504 and 941 Foden 14-Ton Tanker 'Mobilgas' (195356)

A great new addition, the capital Foden Tanker 'Mobilgas'. I am excited! Apparently it is the first time for over sixty years that it left its box. A very much appreciated acquisition, completing my 1950s Foden Tankers! It has a Hudson Dobson label and with a sticker from the famous toy shop of F.A.O. Schwarz, New York. I have manufactured a support for display already. Now for compilinga new catalogue entry and registration. Kind regards, Jan

Jan--Congratulations are surely in order for such a wonderful acquisition! Finding a very nice or nearly mint example can be done, but to get one likely never out of its box is something else, and a sure treasure. To me, at least, the Foden Mobilgas tanker is one of rhe most iconic Dinky's ever made, and so recognizable, with its bright red color and magnificent Mobilgas livery. Meccano did a masterful job with this model, and I was very happy to acquire my own nice example many years ago. Yours is also a very early example, in the original style box, with red tank tops, and the grey radial tread tires. Mine is dated January, 1955, and has the later black tank tops, black block style tires, and the later striped box with the 941 numbering. You must be very happy at finding this treasure, and I look forward to seeing more of your photographs of it when you get the chance.Best regards, Terry


[img]/images/sites/default/files/forum-images/001 (4).JPG[/img]

Mine has no date inside, but just a hard to read check stamp GH9 3 (or 8?). Perhaps someone can link a date to that? Nevertheless, indeed Terry, it is the early one with first box, red filler caps and round treaded tyres (which can be either grey or black), to be dated 1953/early 1954. In 1954 the renumbering to 941 took place and the blue striped box lid was introduced. Remarkably all boxes kept the DINKY TOYS brand (never Dinky Supertoys), whereas even this early example has DINKY SUPERTOYS cast below. An early article on these tankers was written by Graham Bridges and Stewart Orr in Classic Toys 1/2 of Jan/Feb 1995. In fact this is a happy collecting milestone, as not only the illustrated 1950s Foden tankers are complete now but also the Mobilgas family. See pictures below, which I was happy to make with bright day light, both for my catalogue and for this webforum. Kind regards, Jan

[img]/images/sites/default/files/forum-images/dte504 IMG_1349.jpg[/img]
[img]/images/sites/default/files/forum-images/dte 504 IMG_1348.jpg[/img]
[img]/images/sites/default/files/forum-images/dte504 IMG_1354.jpg[/img]
[img]/images/sites/default/files/forum-images/dte504 IMG_1352.jpg[/img]

Jan ---I am guessing somewhat, but that 9 & 3 very likely equates to September, 1953. Nice photos and nice Mobilgas grouping! Regards, Terry

Taken out of the displays as it was for the photo session above, I had the opportunity to make a new 'official' photo of my Bedford Articulated Streamlined Petrol Tanker 'Mobilgas'.

Jan--So nice....it is a shame that Meccano never did follow through with making that one, as it should have been popular. It looks perfect in that livery........ Another one that I wish Dinky would have made was a matching tanker trailer for the Foden Mobilgas tanker....wouldn't that have been an impressive rig. I seem to remember seeing a Code 3 that someone did in the past with that....do you remember ever seeing it? Regards, Terry

Jan and Terry (but more so, Jan) Jan, your question, 'Perhaps someone can link a date to that' - is easily answered by someone and that 'someone' is moi - possibly you have forgotten my thread in the old site that for some inexplicable reason does not appear in the Boxes Thread. That Thread titled BOXES AND QUALITY INSPECTION STAMPS is tucked away in DINKY TOYS TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS for some obscure reason which explains why this topic has been forgotten. The stamp equates to G****** H******* who quality examined the box and model in September 1953. (The name of the employee has been suppressed to protect her identity.) So, with the red filler caps and the type of tyres used, indicates this model is original and in its correct box, so top marks to you for finding it and adding it to your collection. It is now assured of a long, secure life. Bruce (#150) 30 November 2015

Thank you, Bruce, for your very helpful comment. No doubt the thread you mention can be moved to a more appropriate location. Nothing's fixed. Kind regards, Jan

Wow, Jan, this is great, and exactly the same state and condition as mine - unbelievable. I can imagine your excitement about this acquisition. Remarkable that our examples both had to come over from the other side of the Atlantic. Just be careful with displaying. This bright appearance is owing to the fact that they apparently have been stored in their boxes permanently for over 60 years. So, in order to avoid the slightest fading of the as new paint finish and browning of the bright grey tyres: put it in the darkest corner of your display cabinet! Kind regards, Jan W.

Yesterday was a glorious day for me when I received my DT 504 Foden tanker Mobilgas. Its also the 1st issue with grey tyres and red filler caps, complete with the beautiful Mobilgas advertising with the Flying Horse (Pegasus) logo on both sides and rear of the tanker. It has also its first box with a Hudson Dobson USA export label and is coming out of California. Its my 1st model with an USA export label and I was excited when I unpacked the model. It is in a fabulous condition, I should say in mint condition. Fresh with brilliant shining red and silver colour and grey tyres. So Jan we can shake hands about the condition of this model with box. Its really an eye catcher on display. At the end I show a part of my display cabinet. It has a different inspection stamp. It reads as M8 8 and I will show here the pictures of my example. At the end I have some questions about this model. It was introduced in Meccano Magazine May 1953. It also appeared on the back page of the Meccano catalogue UK of September 1953. I add also some background information about the Mobilgas company: Mobil logo with the flying horse (Pegasus). Mobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, is a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form a parent company called ExxonMobil. It was previously one of the Seven Sisters which dominated the global petroleum industry from the mid-1940s until the 1970s. Today, Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with its own store or On the Run. The former Mobil headquarters in Fairfax County, Virginia, were used as ExxonMobil's downstream headquarters until 2015 when ExxonMobil consolidated employees into a new corporate campus in Spring, Texas. PEGASUS (Flying horse) logo: In Greek mythology, Pegasus was a winged horse sired by Poseidon. Bellerophon riding Pegasus (1914) Mobil Oil has had a Pegasus as its company logo since its affiliation with Magnolia Petroleum Company in the 1930s. A nostalgic Mobilgas gas station. I will also show pictures of the back and underside plus a picture of the inspection stamp in the lid of the box. It is a different stamp as Jan Ws (M8 8 ??). I hope someone can explain the year/date of manufacturing. Bruce, I will also add this stamp in your special thread of box stamps. Finally, I discovered some interesting facts about this model that I will share here in this forum, but has also 2 questions about this. 1) I found some pictures of this model with the Mobilgas logo of the flying horse on the front side of the tanker and behind the Mobilgas wording instead of before. One on Vectis 6-12-2016 (not sold) and one on the Saleroom website. Should this be original off factory? Ramsay guide does mention this variation. I could not find elsewhere anything about this variation. Is this an original variation?? Comments about this are very welcome. DT 504 Mobilgas tanker on Vectis auction 6-12-2016. Not sold. Flying horse decal on front of the tanker and behind the Mobilgas wording instead of before. DT 504 Mobilgas tanker on the Saleroom website. Sold on 28-5-2015. Flying horse decal behind the Mobilgas wording instead of before. 2) Only the 504 Mobilgas box in blue with the orange/white Mobilgas picture label has right under the Mobilgas picture printed the so called stock number 50506. Not any other 504 tanker box has such a number at the front label. Normally, the last 3 digits of the stock number match the model number, but this stock number 50506 does not match the model number 504. Is there a list of stock numbers? Stock number 50506 printed on the front label of the 504 blue box with orange/white picture label. Does not match the model number. Kind regards to all of you, Jan Oldenhuis 5-7-2017.

Hi Jan, many thanks for your comment. Yes it is stored in the darkest side of my display cabinet out of the sun, in the shade side of my room. it's a model to be seen. If I keep it in a box, nobody has anything about it. Now I can see it every day and I enjoy it. That's why I also have my entire collection in one display cabinet in the room. To enjoy myself and to show it for anyone who is interested and will take a look about it. I have edit my #9 comment and added a picture of a part of my display cabinet with the DT 504 tanker Mobilgas to enjoy everyone. Kind regards, Jan Oldenhuis 5-7-2017

Hello Jan I have only just read your fine Post and I must coinfess, your Mobilgas tanker is superb - and I am glad it is in your careful ownership. Mine is not on display, but stored in its box, as I have been permitted to only have a small display cabinet in my study, and due to its size has room for some of my models from my younger days. I think the Pegasus reversal is a normal error on the part of the staff at the time, not as Ramsay infers a different issue, which may have occurred to a greater extent when the model was new on the production floor, or later when concentration became slack, as it is obvious the left transfer has been applied to the right side and vice-versa. This is similar to the early Euclids with the plain logo until the staff became aware that the figure has to be pointing forward in the same way that Pegasus has to be facing forward in the direction of travel. In other words, I do not agree with Ramsay and its value, but I guess others will have a different point of view. It is quite a coincidence that my model was packed in the same month as yours, August 1953 with mine having the letter H in front of 8 3. I must photograph the inspection stamp one of these days. I won this model from Wallis and Wallis in an auction conducted on 13 July 1998, a date that my father would have turned 88, so the model is sort of special to me. It is coming up to 19 years in my 'care'! 1024 768 1024 768 1016 758 As can be seen with the above images, my tanker has considerable wear with all three transfers as well as the box is worn, (so it does not warrant the larger images being uploaded!) but the paintwork is quite good. I do notice that yours has the often used grey ribbed tyres, and that it was originally sold in the United States whereas mine was originally sold in the UK and has black ribbed tyres. I can only assume the tyres on mine have never been swapped, although anything is possible, as grey was the normal or usual issue. Finally, I see that you have a nice collection of mint Euclids and Terex models. Nice to see someone with similar interests!. Mine numbers fourteen, all different in one way or other - model or box. I seem to be a nutter when it comes to variations! Kind regards Bruce Hoy (150) 20170607/1131/1245