New arrivals

Jonathan Very well done.....I believe the yellow was a later version....have seen photos of some with white treaded tires. So nice & congrats on the find!Best regards,Terry

2020 DTCA AGM As the 2020 AGM planed for this week-end in Derby has been canceled, Richard and I held one in France. There was much discussions and a lot of photographing. New variations which we knew but which were not published have been documented. The day was too short to complete the agenda but we will have more meetings this year. Unfortunately there were only two of us, we wish more French collectors would join. 700 525

Glad to see you, youngsters, in the 'New Arrivals' thread! Obviously you had a pleasant and tasteful meeting, with the smallest possible number of attendees. Hopefully we can meet in greater numbers next year! Kind regards, Jan

For sure, we both are not two new arrivals !!

700 271I I have learnt that My Time Media the publisher of the magazine Model Collector has stoped to publish this magazine. I have just had a long talk with the publisher who regrets that the compagny refuses to make any announcement about this matter. This is probably a sign that our world of model cars is going slowly.

Yes I received my copy of Diecast Collector yesterday saying that they have taken over MC and merged/extended my subscriptions into one. As Ive followed MC since buying the first issue on Victoria Station in the 1990s I am disappointed; DC may be more older Diecast orientated possibly, and both have moved on a bit to attract new younger collectors with newer interests, but I found them complementary. I understand Lindsey the editor was bound by confidentiality agreement until the letter yesterday, and is editing Model Boats now!

That's tragic news indeed! I hope and trust that my subsciption to MC will automatically be transferred to DC and that by this fusion one firm and viable diecast model magazine will survive and remain for a long time. I hope Lindsey and her colleagues will find a decent and suitable continuation of their jobs. Kind regards, Jan

I'm very sorry to hear the news about Model Collector. As far as I'm concerned it was always superior to DC, especially when it came to articles on Dinky Toys and other 'obsolete' diecasts. Furthermore Lindsey had been one of the best editors I know in terms of creating a 'sense of place' in the publication and in responding to reader letters -- I don't say that just because letters from me were published once or twice in the last few years. Our hobby of model cars is no doubt dwindling -- most collectors in their peak earning years want to collect toys from their childhood, which now likely means a boom in old video games -- but I am sure the coronavirus impact on advertisers such as show organisers and auction houses was the major factor. I wish Lindsey luck in playing with boats!

To come back to the object of this topic, here is my new bedford artic, the number 9, It is a type 2 with a curious box ! Is it the previous owner or the dealer in his shop who changed the refence when Meccano did it !!? I think that the handwriting is so painstaking that it can't be done by a young fellow ! The box itself is perfect and there is no reason to hide the reference number on the three sides ! Has somebody an another suggestion ? Kind regards Richard

Hello Richard. The model number on the box cannot be other than 521. After the green box came the blue box, before the blue / white striped 921-521 box appeared with the first Dinky Toys base. Your model with black mudguards, ridged hubs with large herringbone tyres on the trailer and without reinforcement on the fuel tank is an early one and must have a Dinky Supertoys base. A 921/521 must have a Dinky Toys base. At Bedford Artics it is always difficult to determine whether a model and box are the right combination. I think this model with the green box with number 521 instead of 921 is the right combination.Kind regards, Jan O

Hello Jan. You are completely right. But why somebody changed it ? mystery! Here under a photo of the top with the curious handwriting. Kind regards Richard

A nice little present from a former colleague of mine arrived today: the Dutch 1960 Dinky Toys catalogue. Although it's far from rare, and slightly worn, I show it here for those who may be interested in the retailer provenance, as indicated by the stamp(s) on the rear cover. Kind regards, Jan