Factory Errors

Remained unsold on the recent 24 February Vectis Auction: an extremely beautiful example of the first version no. 555 Fire Engine with Extending (brown) Ladder, a virtually pristine box included. However, the silver trim for the bumper(s) is lacking, a flaw that was not mentioned in the description of this lot. Kind regards, Jan Werner

Here is another military error. The vehicle on the left has the incorrect Royal Armoured Corps red/yellow insignia whilst the vehicle on the right has the correct Royal Artillery red/blue insignia.

This 161 Austin Somerset is similar to Jan's fire engine above in that there is no silvering at all at the front of the vehicle. It was part of the Remy-Meeus auction at Christies in 2001. I find that these are amusing; had the painter who did this at Binns Road been discovered they would have been told-off, and yet now we collectors take great delight in discovering a factory error. What would we have though 60 years ago when we got home and found something was not right, we never packed it away thinking it would be worth 300 in a few years time!!!! Dave

Whenever I see these pristine models with more or less obvious flaws or deficiencies, I can't help imagining how fathers went back to the toy shop with their crying little sons about things being wrong about the Dinky Toys gift. I have a mint Breakdown Van with a completely stuck, immobile wire. I don't mind, but it may have been a historic family drama, when a little boy insisted on it being changed in the toy shop for a working example. And there are numerous other examples like that. Subsequently these refused toys remained in the toy shop stock for years and years, and survived unplayed-with, mint and boxed, until a collector bought it as a bargain (with a minor or at least interesting deficiency). Kind regards, Jan Werner

Here are two of my 105e/384 Grass Cutters. As can be seen the painting of the wheels is different. This makes me wonder .... is the difference a factory error or a deliberate production design change? Has anyone any thoughts on this.

Interesting. Both mine have the grey wheels, one has red blades the other green as the ones above. This is possibly and error or if more turn up a production change to remove a paint process.

Here is an interesting one this 321 Manure Spreader has no 'Massey Harris' markings at all. I have spoken to the person who has owned it from new and it has always been like this.

Hopefully this time the pics are here

But this is a regular feature on these very late model versions and not a factory error. This is simply Meccano deliberately reducing production costs! Kind regards, Jan Werner

My mint model is the same and it has the later box: