14c and 401Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck (1949-64)

I totally agree with the comment made by Dave. I also look forward to your articles. Kind regards, Jan O.

Dinky Toys Fork Lift Truck: Summary and Conclusion. Regarding the very valuable comments from members here, TMT and elsewhere I come to the following general conclusions about the production of Dinky Toys Fork Lift Truck: (N.B.: The numbers of the boxes with corresponding photos in this summary have been placed in the probable order of appearance.) 1) 14c UK: 1949-1954. Orange, Brown or Dark Red. Green Fork. Tan driver - 108 mm - 1954 renumbered to 401. Not steerable. UK Box: 5. orange lid box/green label/green model lettering 1. orange lid box/orange label/ orange model lettering 2. orange lid box/orange label/black model lettering 3 orange lid box/orange label/ black model lettering with stock number 50003 2) 14c French: 1950-1951. Orange with Green Fork. Tan Driver - 108 mm - UK cast model 14c with UK base plate. Not steerable. French box: 6. red cardboard lid box with yellow label/black model lettering 4. orange lid box/orange label/white model lettering 3) 401 UK: 1954-1964. Orange with Green Fork. Tan driver - later blue driver - 108 mm - Renumbering of 14c. Not steerable. UK box: 7. Blue striped lid box/red model lettering 9. Yellow lid picture box/black model lettering/blue base 8. Yellow lid picture box/black model lettering/yellow base (Note the later blue driver on the photo!) 4) 597 French: 1959-1961. Orange with Yellow Fork. Tan driver - 108mm - UK cast mould - French base plate with text: Paris Meccano Dinky Toys Chariot A Fourches Coventry Climax Assemble En France 597. Not steerable. French box: 10. Yellow lid picture box/black model lettering: Chariot A Fourche/yellow base 11. Yellow lid picture box/black model lettering: Chariot A Fourche/blue base 5) 404 UK: 1967-1978. Red and Yellow, later Orange and Yellow - 97 mm - CG4 decals. Conveyancer on Fork Lift. Pallet. Instruction sheet. Steerable rear wheels. 12. UK box: White yellow red carded picture box/black model lettering 6) 404 UK: 1978-1980. Yellow - 97 mm - TC4 decals. Climax on Fork Lift. Pallet. Instruction on the back- and underside of the box. Steerable rear wheels. 13. UK box: Blue/yellow/red hanged window box/white model lettering. I make the summery complete as far as I know. I can still make changes or additions. I hope still to get response to my questions about the name change of model 404. Kind regards to all. Jan Oldenhuis

Hi Jan, thanks for this revision. What is the rationale behind the box sequence 5, 1, 2, 3? I would be eager to know because I never found out. I like these exceptional early 1950s French boxes of the 14c Chariot a fourche(s), 561 Bulldozer, 562 Dumper basculeur automoteur and 571 Grue roulante. But also the earlier red ones for the Chariot a fourche(s) and 27ac Tracteur Massey Harris et remorque ependeur d'engrais. And of course the more common later French assembled ones in the period 1959-1961, also including the 551 Rolls-Royce and 972 Camion-grue roulante (20 tonnes) - 20-Ton Lorry Mounted Crane 'Coles'. A nice, well-illustrated article about these 'unusual' French boxes (and their contents) was published by Brian Salter in Model Collector of June 2006, pages 67-73. My rather scarce box for the 571 Grue roulante - Coles Mobile Crane pictured below. Kind regards, Jan W.

[img]/images/sites/default/files/forum-images/dte571 French box.jpg[/img]

Hi Jan W. Many thanks for your welcome addition. Considering the valuable comments of Adrian Nash above, about the stamp in his 14c orange box with green label BF109 (october 1949), may this box be the number 1 in the list. The date of the stamp in his orange box with orange label and lettering ASo29 (february 1949 ??) he is not quite sure what date it does mean, but can still be also number one. Can someone explain this date stamp? The 14c was issued november 1949. The other reason that I placed number 5 as first before number 1 in the list is that in TMT two persons also places the UK orange box with the green label before appearance of the orange box with orange label. I found nowhere else information about the UK orange box with green label. I post the list, as the probable order of appearance. I hope at response of more members who have a 14c orange box with green label and lettering or 14c orange box with orange label with a date stamp to gain more certainty about the order of appearance. Kind regards to all, Jan O.

Just found an addition for my earlier boxes section of the Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck (orange + black printing). On the snap shots attached it is invisible that the box lid got very unfortunately pierced by the handle during transport. A big pity and shame after near 70 years of life intact. Nevertheless a fair addition for a mere 30 dollars as the price sticker attached demonstrates, so it's no use returning it. I will have it restored. The seller and I agreed on a refund of 10 euros for a comforting bottle of wine. Quality control stamp: mT 851. Kind regards, Jan

A very intersting topic.Many thanks. Peter.

This reminds me of having visited, together with Jacques, the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre in June/July 2017. An original 1:1 Coventry Climax was on display there. The only difference with the Dinky was the scale and the colour - and the double wheels! Some phone snapshots below:

Just returned from the restorer: box lid cleaned and severe piercing nicely repaired:

Jan. Amazing how beautifully the hole in the box has been restored and it can now remain in your collection without visible annoyance. The person who does not know will absolutely not notice that there has ever been a hole in the box. Kind regards, Jan Oldenhuis

Dear Jan W.Congratulations, I know how good your catalogues are which is not always the case in your country. I have just spoted an error in the Dutch catalogue of 1952. The doors of the 29d Autobus Parijs model are on the wrong side. The photo must have been fliped.

Jacques, I don't know what you're talking about ! By the way, will I see you in Derby, one month from now? Kind regards, Jan

Hello Jan, 600 310 I have one of these too, it is extremely rare.Sorry but I have not planed to go to Derby this year, it is a bit far for just one meeting. All the best.Jacques