24v and 538 Buick Roadmaster (1954-1960)

Dear Jan, I was not aware that the number of ribs in the front grill was different for the 1951 and 52 models.1) The 1951 issue has 25 ribs, the 1952 one has only 19 of these ribs just like the Dinky Model. I do not think that the tool makers could have made the Dinky with 25 ribs. 2) The over riders on each side of the front number plate of the 51 model are smaller than in 52. The 24v sports the small1951 ones. 3) The long chrome plated flashes on each side of the Dinky are as on the 1951 Buick. 4) The rear wings of the Dinky are of the1952 type. 5) The emblem on the Dinky's boot lid is of the 1952 type. All this makes the Dinky mainly a 1952 model. Have you spoted any more differences between both manufacture years ? Kind regards. Jacques

Jan, Thank you for your comment, I have added the boot lid to the list.

I think we have now pretty well defined this great model, and now know for the first time, just what it is comprised of. Thanks to all of you for finishing my initial observations several years ago with these new thoughts. Another very interesting story about a Dinky Toys model, that, as usual, is somewhat surrounded in mystery as to how it came about. These little observations are also part of what makes our hobby so interesting and new discoveries are indeed still being made, all these years later!Best regards, Terry

Jacques---One last question for you regarding the 24v Buick Roadmaster. As Jan showed, some of these models were completed with the silver side trim not being painted. I have seen evidence of this several times over the years, so I know it is not just an isolated case......it happened to quite a few models. I don't remember hearing about a similar omission before, and I am somewhat perplexed that French Meccano would allow it to happen. My thought is something happened to the special mask used for that detailing, and apparently the factory made a decision to produce the model anyway. Curious what your thoughts are on this.Best regards, Terry

Hi TerryThere can be several reasons for those missing mouldings on the Buick's sides but we will never know exactly. I am not like those highly educated so called experts who mistake 'no doubt' and 'probably' and when they think about something it must become the rule. For example the chrome plated hubs which have never been fitted to the Dinky, the cross hatching for reinforcement etc.... There are still masses of things which we do not know about Dinky and we will never know because most of the people involved are gone for ever.The reasons may be : 1) the girl who sprayed the silver mouldings was not fast enough and every few models one was not sprayed 2) while she re filled her spay gun some models were not painted 3) while she cleaned the mask some models were not painted 4) the poor girl had to go to the loo sometimes 5) she was late after the cofee break 6) she had a cold and spent a lot of time blowing her nose. 7) there may have been an unknown technical reason the girl was a dam unionist 9) any other reason you can think of .............. All the best. Jacques

Thanks Jan. By the way, this is the paint spray gun she handles. Regards, Jan W

I found this photo with text about mask spraying on Planet Diecast.I have respect for the ladies who had to do this precise job day in and day out without the necessary respiratory protection. Each Dinky model required its own specific masks for the detailing and model 24v required I think a minimum of 5 different masks.I am not a specialist, but it seems that the mask plate is secured between clips so that it can be exchanged for a different mask each time. This job was done in several places side by side. For example, did the model have to dry after each mask spraying before the next mask spraying could be performed? That takes a lot of time per model. I hope Jacques can say something about the technique and process of mask spraying.As mentioned, the 24V model had to undergo at least 5 mask operations. 1. The front grille, bumper and headlights. 2. The rear bumper and trunk handle. 3. The left side decorative strips with 4 portholes. 4. The right side decorative strips with 4 portholes and 5. Different color on the roof. Also red tail lights and a red dot on the hood ornament had to be applied by hand.Model 24v was therefore laborious and required the necessary accuracy and skill to apply the paint completely opaque to the various details. The result has become one of the most beautiful Dinky Toys cars. We know that there are 24v models that left the factory without the side detailing for whatever reason. Unfortunately, we have to regard this as a factory error.Below a photo of my 24v Buick Roadmaster with silver sprayed side details as we would like to see them on each side of any 24v model. Also a beauty to see is the red painted hood ornament of the 24v.Jan Oldenhuis, 21 June 2021

Jan, The Encyclopaedia contains several photos about the mask spraying for the Dinky. On the home page's right hand menu there is a link to 'MECCANO FACTORIES'. Chose 'Meccano s.a. Avenue Henri Barbusse' and 'Meccano Ltd. Binns road'. Both these links contain photos of the static and hand held sparying masks.The girls did not need any protection against the paint as all the spraying stations were fitted with a ventilation system. The photos show the big pipes leading to the roof.For the Buick there were probably only two masks : one fot the second colour of the roof and one for all the silver details

Even with the extractor system in operation, there would probably still be some overspray in the atmosphere, and in earlier times the paint would have contained lead. This arrangement would certainly not be tolerated today.

Kevin, You are right, it would probably not be tolerated in Europe today but what about China and all the third world countries were our factories have gone ? Are'nt we overdoing things in Europe and raising prices at the same time ? Too many standards are killing (should I have written have killed ?) our industry ?

Jan--I have long wondered and pondered about just how the masking was actually done, and also exactly what were the masks made of. One most Dinky models, the masking is done somewhat perfectly, with even coverage, and very tight, crisps lines, where the masking ends. Also, very importantly, there is normally no sign of overspray, which would happen if the mask did not fit very tightly. So I wonder just what these masks were made of....was it some type of synthetic material, that had a tiny amount of 'give' in it, so it could perfectly conform to the shape of the model to which it was applied? For some reason, I cannot fathom it being a hard material. On a very few of my Dinky's, there is light overspray, indicating to me that the mask was somehow not securely fastened or in place.Another amazing item, particularly with our Buick Roadmaster, is just how fine some of the masked areas are.....quite tiny. Maybe the best example I have noticed, that is just superb, is the rear boot or trunk handle on the Buick. I have posted a photo below of my blue, dark blue, very early one, and just look how thin that horizontal silver strip is......just incredible, and impossible to do by brush I would think. Wouldn't any of us give a small fortune to be amazingly transported back in time, to just a day at the factory, closely observing all of these long ago techniques that were not well documented , or samples of a mask saved!

I have shown these boxes before, but thought it might be good to post them again, with all the recent interest in the Buick Roadmaster. The very early versions of the box are different: The illustration of the model has a 'shadow' on only the early version, plus the early ones contain the word 'Miniatures' on both the front of the box, as well as the ends.