287 Police Accident Unit (1967-75)

I found this photo of the assembly line of the Dinky Toys 287 Police Accident Unit made from 1967-1975. I don't remember where I found the photo and of any caption to it.The photo is not in focus,but I think it must be from the Meccano factory Liverpool and therefore very interesting. There is a lot to see in this photo.The round machines resemble a dryer to dry the pasted stickers. Jan Oldenhuis, 1 July 2021

I do not think those self-adhesive stickers required any drying. To the contrary, later in life they tend to dry out too much and fall off the model. The woman at the left appears to be applying glue to the front of the model. I think she is probably securing the headlight jewels.

Because Patrick Trench mentions 1967-1975 as the production time of the 287 instead of 1967-1971 of the PDF library, I have researched the UK price lists and catalogues. Patrick Trench is right this time. In the Meccano Toys of Quality retail price list the 287 appears up to and including 1975. In the UK Dinky Toys catalogs the 287 appears up to and including May 1974.I have therefore adjusted the production time from 1967-1975.Jan Oldenhuis, 2 July 2021

Patrick Trench's Dinky Toy Compendium is a good enough standard, which only occasionally needs some adjustment (if we can be absolute at all as dating is concerned).

Jan. You are absolutely right. I don't think there is a better and more useful guide than Patrick Trench's. I also have the single edition 4a and I consult it very often. Actually an indispensable guide for every Dinky Toys collector. Jan O.