1952 French Dinky Toys catalog

I like to collect old Dinky catalogs, and have a small collection of them. I just recently was able to find a 1952 French Dinky Toys catalog, from a seller in France, in wonderful, almost unused condition. In looking through it, I realized it was the only catalog I was aware of that featured fold-out pages, and also each page had some type of meaningful scenery to accompany the models shown. The date listed on the inside is May, 1952. Many of you might already have this catalog, but for those that don't, I thought you might enjoy seeing this one. The images appear to be what I might call half- tones...they appear to be photos of some sort, but reproduced in a different effect. Perhaps someone can elaborate on that technique. Terry s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ] s929.photobucket.com/user/thardgrave/med...s%20catalogues%20and ]

Terry, This is quite rare but the little guy on the front cover does not belong to this catalog which is almost the same as the 1951 one. Have you noticed that on page 6 the Paris Somua bus is the wooden mock-up ? If you are interested in catalogues, I have the scans for about 315 of them including 26 trade catalogues.

Jacques--Not quite sure what you mean that the little guy on the front does not belong there? Do you mean someone somehow added that little color imprint, or stamped it on? In looking at it with a magnifying glass it is for sure printed or stamped on the surface, and not a decal or other applied item. I also thought it a bit strange....why would they have that young man with a scythe clearing a field in the middle of the hiway where a car (a Ford Vedette?) is bearing down on him. Wonder if it was somehow a logo that belonged to something else...interesting, but I still love the catalog, and I know you have them all on your Encyclopedia, but thought it might be nice to share this with other members who do not have access to it.Terry

dinkyfan wrote: 'Jacques--Not quite sure what you mean that the little guy on the front does not belong there? Do you mean someone somehow added that little color imprint, or stamped it on? In looking at it with a magnifying glass it is for sure printed or stamped on the surface, and not a decal or other applied item. I also thought it a bit strange....why would they have that young man with a scythe clearing a field in the middle of the hiway where a car (a Ford Vedette?) is bearing down on him. Wonder if it was somehow a logo that belonged to something else...interesting, but I still love the catalog, and I know you have them all on your Encyclopedia, but thought it might be nice to share this with other members who do not have access to it.Terry' Terry What about the date at the top? It does appear as if it has been written there by a previous owner? If you are satisfied that everything is all original, then your catalogue is totally original and yours has to be accepted as a new catalogue variation. Bruce

BruceYes, someone did write that date, in ink, on the catalog. I did think that little man with the scythe, in color, was a little strange, but it appeared to be printed on there, so I didn't think much about it. Looking at it closely, it is definitely not anything applied, but was somehow printed on it. But it also does not make any sense on the catalog. Jacques has copies of all the catalogs on his encyclopedia, so I need to take a look at his.....am assuming he is correct. But I still love that little catalog, with its foldout pages, and quaint little play scenes with the French Dinky's of that day......that is the real story, regardless of that odd color figure on the front! Terry

Terry So is it in fact a 1951 catalogue? As you said it is a great catalogue with how Meccano France arranged it. I have seen the catalogue before but never twigged about the bus as being a wooden mock-up! But thank you very much for sharing it with the wider Dinky community. Bruce

Terry, do you know this tiny announcement leaflet in black and white of some French models by Hudson - Dobson? Some narrow piece of paper is torn off, but according to an other American collector nothing else was there. A curious little leaflet! The year is approx. 1954. The French bus included as an extra decoration: Kind regards, Jan

Jan That is interesting, and no, I have not seen it before. It appears to be an early leaflet announcing the French Dinky models that H.Hudson Dobson would be selling in the U.S. As you know, the 1954/55 Dinky catalog did not show any French Dinky's, but the later 1955 catalog did...and it featured all shown in the leaflet, except for the Isobloc bus, which the factory discontinued by then. It is interesting that it shows the Ford Vedette, #24X, but the image is of the earlier 24Q, so guessing this was printed in early 1954 Terry

I have recently acquired these French Dinky catalogues. They are for 1955,1956, 1957,1959,1963, 1963 (2nd edition), 1971 and one which I am unable to give a date. If anyone is interested I would be happy to scan them and put them in this section.

Hi Chris. I think that you are missing the date of the one on the top left corner with the back of the Simca 1100 and Opel ! it's 1968. It must be an another edition if I compare with mine, because the blue car that I can see on the first page of yours as nothing to do with my edition which shows, on the first page, a red Simca 1100 ! Interesting Friendly yours Richard

Hi Chris and Richard. Richard is right. The year 1968 has been cut from the top right. It is the 1968 2nd edition. This can be seen on the page behind the cover, a blue Peugeot 504. The catalogue of Richard with the red Simca 1100 is the 1968, 1st edition. French catalogues always have two editions: the 1st in February and the 2nd in September, except for the last catalogue of 1971. That one had 1 edition. The 1968-1 has a price list, the 1968-2 has no price list. I add pictures of both 1968 covers. Kind Regards, Jan Oldenhuis (703)