263 Superior Criterion Ambulance (1962-68)

Good morning Jan, When the 263 Superior Criterion Ambulance was released in September 1962, the artwork featured a thin twin red stripe along each side. This is an enlargement of the advertisement on the back cover of the Meccano Magazine announcing its arrival: The same twin red stripe continued with a leaflet issued on 8 December 1962 as shown below: The 1963 Dinky Toys catalogue printed in January 1963 also included a pictorial representation of the 263 still with its twin red side stripe: However, by January 1964 when that year's first catalogue was published, the twin red side stripes had become a solid red. With the twenty 263 Superior Criterion Ambulance with twin red side stripes that Vectis has auctioned over the past 15 years or so all have a duck-egg or pale blue interior. This seems to indicate that models with a different coloured interior can be dated from possibly post January 1963 to definitely January 1964 onwards when the side stripe became solid, no doubt due to the difficulty assocated with its application. Is it possible those models without any side-stripe could be an early issue due to that difficulty and the workers giving up on a number of models due to the frustration in applying such a small red line by hand. As for Ron's larger spun hubs and tyres, I too am in agreement that they look far better than the normal small hubs and tyres. The smaller hubs are certainly out of scale with the body of the model. This is also very noticeable with the 196 Holden Special Sedan, the 142 Jaguar Mark X above and many others. Goodness only knows what Meccano was thinking (cost over-ruling logic) when they changed the size of the hub for larger cars such as the 148 Ford Fairlane and others. Obviously it came about following too many trips across the road to the famous watering hole, The Railway Hotel! Finally, here is a photograph of an actual 1961 Pontiac Superior Criterion Ambulance,, on which the Dinky model was based with chrome side strip - looking far better with its large chrome wheels with whitewall tyres! Kind regards Bruce H. (150) 20170408/1153/1507

Thanks for the comment. Bruce. Perhaps I did not express myself clear enough. I am in favour of the smaller wheels + fine tread tyres. With only the regular sized hubs/tyres previously available, there was always a 'scale dilemma': they mostly fit the 1/43 and 1/45 models best and causing increasing problems when trying to fit them on some 1/48 cars in my opinion. I think the wonderful photo of the real one supports my idea that the 'regular' ones, present on Ron's variant, seem slightly too big (the white wall tyres on the real one cause an optical illusion that the hubs are even bigger). On the other hand I must also agree that the smaller wheels on the Superior Criterion seem slightly too small, but less obvious, and match slightly better, and so do the fine tread tyres. As the stripes is concerned, yes, the double stripes became one, not only in painting, but also the casting was changed accordingly. I believe that both painting and casting problems must have led to that decision. My own observation was about the difference in coverage of the paint. I have added another photo of the real one, rather horrible in quality, but perhaps matching the real one even better. It has a Dutch registration plate, and the houses and the pavement look Dutch, but I have never seen one in NL in reality. Thanks and kind regards, Jan

Morning Jan Nice gathering of fellow enthusiasts in your home recently, as per your Post in 'New Arrivals'. (I have known Jose for many years but have not had the pleasure of meeting he and his wife in person.) As for that marvelous gathering, how different this gathering was compared with my non-existent gathering in 2015 when I visited England to attend the many functions associated with the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. My 'invitational' topic received no comments so I guess nobody in the Association lived in the southeastern part of England and up towards the north in Cambridgeshire and further up in Lincolnshire and Woodhall Spa! Back to the Superior Criterion Ambulance, and I have noted your 'rather horrible in quality, but perhaps matching the real one even better' photograph, so thought I would go two better with the following images which I overlooked back on the 4th! Interesting that both belong to a fire department, one in Maryland and the other New Jersey. Oh by the way, I answered your query in the 34a Topic about stamps! (Nothing like mentioning many topics in the one Post!) Kind regards Bruce (150) 20170608/1155/2342

Those are really nice photos, Bruce! They show the correct roof design now. If they might be available on a higher resolution you would do me a big favour by sending them to me privately! Kind regards, Jan P.S.: and thanks for all 34a information!

Coming or going? What is the correct way around for the roof mounted siren? It seems to be mounted either way. I would suggest that the 'pointy bit' should face the rear? It is easy to turn around. Ron

Ron, Yours is an interesting question I never thought about. On my three samples of this Dinky Toy, two of them purchased new back in the day, all of the sirens are positioned with the bullet-shaped 'pointy bit' at the front. Perhaps the ladies assembling the model thought this was more aerodynamic, but it is wrong! The sound of these electro-mechanical sirens comes from the flat-shaped front, and I have never seen one mounted backwards. That would only be appropriate if the ambulance driver intended to respond to all calls in reverse gear! Similar sirens are still produced by the Federal Signal Corporation for traditionalist fire departments, or perhaps for restoration purposes. More details can be found here: www.fedsig.com/product/q-siren]https://w....com/product/q-siren

I was given quite some play-worn Dinky Toys by a former colleague of mine several years ago already, a pitiful Superior Criterion Ambulance included. Some months ago I had the idea of having it restored and giving it a grey finish, similar to the finish of the post-war examples of the 30f Ambulance, and as an experimental addition to the existing colour schemes of the Ambulances of the 1940s-1960s. The other day I received it and here is the result. Perhaps the red strip is not as straight as I would have meant it to be, but nevertheless the overall result is striking in my opinion. Some photos below:

JanThat turned out quite nice and it does fit in well with your others. I also have a few restored Dinkys, and properly done, they can make nice additions to our collections. Well done! Best regards, Terry

On display at last, the Superior Criterion Ambulances trio exhibited in my cabinet the way I had in mind for a long time already! Just a grey colour sticker on the replica box wanting.

Nice display Jan ! I did not know that a superior criterion exist in grey ! We can see that you use chocks under the trailer but not under the ambulances. Do you think that the boxes are enough supple to protect the tyres against deformation ? Kind regards Richard

Hello Richard, I hope I have stressed sufficiently that the grey one is a deliberate repaint, not based on any specific authentic finish, but inspired by the cream and grey 'twins' of the immediate post-war years. I appreciate your question on the protection of the tyres. My solution for the ambulances illustrates that I am only human and not as consequent in my actions as I pretend to be. For some models that I like to have on display on top of their boxes I make exceptions every now and then and under certain conditions: Firstly I have the impression that natural card board and paper material in general are more friendly and softer for a model to rest on than on straight and harsh materials like glass etc. Besides, every model on the red velvet on the bottom of my cabinets can remain without supports, because that material is very gentle and soft (unless a model and its tyres is really problematic). Secondly, when I make exceptions like this I judge the condition of a model and its tyres, if it really appears to be suitable to stand on its own tyres for some longer time. Thirdly, I have the impression that some kinds of tyres are more sensitive for flattening than others. I believe the grey round treaded tyres are notorious in this respect, whereas later treaded rubber tyres in general seem to be more 'flattening resistant'. So these reasons gave me confidence to have the ambulance trio stand on their 'bare feet', as an exception. Still, this may be for a limited time only, not 'forever'. All other models on glass shelves are placed on supports, irrespective of their condition, if only it were for a balanced looks of the items on display. Kind regards, Jan

Hello Jan. I second Richard's appreciation of the display. The vehicles and their surroundings, lighting, etc., are of museum quality - especially the descriptive labelling. Something about what you were saying regarding tyres struck a chord with me. I have the feeling that some new replacement tyres may be made of vinyl rather than rubber. What do you think? Regards John