33 Mechanical Horse and Five Assorted Trailers

I had also posted this some time ago, but decided to update with some new photos. This is the #33 Mechanical Horse and Five Assorted Trailers, and was made only from 1935-1937. After that Meccano decided to drop the cargo trailer, so it was still numbered 33, but was now the Mechanical Horse and Four Assorted Trailers. I bought this many years ago from Keith Harvey, and he said that this was the nicest version he had of this classic little set, so it is the prize of my Dinky collection. What is really wonderful is that there is absolutely no sign of fatigue in any of the pieces and even the original white tires are in great shape and not even cracked. Later versions had the petrol tank trailer with the Esso name on it. The box is also in excellent condition, so apparently this little set was packed away for many years and never played with, so no wear at all. Terry

Lovely pictures of lovely models, Terry. Colourful and bright. Great so see so much improvement in your photography within a short time! Best regards, Jan

What a beauty ! There were three different packing pieces and two different lids for the set. 1) The packing piece is of purple card printed with : MECCANO DINKY TOYS No. 33 The box lid is as Terry's. 2) The set is as Terry's, the packing piece reads : MECCANO DINKY TOYS No. 33 200 varieties MECHANICAL HORSE 3) The packing piece now reads : MECHANICAL HORSE DINKY TOYS No. 33 250 VARIETIES Manufactured in England by MECCANO LTD., LIVERPOOL The lid label has Manufactured in England by MECCANO LTD., LIVERPOOL in a white oval.

Terry, Lovely set, must be one of the best surviving! And very nice pictures as well! My set, which is not near as nice, I think contains the Esso tank trailer. If it does, I will post it. Kind regards, Rob

Terry, your as new 1930s models demonstrate clearly that despite unusual careful treatment, without playing with, or even touching the models the silver plate of the hubs tends to just disappear in the course of time. Kind regards, Jan

Hi Terry, What a lovely set, and box! It is so unusual these days to see Pre War models virtually as they were when new, as Jan says they are of such an age now that even those untouched for several decades are dull and in some cases fatigued. Reminds us just how lovely these really were back in the '30's. Chris Warr.

There is a set with four assorted trailers. Somewhat difficult to show as the front cannot be opened. In 1937 both sets were available as my Dutch pricelist shows. Guilders 1,75 for the set with 5 trailers, Guilders 1,40 with four trailers. Small box, green, yellow insert 250 varities, no label on lid. John.

Details at side of the box with four assorted trailers. John.

Details of the lid with five assorted trailers. My box is the same as shown above.

For those who want to know when a specific model or set was introduced, I made a list from the pre war Meccano Magazines with all the details from Dinky Toys advertising pages. Go to sitemap and you find a list with all information on this site. Go to Meccano Magazines Go to 1932-1945 Dinky toys advertising You can download now the complete list. John.

Hi Terry, Here is my set as promised. With Esso marking on the tanker trailer. And with a covered trailer in stead of the flat trailer in yours. Kind regards, Rob

Terry, Rob, The box van in the set is standard Meccano. The Hornby trains van I have never seen in this set 33. Esso tanker is most common however I have also seen plans tankers, could be made up? As far as I know these never was a covered trailer for the serie 33. Not in any pre war pricelist or catalogue. It must be the tilt from lorry 25. Here is my original set 33.