Dinky Toy Sales, Ordering, Promotions, Retailing etc.

Hi all, Linking in to the great info Bruce has kindly provided in the Fodens thread, I've got a few questions that I've wondered about for years, I am fully aware that many of the answers may be lost in the mists of time.Were Dinky retailers committed to take a minimum amount, say 6 of EVERY new release? Even re-colours on the same casting?Were models ever issued Sale or Return? If so what happened to the returns?Where models failed Production Quality Control, or were returned damaged by retailers what happened to them? Were they repaired? Or melted down?Were all new models available everywhere in the UK at once?Were Dinky products sold separately to shops, or did the Reps do Hornby, Meccano, Bayko, etc as well?Cheers Chris Warr.

Hello Chris You have really touched on one of my favourite subjects dealing with Dinky Toys.I can offer the following,
based on contact with the son of a former Meccano agent.1.Agents (retailers) were not obligated to stock a certain number of Meccano products.They could order whatever they judged were the needs of their immediate area,
bearing in mind that in many towns,
if not most towns,
there was more than one appointed agent.2.Meccano issued (
and invoiced
) samples of new models.For instance,
a store in Herts.was issued with a sample trade pack of six 237 Mercedes Benz racing cars
and a single 698 Tank Transporter Gift
Set
in October 1957.The trade pack of 237 cost 12 / 4 with the retail price per models being 3 / 8.The 698 wholesale price was 14 / 4 with the retail price being 25 / 11.Unfortunately,
the Advice Note covering these samples is undated so we do not know when the samples were issued.But in the case of these two models,
an advertisement announcing their release appeared in the 4 October 1957 issue of ' Eagle ' comic,
so obviously the samples would have been sent out in September.3.It appears that orders were lodged with a Meccano Sales Representative,
which in the case of this store was Sales Representative Number 3.4.Each agent ordered through their representative Meccano Magazines each month,
although I presume the quantity ordered may have reflected standing orders,
as unsold copies were not returnable.5.Unsold models were not returned,
as the agent invariably sold their stock,
and only ordered those models that met their sales requirements.For instance,
on 22 January 1957,
Meccano processed an order
from
this Hertfordshire agent for single trade packs containing either 6,
4
or 3 models for 190,
234,
236,
252 (4 pack),
282,
405 (4 pack),
410 (4 pack),
482,
621 (3 pack),
626 (3 pack),
715.Single examples were ordered for the following: 299,
401,
430,
704,
622,
918,
934,
971
and 991.Two examples were ordered for the following: 651,
660,
905,
942
and 962.The two examples may have reflected a local need for these models.6.I am not certain about damaged stock as this never came up,
but damaged stock that did not meet quality control were handled during the production process
and corrected with these limited to painting problems.The quality control process also included small individual models as evidenced by many inspection stamps on inner flaps for these.I have a photograph of a number of ladies in the factory using small paint brushes to correct minor paint problems with the 132 Packard for instance.Casting problems would have been detected prior to painting
and these were then returned to the furnace.7.As far as I am aware,
in the UK,
sample stock was sent out ahead of the release
and these were then placed on sale when the release was announced in the Meccano Magazine
or other publications such as ' Eagle '.(
See #2 above.) As far as Australia is concerned, there was no set issue date, with models going on sale as soon as the retailer could unpack the carton from the Australian distributor. 8. Representatives handled all the Meccano products, with each type, Meccano kits and spares, Hornby and Hornby Dublo and Dinky having their own order forms. I am sure others in the association can add to the above from direct experience. Bruce

Hi,
yes,
this subject is very interesting
and complicated.There were many rather separate markets.Some models were announced in Meccano Magazine whereas they were already in catalogues of ' overseas ' markets a year before.Many prewar models were disconinued in 1948 / 49
and some returned in 1952 in Meccano Magazine.But it seems that several of them were continuously available on some overseas markets in the period in between.Besides,
presence in MM
or in the catalogues is of course not necessarily the same as availability in the shops.I made scans of an interesting Meccano procedures manual for sales representatives,
from
the 1970s.Over 50 pages of instructions etc.Unfortunately I scanned it in a rather unhandy format,
so I will have to convert all page files.I had the idea for a long time already to put it into the document archive on this site.But...busy...etc.However,
I hope to do this job within the forseeable future.The cover
and the index: [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / sc -20140803.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / sc0000 -20140803.jpg [/img] Kind regards,
Jan

Wonderful info thank you both.Bruce,
very interesting,
I always assumed that a minimum order quantity was required
from
each agent.My Uncle was a Mettoy / Corgi agent in the ' 60 ' s
and the selling was VERY aggressive,
I assumed Meccano was the same.Jan,
it ' s the Claims / Returns that interest me,
I wonder if damaged / returned models re - issued could account for some of the timeline mysteries we come across.Cheers CW.

Chris I can only
go
on the Sales Advices
and the computer print - out that accompanied the order,
in that each month the orders were different,
although
from
the orders I have it would appear that the Euclid Rear Dump Truck
and the Massey Harris
and Field Marshall Tractors were several of the most popular models in the range,
during 1956 to 1958 although this would not be a true reflection depending on the location of the stores;small town,
large town,
city / suburban.It is interesting that the delivery advice that accompanied the order carried this notification in red at the bottom of the advice: IMPORTANT.If any portion of this consignment is missing
or damaged please immediately notify us
and also the carriers,
as required by Regulation.In time I will
go
through all the Advice
and Consignment Notes
and see if there is anything else that may be of interest.I wish I had obtained everything ! Bruce

I wish I had obtained everything ! It is such a pity that all this basic source material spread all over the world as collectors items,
whereas they should have been gathered in publicly accessible archives for study
and research in the course of time.Fortunately we can use the advantage of the internet (like this website) nowadays,
for making them known
and accessible afterall ! Kind regards,
Jan

Jan - I could not agree more with your sentiments ! I often think what a golden opportunity was passed when the Richardson ' s procured so much in the way of ephemera fromthe old Meccano factory,
that has now been scattered farand wide.It is also a pity when Mikeand Sue published their last great tome,
that more of each drawing was not included.I would have like to have seen the file notation covering changes to the original drawings included which would have enabled us to learn more about most of the wonderful models Meccano ' s skilled people produced.I have a number of drawingsand these are excellent in compiling when changes to the original castings were underway.I even came to learn that the old 623 Bedford ' Army Covered Wagon ' was intended to have been numbered 153c as a result of one drawing I have acquired.I don ' t recall seeing this mentioned anywhere so there - that is one piece of information that is now out through the wonderment of The Net ! ! Bruce

Continuing with the subject of Meccano agentsand some of the paperwork involved in getting models into the store,
on saleand eventually sold.This form is the Advice Note that the store / agent received based on the order form he had handed to the sales representative.In viewing this Advice Note,
one can see models required but not in stockand apparently no stock to follow.Then there are those models on back order to follow,
and there were two orders with ' Post Order ' being these would follow by post.Then there were those models available that would be sent as soon as possible by carrier.

Let me know if any of this is of interest ! ! !

Hi all,
I heard that Hatton ' s Train shop in Liverpool bought a load of parts,
skips full apparently,
fromthe receivers at the closure of Binns Rd,
and had a huge sale,
any truth in it ? Chris Warr.

A typical Order Form that would be prepared by a Meccano Sales Agent,
this one being applicable to orders made in mid - November 1960.The form shows all the Dinky Toysand Dinky Supertoys that were available for a store to order.

A Dinky Toys illuminated shop sign fromthe 1950s.

' The Dinky Toys ' part is made of woodand this sign was alsomade in Hornby Dubloand Meccano versions.I am writing an article on it for the Journal.Dave
 

A Dinky Toys cardboard self - standing,or folded sign,similar to the one in the photograph of a display of Dinky Toys.The sign can be seen at the top of the display between the aircraft fixed to the back wall.





My sign has sat on top of my computer monitor for about 15 years just to remind me that once these were always new ! Incidentally,the orange / red behind DINKY TOYS is the back of the folded card.Bruce