562 and 962 Muir Hill Dumper Truck (1948-66)

Hello Jan! Do you have the facility to photograph the French label under infra-red light? That may reveal something about what's underneath.

Thank you, John, for the suggestion. It may be of help. I should buy and try a torch like that anyway. Also for tracing possible unknown, unwanted touch-ups! By the way, shouldn't that be ultra-violet? Kind regards, Jan

The June 2006 model collector magazine includes a list of British Dinky Toys, imported into France. This lists 4 Standard British models in British box with French labels overlaid. These are 14c, 561, 562 and 571. The article is written by Brian Salter. Jan, you do have a very special example in your possession on which the overlay of the French 562 label is clearly visible. From my archive I add 2 photos of a French - British 14c, of which the British box also is overlaid with a French 14c label, compared to 2 photos of an original British 14c with British box. You can see that the French 14c label is much wider in this case than the British one and covers more of the box. It would be great if you could see what is under your French 562 label with harmless technology. A fraction of letters in red colour can be read under your French 562 end label, possibly 'printed in England' ?? Maybe your former workplace has this technology? Jan O.

Brian Salter wrote many interesting and valuable articles, both in Model Collector and in Diecast Collector (in the latter as 'Roger Wynn'). The one you mention, Jan, has led me to start also collecting these 'Anglo-French' Dinky Toys (and Supertoys), back in 2006. Unfortunately I am not complete yet, the hard-to-find red boxed ones still wanting. I took a photograph of the 'Grue roulante' box a moment ago, also showing the same contours underneath and a tiny strip extending below. Kind regards, Jan

Hi Jan What I am thinking of definitely involves infrared. Perhaps this site may help. lifepixel.com/infrared-photography-primer/

This example wasn't recorded here yet: lighter yellow than the previous version, all-diecast wheels (still no. 562 cast underneath) and packed in a 962 blue striped lidbox with the Dinky Supertoys brand name in italics. No quality control stamp present inside the box, but to be dated approx. 1958-1961.