New arrivals

Another version of the Jeep added, the final one, no. 153a or 672, with round axle ends, for the US-export market only, ca. 1953-54. After some careful cleaning this bargain resurrected from its over sixty years old layer of dirt and dust as an excellent example. Regards, Jan

Well done Jan. it's always a real pleasure to clean a new arrival which is dirty and to discover that it's a very decent model ! It was not necessary to clean a lot these three last pensioners : one Studebaker coup commander (french version) and two Sunbeam Alpine ref 107. The sunbeam are completing my team : The blue model has no rear red lights and the seats are in a pale cream colour. The red model has transfers with thick numbers. I will post few photos in the right topic. Kind regards Richard

A few new arrivals, mostly upgrading models I already had. I believe the Bedford has been at least partially restored (and shouldn't it have grey tires?), but it's still nicer than my other one. The El Camino with trailers is another favorite model of mine, which of course I had, but I couldn't resist the rare export box of this sample.

JonathanMore nice additions! You keep finding very versions of models you need or want, which has to be very satisfying. Without better photos, I cant comment much on your Bedford van, if it has been restored or not. That version, with the Ketchup or sauce bottle, is quite rare and very pricey in excellent original condition. All the ones I have seen do wear the grey radial treaded tires. I am posting a pretty good photo of mine, so you can clearly see the side logo. I have heard that the repro decals do not include the small pickle or gherkin shown. But it does show very nicely! Best regards, Terry

Thanks as always for your comments, Terry. The decal on the Bedford does have the pickle, but I remain suspicious of the model. Still, it is nicer than my other sample of the ketchup version, which has more chips and suffers from fading of the red on the cab and chassis. That other sample and my beans version both have the gray tires. As for the tow truck, this nice gray one will replace a battered red one I had previously!

Hello Jonathan and Terry, I may have seen one with black tyres, but I cannot say if they were original or not. The ones on your Bedford, Jonathan, are most unlikely original, as these black tyres with round tread disappeared about 1953-1954. For this 'bottle' model both early round and the 1957/58 introduced block treaded grey tyres are the standard. By the way, I just returned from the UK. As other participants will no doubt agree, we had a wonderful DTCA weekend in Derby in the last few days. At the DTCA members' fair I bought two very nice additions from Bob Burnett. He had really nice stuff taken with him this time, at very affordable, almost 'lower than fair' prices, and others had fine models too. I had my new catalogue supplement and one of my new articles series in the Dutch AiM magazine on display. In Birmingham I visited a nice obsolete toys shop and last but not least the just opened exhibition of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath! A snap shot attached: an excellent brown/dark olive green US export example of the no. 152b Reconnaissance Car and a near mint post-war issue of the no. 60r Empire Flying Boat 'Cambria'. Kind regards, Jan

Hello friends. Here are my three last arrivals : Renault 4L with Dunlop tyres (probably the last version) Opel Admiral red with black roof. Not sure that this conbination is original. One model was sold by Collectoys in february 19 and perhaps, it's the same which come back in auction. But it's look very nice ! Mercedes racing car. A red pre-war version. The tyres are very tired ! do you think that I have to change these old tyres by new ones ? Kind regards Richard

Richard --I have never seen nor heard of the Opel Admiral with a black roof, but nonetheless this model of yours does resemble a prototype that J M Roulet mentions and pictures in his various French Dinky books. It is a modified version of the 513 dressed up to look like an Opel Diplomat. The prototype had a black roof, bronze paint, a driver and passenger, and English Dinky-style wheels.

Hello Richard, I like the pre-war Mercedes Benz Racing Car. it's quite good for its age. Perhaps the axles need some straightening and it would benefit from having replacement tyres. But those replacements should preferably be original herringbone tread tyres and they are harder to find. Kind regards, Jan

Richard-Your pre-war Mercedes does look very nice and I see no visible fatigue. If it were mine, I would follow Jans suggestion, and try straightening those axles and find some herringbone tires. You might be able find another vintage Dinky with those same tires as a donor.......I did that several years ago with the Auto Union Race Car, and was very pleased how much nicer it looked, but still original. Good luck with that! Best regards, Terry

Thank you Jan and Terry for your freindly advices. The tyres are so deformed that they give the impressing that the axles are bent but there are not. I fear that all the vintage herringbone tyres that I can find on an old Dinky would be dry and will break as soon as I will try to remove them. Kind regards Richard

Jan, lovely arrivals and thanks for the account of the DTCA for those of us who are so distant. This arrived yesterday -- not sure what I was thinking because I have no room for it!