900 'Site Building' Set (1964-70)

Greetings all!While examining the various publications dealing with Dinky Toys, DINKY TOYS AND MODELLED MINIATURES, THE GREAT BOOK OF DINKY TOYS, COLLECTING DINKY TOYS, the Ed Force Books DINKY TOYS as well as the various John Ramsay BRITISH DIECAST MODEL TOYS CATALOGUE, all quoted 1964 as the introduction date for the 900 Site Building Gift Set. The original detailed publication compiled by Cecil Gibson HISTORY OF BRITISH DINKY TOYS 1934-1964 includes the set but has no introduction date.In fact, the 900 Site Building Gift Set (frequently quoted as 900 Building Site Gift Set) was released at least twelve months earlier in 1963. It is even possible that the set and the others issued at the same time, were available for Christmas 1962, as it would be logical for Meccano to make the most of the 'high-spending' parents and aunts and uncles for Christmas presents, especially in view of their quite high prices. However we can only go on documentation that confirms a date and these are below: The above is from the 1963 Catalogue for the UK, 11th Edition. The above is from the 1963 Catalogue for Australia, also 11th Edition.The July 1963 issue of MECCANO MAGAZINE finally makes reference to the release of a number of Gift Sets that would have included the 900 Site Building set. These sets were 121 Goodwood Gift Set, 122 Touring Gift Set, 123 Mayfair Gift Set (specifically mentioned in the Meccano Magazine) 298 Emergency Services Gift Set and 900 Site Building Gift Set. All except 900 have the correct year in the previous quoted publications. The 900 Site Building Gift Set is extremely rare, and in recent years, only two have passed through an auction. Both sets have a different Blaw Knox Bulldozer. One has the usual late issue in lemon, with the other having the rare 961 with a red plastic body with silver engine details. Kind regardsBruce

Wonderful set, thanks Bruce. I had no idea there even was a late issue Blaw Knox, wonder how many were made? Chris Warr.

Hello Chris I have been waiting for anyone else to respond to your post, so after two weeks of waiting I am taking the liberty of responding! Firstly, and unfortunately, neither of the 900 sets illustrated are in my collection, as I would have to take out a mortgage to pay for it! :laugh: As for the plastic 1961 Blaw Knox Bulldozer, the only references I can find of its production is during 1964 only, the final year of the 961 production as an individually boxed item, with it having been deleted by September 1964. This makes it a very rare model to obtain with few passing through auction over the last two decades. The 961 is contained in the 900 Site Building Set at least until 1970 according to some sources, although I only have this set listed as late as the August 1969 Meccano price leaflet. That would make it five years in production after the model had been deleted from individual sale. The 960 Albion Lorry Mounted Concrete Mixer was deleted from individual boxed sale in late 1969, in company with the 965 Terex. It was only the 437 that continued with individually boxed sale long after the 900 Set had been deleted. The 962 soldiered on only in the 900 Gift Set as it was deleted as an individual item between September 1965 and July 1966. Kind regards Bruce

Hi Bruce, a nice contribution of yours, but the subject is a little bit beyond my area and period of collecting and expertise. Nevertheless, it crossed my mind that this is one of the odd rare cases where plastic is far more expensive than metal. All those plastic details must have been very vulnerable for breaking, bending etc. Although this was a cost-reducing experiment of course, it was not such a bad idea, because the early Blaw-Knox's were murder weapons in the hands of children. One could knock one's play-mate's brains out with it! So incredibly heavy and with dangerous protruding solid parts. Nowadays the packing would certainly have included a severe warning, with a minimum play-age at least. Perhaps that's why only boys over 50 are playing with it nowadays. :laugh: Kind regards, Jan

Thanks Bruce, I was just looking at this set and thinking that although it's highly prized by us collectors now, for the relatively late production date isn't that box plain? it's not much wonder that the kid in the Toyshop went for one of the big Corgi giftsets with their beautifully illustrated boxes is it? Point of sale for this one bland to say the least. Chris Warr.

Picture from page 15 of the July 1964 issue of the English Meccano Magazine.

Yes Jacques I saw that in the Meccano Magazine, but in my rush to post it I forgot to include it, however my main story was to advise a corrected date of the set's introduction. Or are you disputing my findings by saying so without saying anything??!!! I do not mind although one has to ask why the set has been included in every price list since January 1963?? Why did Meccano take sooooo long before they ran this advertisement? Bruce

STARNI999 wrote: 'Thanks Bruce, I was just looking at this set and thinking that although it's highly prized by us collectors now, for the relatively late production date isn't that box plain? it's not much wonder that the kid in the Toyshop went for one of the big Corgi giftsets with their beautifully illustrated boxes is it? Point of sale for this one bland to say the least. Chris Warr.' Hello Chris I quite agree with your views of the bland nature of the box. But I think Meccano shot themselves in the foot by selling this Gift Set for the same price as buying each model individually. I know what I would have preferred. Meccano should have provided some financial inducement considering its very high price by making its purchase cheaper than buying each model separately. This was also the case with most other Gift Sets. But by that time the Company was being run by . . . . !! Kind regards Bruce

I have a number of the earliest Corgi Toys catalogues at home and I have just checked the pricing on a number of their gift sets. An example is Gift Set No 4 which included the No 351 RAF Land Rover, No 1117 Bloodhound Guided Missile Trolley and No 1108 Bloodhound Guided Missile on Launching Ramp. Bought individually they would have cost 32/11 but the price of the gift set was 33/-. Actually a penny more!! In the 1950s and 1960s there were obviously no incentives being offered by the toy companies. Dave

Hello Bruce, I would certainly not dispute you post without explaining why. My aim in posting the picture of the M.M. was only to complete your post and to save other members to search in their collection of magazines for the picture which you mentioned. This was help, not criticism. It is true that the box for this set and some other in corugated cardboard is very poor and that Meccano could have provided a better packaging for the few people who were buying five nice but expansive models at one time. The aim of this line of sets may have been to reduce the stock before the planed sale of Meccano Ltd. to Lines in 1964. All the best. Jacques

This is the announcement of the six Gift Sets that were issued in early 1963 that appeared in the April-May-June 1963 Trade Bulletin to Meccano Dealers. I should have included this in my first post - except I did not know the Trade Bulletin had this advertisement until I took it out of its plastic pocket and unfolded it! I am now starting to wonder what other juicy stuff I have tucked away, blissfully unaware of their existence!! :laugh: :laugh: (I do not think that would include an actual 900 Gift Set unfortunately!!)

Nice one Bruce, Good to see all the Gift sets compared. weren't they expensive though? I presume the prices are shown as 57s/11d for example, rather than