33c and 579 Simca Cargo plateau miroitier [Simca Cargo Glazier's Truck] (1955-1967)

Jan, Most trucks show SAINT-GOBAIN on one side and MIROITIER on the other, Saint-Gobain and miroitier may be on any side. Some export models had MIROITIER on both sides as Saint-Gobain may not have been known in some contries and other export models had no transfers at all. The little yellow label is known in French with or without the ref. number 579 and in English. What about Dutch, German, Italian, and other languages ?One of the reasons for issuing this model is perhaps that there was a large Saint-Gobain depot just up avenue Henri Barbusse in Bobigny and that many glazier trucks were driving under the windows of the Dinky Toys design office every day.The page 9 of the French 1955 Dinky Toys catalogue shows a drawing of the Simca Cargo glazier lorry on which the word 'Saint' of 'Saint Gobain' is abbreviated into St-Gobain and this is on the right hand side. No model is known with this marking.There are pictures of the left hand side of the truck showing SAINT-GOBAIN in the Meccano catalogues for 1955, 1957, 1958, 1960 with a variety of pictures.In the small Dinky Toys catalogues, the 1956 issue show the miroitier with Saint-Gobain on the right hand side, 1957 with MIROITIER on the left hand side, 1958 with MIROITIER on the left hand side of the yellow model. 1959, 1960 and 1961 used the same picture of the yellow model.As there were two dies casting the cab/chassis simultaneouly, all the casting variations between these two dies can be found on the miroitier. There are many variations of shades in the grey and the green of the rear bed, the hubs have been ridged, later concave and in cream or grey. A complete collection with all the variations would include 12 or 15 models.The yellow models are scarcer than the grey ones.

Thanks, Jacques and Richard, for your expert information on this. My post on this fine model confirms that I am far less familiar with French than with British Dinky Toys. Still, my French is improving considerably reading more French literature on the subject these days! Kind regards, Jan

I add my photo to this thread because ..... it's its place ! :cheer: :cheer: All the trucks are different ! kind regards Richard

Very, very nice display Richard. It almost tempts me to get into French Dinky's as well. Almost... Kind regards, Rob

Thank you Rob. A little effort and you will fall in ! There is also a lot of 'wheels variations' in the french production ! lol Richard

Hi Dinkycollect, Regarding your final comment 'the yellow models are scarcer than the grey ones' - does that just apply to the French/Continental European markets, or to Britain as well? I remember when they were imported here in the early 1960's, the only ones I ever saw were the yellow and green ones - I wasn't aware of the grey version until much later. Were the grey ones imported to England at that time? Kevin. (525)

I only have one of these, the grey version, which I acquired several years ago. I did not know that there were so many variations to collect! Regards, Terry

Hi Kevin, up till 1960 the illustrations in the catalogues show the initial grey version. However, starting in 1960 this picture is replaced by a yellow one. As 1960 is the year that a selection of French products entered the UK market, among them this glaziers lorry, this may well explain that these yellow examples only were exported to the UK. Still, as this successful model will have seen huge quantities produced before 1960, and fewer after, this will be a scarcer model in the yellow/green finish (from a 'continental' point of view). Kind regards, Jan

[img]/images/sites/default/files/forum-images/Catalogus 1960 F p21.jpg[/img]

Thanks Jan, I thought that would be the case. Now I will have to find a yellow one to keep my grey one company.....! Kevin.

An additional photo of the regular grey one, the early 33c, sitting on its box.

A photo of the underneath of this model. Also one of the inside of the cab roof which on my example has very fine cross-hatching. Unfortunately my camera will not focus well on the inside so that is a bit blurred. Do all versions have this cross-hatching? Chris

Some pictures of the yellow one, as a visual contribution to this topic. Kind regards, Jan