The Journal.

Dear Bruce, I am very sorry for my mistake, I have mistaken the authors of posts. So many thanks for puting things right and for finding the exact date of the Russian flyer and providing the reference to the Meccano Magazine which explains this flyer with accuracy. I did not mean to shoot any body, specially not those who bring important data to our knowledge. It would be interesting to see also the article in the Meccano dealers news buletin. I have scans of several of the equivalent French Catalogues d

It is now a month since the Journal containing the reference to items on the website appeared, sadly the response to what I put in the Journal has been absolutely nothing. Sadly this is EXACTLY the level of response I anticipated. I will try for a couple more Journal issues but if the interest remains the same someone else will have to take up this initiative. Dave

Hi Dave, apparently no one - but us - has a computer. Perhaps the answers will be sent, as usual, to the Journal editor and will be printed on familiar paper. Kind regards, Jan

I never got answers sent to me when I was the Editor for four years, I got no support from the committee whatsoever. They were happy to send articles to Model Collector but NEVER EVER sent anything to me. I guess NOTHING HAS CHANGED!!!!!! Dave

buzzer999 wrote: 'I never got answers sent to me when I was the Editor for four years, I got no support from the committee whatsoever. They were happy to send articles to Model Collector but NEVER EVER sent anything to me. I guess NOTHING HAS CHANGED!!!!!! Dave' Dave I suppose it is easier for me to make suggestions, being so far away from the coal-face, but perhaps there is an urgent need to examine the entire committee of the DTCA, and hopefully institute some changes at the next annual general meeting when positions come up for re-election. But to achieve this, there would need to be more present who would like to see a change to the current arrangement. I too am quite surprised with the number of articles that have appeared in MC without first appearing in The Journal. Perhaps a payment for their effort is more attractive. However as an ordinary member whose interest goes back to the days before the formation of the DTCA when I was invited to participate in its formation I am very surprised over the lack of apparent interest in the Forum by most committee members. It does have the appearance of 'them' and 'the rest of us'! One thing I do find 'unusual' is the Association having a deceased person as a Patron. Surely there is a better way of achieving long-term recognition. Finally with one of The Forum's constant contributors, Jan is in an excellent position to convey a message to the committee in his capacity as the Honorary Life Vice President, of which I am sure he has done so. As I see it, we have two DTCA operating - off-line and online! Bruce

As I posted some time before, I have asked in the last AGM to have an opportunity to demonstrate the site and its discussions, and I got that opportunity, but virtually no one was interested, everyone looking at 'real' things like Dinky Toys exhibited, but 'virtual' things had no interest. I could be frustated (and I was a little bit, Dave and I having been very active for a long time filling and propagating the site), but I think we should not despair, that's enough, things are the way they are and one cannot force things if they are not in people's minds, even of the board. And let's patiently await the results of Dave's initiatives in the issues to come. I still adhere to the 'harmony model' in these matters. As you can see in the statistics the activities here are increasing in a very positive way and so is interest from outside. And we have fun, don't we? By the way, I hope you don't mind that I happen to have written a contribution for MC, to be published in the January issue! I like some variation! I also contribute to other model forums. But do not despair, I am writing another article for The Journal at this moment! (besides, I have never written anything for money, I only write for a lot of fun and usefulness). Kind regards, Jan

Dinkinius wrote: 'dinkycollect wrote: 'So far, there is no thread for matters concerning the journal. Here you can post anything concerning our magazine, for past and future issues. This thread can also be used as a way to communicate with Mike our editor hoping that he visits the forum sometime. With the latest issue you have all received the re-print of a Russian Meccano catalogue. Although my russian is limited to tovaritch and vodka, I have tried to date this catalogue and found that it is either 1960, 61 or 62. Can you narrow this to a single year ?' Jacques The year would be 1961 when Meccano had a stand at the British Trade Fair 'recently held' in Moscow. I have an announcement to this effect in the Bulletin to Meccano Dealers dated 26 June 1961. I will get around to scanning the Bulletin and sharing it with the readership if interested. The Healey Boat and trailer included in the brochure would indicate the commencement of the preparation of the leaflet after September 1960. The British Trade Fair was mentioned in the August 1961 issue of Meccano Magazine with the fair having opened on 19 May 1961. So, the Russian leaflet was one of a couple that was distributed during the Fair, with limitations being introduced due to the leaflets' popularity. Bruce ' Greetings all I have deleted the Meccano Magazine copies in the above quote as these can be viewed elsewhere in this thread. However, the following is an excerpt from the Meccano Trade Bulletin dated 26 June 1961. This covers the Trade Fair held in Moscow, and how the demand for leaflets (of which is one that the HRCA reprinted) and booklets 'was on a scale never before encountered in any part of the world.' Also worthy of note is the comments from the Russians themselves who 'found it hard to believe that models of such accuracy and fine finish were primarily intended as toys'. Kind regards Bruce (150)

Hi Bruce, this is very interesting! I presume that about 0,5% of the Soviet population might have been able to afford buying Meccano products, the elite. That may be why we never heard of such an adventure into the Soviet Union anymore. As a - be it one-way - cross-over to The Journal it would be extremely interesting and useful in my opinion to have this page on readable or even full format published in The Journal, as an up till now wanting comment to the reproduction folder in the last issue. Perhaps some views and considerations could be included. Just a thought ... Kind regards, Jan

I know I have said this before but committee members should be committed to the furtherance and continual improvement of the club. They are supposed to be the guardians. The internet is such a vital part of every organisation now that they surely have a duty of care to ensure everything on the website is being conducted correctly. Some of them have not even logged on in over three years!!!!!!!!!!! Dave

Dave--we have discussed this before, and, to me, it is almost criminal that the committee and board members do not at least log on to the site once in a while to see what is going on there. Surely, even they must understand that the future of this and other hobbies is strongly tied to the internet and technology, and not following it is akin to putting your head in the sand. I just don't understand it......... Best regards,Terry

Hi all, I'm guessing that most of the committee are the type of blokes who said 'Clockwork Hornby Trains are the only real ones, these bloody electric things are all very well but they'll never catch on you know.' Chris Warr.

Chris is absolutely right here, these guys go down to the newsagents and buy ink for their quill pens!! We had a superb Chairman in David Dawson and when I was the editor David and I tried desparately to modernise the DTCA, it was just not going to be allowed and David walked away very disheartened not long after so did I. The committee are now happy because they can stroke each others egos ( and there are a couple of massively huge ones0 and pontificate for ever. A specific case in point; three years ago I asked them to by a small PA system to improve the clarity of the speakers, and enable everyone to hear properly, at the AGM. The DTCA is VERY CASH RICH for a small club and they still have not bought one. I would love to take a more active role in the organisation but I do not like to try to push a piece of string uphill. Dave