item,
there are very few type 6 trade boxes.They were used for models that were never sold in yellow boxes such as the motorbike combinations 44a,
b
and d,
some accessories 773,
786,
788
and 797,
the aircraft 70a
and c.I know the type 6 boxes for: 139d Jaguar XK 120.271 Patrouille motocycliste TS / TW.480 Bedford Kodak.673 Scout car.687 Trailer for 25 pdr.gun.One can expect to find also these boxes for: 172 Studebaker Land Cruiser.I think that David Cooke has one.470 Austin A 40 van ' Shell - BP '.623 3 ton amy wagon.674 Austin Champ.
and may be more.The models in your box are probably not the original ones as the model which is out of the box is of the second casting,
it should be of the first.How are the other five ? Any further information about type 6 boxes will be welcomed.

Yep,
that is Lot 2241 !

I remember it well Bruce I was bidding against you ! ! ! ! I am just really glad it went to a good home
where
it is appreciated as a fine example of Dinky rather than something of value.This,
and the one for the 157 Jaguar,
must have been amongst the last Trade Boxes produced.(
I exclude the Trade Packs which contain individually boxed models
) Dave

Bruce What more can I say....just lovely ! There is something neat about seeing a full trade box,
with those little treasures nestled inside.Thanks for showing ! Terry

Thanks Dave
and Terry for your most appreciated comments.Dave - you owe me something ! ! Were you aware at the time that the contents were not all original,
or some were ? Does anyone have three Type 1 castings in similar condition that I could arrange a swap in the hope of bringing the box contents back to what it should,
now that has been brought out ! ! :laugh: I have mentioned this before,
but things are starting to get out of hand when models are being included in boxes in which they do not belong.I include here for special treatment are Dinky Supertoys,
and a number of Dinky Toys packaged in lidded boxes.:angry: Bruce

Stunning item,
Bruce.It would have been an even bigger surprise if the box was of the earlier type
and showed both the planned catalogue number (32c)
and the final number 480 ! In the same way I have always been speculating if a trade box might exist for the no.673 Scout Car of November 1953,
possibly also showing its initial number 153b...Kind regards,
Jan

Dinkinius wrote: 'Thanks Dave and Terry for your most appreciated comments. Dave - you owe me something!! Were you aware at the time that the contents were not all original, or some were? Does anyone have three Type 1 castings in similar condition that I could arrange a swap in the hope of bringing the box contents back to what it should, now that has been brought out!! :laugh: I have mentioned this before, but things are starting to get out of hand when models are being included in boxes in which they do not belong. I include here for special treatment are Dinky Supertoys, and a number of Dinky Toys packaged in lidded boxes. :angry: Bruce' Greetings All! I am bringing this Thread back to page 1 of the forum, repeating what I asked way back five months and one week ago: 'Does anyone have one, two or three Type 1 480 castings in similar condition that I could arrange a swap in the hope of bringing the box contents back to what it should contain?' Kind regards Bruce

Sorry Bruce, I do not have even one type 1 Kodak van. I wish that you will be able to find three more but they are rare. Good luck. Jacques.

Jacques A bit late but better late than never! You wrote over a year ago 'The models in your box are probably not the original ones as the model which is out of the box is of the second casting, it should be the first.' The artwork on the subsequent individual box is that of the first casting. Do you know the date when the second casting was introduced? Bruce


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Hello all On 28 October on this thread I requested Jacques, but in fact anyone who can advise me when the amended casting for the Bedford Van was introduced/created. (I wanted to copy and paste what I wrote but apparently it is more complicated than first thought, unlike the old website!) Hopefully what I have written now will bring my question back to visibility as #3 in reply to #2 has now become buried and is no longer readily visible. Bruce #150 21 November 2015

Hello all Almost one year ago on 28 October 2015 in this Topic I requested Jacques, but in fact anyone else who can advise me when the amended casting for the 480 Bedford Van was introduced/created. I raised this question as Jacques wrote on 21 August 2014 The models in your box are probably not the original ones as the model which is out of the box is of the second casting, it should be of the first. How are the other five? I recently pulled out all the models, and only one is of the first casting, all the others are of the second casting. However, of the six models, all have 480 on the base plate with a solitary second casting with no sales number. In the absence of further guidance from anyone, I decided to see if something can be fathomed of the contents of this trade box. Turning to The Great Book of Dinky Toys, by Mike and Sue Richardson, I found on page 194, beside 480 Assembly Drawing Number 13879 and 13879A within the Significant Changes column: 23.8.54 Ovaltine added. 29.12.54 Sales Nos 480, 481 deleted. (This no doubt referred to the number on the base plate.) There were apparently no other significant changes on the subsequent drawings, 13880, 13881 and 13890. Not even a mention of the casting variation protruding below the body-line over the rear wheels on both sides. However, with the information that was already available in TGBDT it is abundantly clear that prior to 29 December 1954 (although the exact date when the drawing resulted in action on the factory floor is unknown) the base plates for all the Bedford Kodak vans incorporated the sales number. As this is applicable to five of the six models in my Trade Box, it is quite conceivable that my Trade Box which was quality inspected in October 1954 does in fact contain five of the correct type of model either first or second casting. Only one model does not comply so it is apparent this has been added to the contents by a previous owner to complete the Trade Box set. Here is a picture of the base plates for all the Bedford vans in this trade box. The odd one out is on the left, middle row. (The image is now available elsewhere within this Post.) So, having written in Post #9, 'Does anyone have one, two or three Type 1 480 castings in similar condition that I could arrange a swap in the hope of bringing the box contents back to what it should contain?' is in essence completely unnecessary as I consider that the contents of my trade box is appropriate except for a solitary example! Sorry about that Jacques! One final matter that has also been partially solved as a consequence of my Trade Box, is a possible time-frame when the casting variation protruding below the body-line over the rear wheels on both sides came about. As my trade box has four of the later casting variation and only one of the first casting, and that my box was quality inspected in October 1954, it is highly probable that the variation occurred during that month.The box would have been filled from models available to the packer, and obviously one early casting was still mixed in with the later castings. I like it when a mystery or two has been solved especially without any help! Bruce (150) 20161012/1001/1125 I intended using the alternative method of uploading the image within the body of the text, but for some unknown reason, this method still does not work that results in an error notice appearing.