521, 921 and 409 Bedford Articulated Lorry (1948-63)

Greetings all After March 1948, Meccano made a number of changes to the casting for the 521 Bedford Articulated Lorry. These changes are listed below, and one can compare these changes with Post #21 that displays the original casting: 5A. Elongated-rounded lug above rear axle to keep wheel hub away from the chassis. 14. Casting ejector lugs more apparent closer to base plate, others below rear pin holding the model's non-hinged back less prominent. 19. Chassis to cab above winding mechanism no longer straight angle now with added curvature to strengthen the casting 30. Large tow hook 32. Trailer axle on 521 closed, a hole now drilled for axle, headed after insertion with hubs A series of general views of the 2nd Issue together with its appropriate box are at the end. Continuing the same listing as for the 1st version of this model, the following apply to the 2nd Issue. 1. Vertical front axle supports 3. Chassis surrounding winding mechanism aperture flat. 5A. Elongated-rounded lug above rear axle to keep wheel hub away from the chassis. 7. Made in England stamped on base plate. 10. Three dimensional petrol tank without added casting 11. Curving chassis on either side of rear axle from the cab to the rear. This is only applicable with the Articulated. 14. Casting ejector lugs more apparent closer to base plate, others below rear pin holding the model's non-hinged back less prominent. 15. Square-cut front mudguards 19. Chassis to cab above winding mechanism no longer straight angle now with added curvature to strengthen the casting 20. Rear mudguards in line with chassis 24. DINKY SUPERTOYS on base plate in small lettering 27. Rear body retaining pin rivet head at one end, crimped at the other 30. Large tow hook 872 754 32. Trailer axle on 521 closed, a hole now drilled for axle, headed after insertion with hubs The following are some photographs of the model sitting on its appropriate green covered box; a box that has all the hallmarks of having been manufactured by a companuy unskilled in this operation. Larger images of the last five together with additional images are below. Kind regards to you all. Bruce H. (150) 20171003/1070:2015

Wow----What a great thread, along with superb photographs! I certainly had no idea there were so many variations of this model, and you have both done a great job in finding and documenting them. This is what makes this forum so special: the ability to share so quickly and promote further discussion.....kudos!Best regards, Terry

Bruce---Curious on your thoughts about Dinky's earlier use of the larger tires on the rear of the trailer. It appears that the Model sits more nearly level with those, but they also have a different appearance, being both larger and treaded. By the way, great series of photos! Best regards, Terry

Bruce you are right about the small lettering of the Supertoys base plate. When you compare it with the Dinky Toys base plate in 1 line with small lettering, you can conclude that. See picture. I also add a picture of the Dinky Toys base plate in 2 lines with large lettering and the Dinky Toys base plate in 2 lines with large lettering and double 'Made in England' on plate and cast. But I still have a question about a missing base plate. Jaques Dujardin wrote in TMT 13 May 2005 the following: There were three different bases plate on this model : 1 Dinky Supertoys + made in England - small letters. 2 Dinky Supertoys without made in England - large letters. 3 Dinky Toys without made in England. On 2 & 3 the 'made in England' is cast onto the chassis The trailers have no marking as the original 'Trailer large 551 - 951 - 428' had it's marking on the front axle mounting piece. There were also several casting variations on the tractor and the trailer. All this is described with photos on the Dinky CD permanently available with the latest update. Base plate 1 and 3 are found in this topic, but I miss a picture of 2 Dinky Supertoys without made in England - large letters. Is there a member who has the Dinky encyclopaedia of Jaques who can check if there is such a picture in the encyclopaedia? Kind regards to all, Jan O (703) 1. Dinky Supertoys base plate with 'Made in England' on base plate in small lettering. 2. Dinky Toys base plate in 1 line with 'Made in England' on base plate and in small lettering. 3. Dinky Toys base plate in 2 lines in large lettering and 'Made in England' on cast. 4. Dinky Toys base plate in 2 lines in large lettering with double 'Made in England' on base plate and cast.

Terry The origins of the size of tyres for the trailer of the 521 stems from the heritage of the trailer unit itself. It was designed as a Supertoys accessory to the Guys, Fodens and the then new Bedford Articulated Lorry, and as such always was shod with the larger Supertoys rubber tyres. With the trailer being on the design stage at almost the same time as the 521 it was perhaps easier to design both simultaneously which meant ensuing the model stood level with the wheels for the cab keeping things correct. One can see the difference with the following pictures, the upper with smaller tyres on the trailer and the next with normal Supertoys tyres, this model currently on eBay: , The type of tyre reflected those in vogue at the time, herringbone, fine tread, thicker tread, and finally block tread. I have owned twelve 521/921/409 boxed Bedford Articulated Lorries and a further seven unboxed examples over the years, but am now down to just three boxed examples. I wish now I had kept all the boxed examples although at the time I was blissfully unaware of the discussions that would be taking place ten years into the future. I need to replace my crystal ball! Jan O. - it is abundantly obvious that we are like peas in a pod! Both researching the 521 and coming up with our own independent conclusions. It is sort of nice that I am not the 'odd one out'! I intend going back through all your Posts and replying to each individually, as I have been reading through these and you have some great stuff there! Kind regards Bruce H. (150) 20170314/1071:2336

Greetings all! Although there are possibly three variations for the 521 that occured during the period when the green covered box was in vogue, with no accurate date that can be applied to these, I am moving onto the period that saw the introduction of the blue covered box, both medium and dark blue with the sole example below that carried an inspection date on the inside of the box's lid. The first of these has an Inspection stamp of KN6 3, or JUNE 1953 By necessity as this 521 Bedford Articulated Lorry is no longer in my possession having found a new owner on 11 May 2005, so I have had to use digital images recently taken of my 25m Bedford Tipping Wagon with dark blue back for most of the following images as the 25m has identical characteristics of this 521. The only photograph I now have of this model 521 is a single side view immediately below. That was in the days before digital photography when every frame taken cost money! This does explain the quality of the image as it was scanned from a colour photograph. 2. Axle supports extended to lower bumper bar 4. Chassis surrounding winding mechanism aperture raised. 6. Chassis projected on either side as alternative method of keep the hub away from the chassis (Image from 25m Tipping Wagon) 7. Made in England stamped on base plate. 10c. Curved flat area covering top of petrol tank 12. Straight chassis from cab to rear , 14. Casting ejector lugs more apparent closer to base plate, others below rear pin holding the model's non-hinged back less prominent. 16. Cut-away front mudguards - no longer 'square-cut' 18. Curved, raised piece , chassis to cab above winding mechanism aperture 21. Rear mudguard 1mm above bottom chassis 25. DINKY TOYS in small letters on base plate 27. Rear body retaining pin rivet head at one end, crimped at the other 30. Large tow hook 32. Trailer axle on 521 closed, a hole now drilled for axle, headed after insertion with hubs, and trailer mudguards no longer mask-sprayed black Incidentally, the month this version came out was at least APRIL 1953, as all the various hallmarks are also applicable to the first 582 Pullmore Car Transporter, with my example having an inspection data of KT453, APRIL 1953. Kind regards Bruce H. (150) 20170315/1072:0159

Greetings all! Continuing with the series of changes to the Bedford Articulated Lorry, in particular, the changes to the prime mover, we move to February 1955, during which time, the model had changed its sales number from 521 to 921, a number series that denoted a DINKY SUPERTOYS - a designation that was in sales number only for the Bedford Articulated Lorry. The 921 Bedford Articulated Lorry was packaged in a newly designed box, a box that became known as 'blue striped', having both the old and new sales numbers. The first model to be accommodated in this new style of box was the 25X Breakdown Lorry in February 1953. The next model was the new 582 Pullmore Car Transporter in April 1953 with the renumbered 521 Bedford Articulated Lorry to 921 in the same month, April 1953. It appears based on material available to me, when Meccano changed the sales number from 521 to 921 and gave the model a new 'face-lifted' box it also changed the designation on the base plate from DINKY SUPERTOYS to DINKY TOYS. 921 BEDFORD ARTICULATED LORRY - QUALITY INSPECTED FEBRUARY 1955 We now list the castings the 921 continued using as well as those that were changed. Numbers 2, 14, 27, 30 and 32 were constant since at least February 1953 with the only 'new' change being to the petrol tank which apparently started to cause a great deal of trouble from April 1953. 2. Axle supports extended to lower bumper bar 3. Chassis surrounding winding mechanism aperture flat 5A. Elongated-rounded lug above rear axle to keep wheel hub away from the chassis. , 8. Made in England cast into flat area next to the pin holding the chassis to the platform 10b. Rectangular flat area covering 100% of the top of the petrol tank From this in 1948: To this in 1955: 11. Curving chassis on either side of rear axle from the cab to the rear. This is only applicable with the Articulated. , 14. Casting ejector lugs more apparent closer to base plate, others below rear pin holding the model's non-hinged back less prominent. 15. Square-cut front mudguards , 19. Chassis to cab above winding mechanism no longer straight angle now with added curvature to strengthen the casting 20. Rear mudguards in line with chassis 26.DINKY TOYS in large letters on base plate 27. Rear body retaining pin rivet head at one end, crimped at the other 30. Large tow hook 32. Trailer axle on 521 closed, a hole now drilled for axle, headed after insertion with hubs Although some of the above casting numbers are a repeat of previous models, for the sake of continuity it has been decided to continue uploading images of each component for each model in case there are subtle differences. Kind regards Bruce H. (150) 20170316/1073:0035

Bruce--Superb documentation, photos, and descriptions on all these various changes that occurred over just a few years. An amazing example of Meccano reacting to issues or just improving the product.Best regards, Terry

I made it for myself as a challenge to find all the differences of this model. Therefore - Bruce - Many thanks for your very clear pictures of the casting differences and all work you have done in this topic. In the meantime of this topic I gathered all colour versions (except the silver radiator one) and found some special base plates. I have a total of 13 Bedford Artics now that I examined. All different. Not one is equal to the other. It is amazing how much variations this model has to discover. Besides your list of casting variations I also made a list for myself and discovered the following additional casting variations of which I add full size pictures. I shall give it the missing numbers out of your listing. I hope that they cover the pictures that you lost in your archive and perhaps are thereby so far unknown variations. The base plate 24. Is the common lettering of the Supertoys base plate. it's a pity that you lost a picture of the Supertoys base plate in small lettering. I did not found any till now. The base plate 7. 'Made in England' stamped on base plate did I found on all Supertoys base plates and indeed sometimes vague and not deep pressed. I add also pictures of 2 special base plates that I acquired and never had seen before. 2a) Dinky Toys base plate with double Made in England pressed in the base plate and also embossed on the cast and 4) Dinky Toys base plate with text Dinky Toys in one line with small letters (normal is Dinky Toys in 2 lines with large letters). I think they are rare and hard to find. Note the pictures 6a till 6d of 3 different castings of the front axle support and note 6d picture of 2 different rounded lug casting supports of the rear axle of the tractor. I discovered that some casting changes that obviously first were deleted came back on later models. For instance - After the square cut out front mudguards came the rounded front mudguards, but the later issued ones of the 409 became again the square cut out front mudguards and also the rounded lugs in the trailer rear axle support. At the end I show pictures of the colour variations, the different boxes and all 13 Bedford Artics I have acquired. Thereby are 2x red with black hubs (with open and closed trailer axle support), 1x red with red hubs (closed trailer axle support), 2x yellow with black hubs (with open and closed trailer axle support). Also a picture of a detached 409 tractor and trailer. Summary of additional pictures of casting variations, colour variations and boxes. 2a) Base plate Dinky Toys with 2x Made in England pressed in base plate and embossed on cast 2b) Close up base plate Dinky Toys with 2x Made in England pressed in base plate and embossed on cast 4) Base plate Dinky Toys in one line in small lettering 6a) 3x different front axle support + 3x different rear axle support tractor 6d) Different rounded lugs rear axle support tractor: - left: first issues right: last issues 409 Pin in rear platform with crimped ends on both side. Normal is one end head and other end crimped 9) Rear trailer mudguard support: - above small mudguard support (first) - under wide mudguard support (later) 12) different trailer rear axle right: all Supertoys base with thin axle left: all Dinky Toys base with thicker axle 14) different beams under loading platform: under: all Supertoys base beams with flat square end above: all Dinky Toys base beams with rounded end 16) different number seams/stripes loading platform: - under 521-1 till 409 with 11 seams/stripes - above 409 with 12 seams/stripes 18) Rotation stop: - under 521-1 with rotation stop (only the 1st issues 521 with open rear axle trailer support had a rotation stop) - above 521 without rotation stop 19a) Dinky Toys 409 tractor and trailer detached 21) 6 colour variations 22) 13 different Bedfords Articulated Lorry 23) 7 different boxes Bedford Articulated Lorry Kind regards to all members, Jan O (703)








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Having made some more photos of my new red example, I can share some with you, if you like, for the record. So much has been written above already on this articulated truck, that these photos should suffice. Most characteristics, in terms of the criteria summed up above, are well visible. There is no 'Made in England' statement cast into the back base of the truck, Dinky Supertoys embossed in the base plate, and the rear wheel axle is fully supported. Remarkable that - deviating from most early examples - the semi-trailer is fitted with the same medium size tyres as on the truck, whereas most examples do have the large size DST tyres there until the mid-1950s. This is an example - though not mint - in unusual, wonderful condition, with a nice contemporary matching natural card box. The later yellow companion, which has been in the collection for over twenty years already, is a no. 409, with a quality control stamp B C 6 56 in its box lid. Kind regards, Jan

Jan..... Lovely example, and nice to see a red one; the yellow is so much more common, and the red looks very nice on it.

Jan, a very beautiful example and a very nice addition to your collection. The trailer of my red 521 2nd type also has the smaller smooth tires. The result is that the trailer at the rear is slightly lower than the tractor and the combination does not stand nicely horizontally on its wheels. This is clearly visible on my photo. The trailer of my red 521 1st type has the larger grooved tires and the combination is therefore purely horizontal on its wheels. A red 521 1st type can be recognized through the purely 90 degree flat angle diecast strengthening on the left side behind the cab, while the 521 2nd type has a round diecast strengthening in the 90 degree angle left behind the cab. A 521-1 has an open trailer axle support while the 521-2 has a closed trailer axle support. Only the 521 type 1 has a turning stop in the casting for the tractor so that it cannot run all the way to the trailer. The later editions can. Kind regards, Jan Oldenhuis, 1-12-2017