New arrivals

Greetings John Well the three operations have been done and dusted since 1 August 2019. The final one though is a real doozie - a CCM (Cerebral Cavernous Malformation) plus some major arteries inside the brain are suspect! The CCM is non-operative and the last is being treated with medication aimed at cholesterol treatment despite my cholesterol being in good shape. Still there are a whole lot of folk throughout the world who are going through hell at this time. Even down here in Australia, the Delta variant is showing its impact mainly through folk not adhering to instructions about isolating. It is unfortunate that some of these are from countries who came here for a better life away from totalitarian regimes and most likely do not appreciate being told what to do or are missing out through language. I am very pleased with the Rover and thank you for your compliments - most appreciated. Although the Dinky Encyclopedia has all these different hubs, I go on what appears in Ramsays as well as from auctions and in my mind, this one is scarce, that is for certain. My wife and I were planning a trip to the UK this year bringing with me a large container with most of my duplicate collections. I decided that I must divest my collection with the exception of those I had as a young fellow (these are intended to go to my grandson) but the remainder includes some very nice models, an Airmail Service Car, De Sotos, all six of those, 175 with all six as well, (yes, just when someone thinks there are only two of each colour!) to start with. I am not certain what I will do now, although the option is open for me to sell direct to members of the DTCA. Hopefully I have the time to sort it all out!! Thanks again for your nice Post. Bruce 2021/08/21/1840/1224

Lovely acquisitions, Jan! Here are mine from this week -- one expensive import and then some very ecomonical acquisitions from U.S. sellers. The postwar 28 van is a casting that has not yet been reinforced to have the loudspeaker fitted to the roof.

Some lovely new arrivals of the past period. I'm very happy with Roger Bailey's book about the English buses and coaches. A job he started thirty years ago, the result is stunning. Loaded with information in words and images ..., many previously unknown. My big compliments to Roger! The others are virtually mint boxed models, some new, some quality improvements and replacements, like the Austin Champ (no. 674), the earliest version with the driver's arms spread. The French Simca Cargo (no. 33a) is the 'A' cab/chassis type version. A photo added of both A (left) and B (right) types. The farm models are all the latest, end 1960s versions. The Harvest Trailer (no. 320) has rather uncommon red (in stead of yellow) racks. The Manure Spreader (no. 321), also with yellow plastic wheels, shows the new box design, as does the the white edition of the Disc Harrow (no. 322), which has the changed, straight draw bar, to match the new white David Brown tractor (no. 325 of 1967) properly. The Manure Spreader without the previous brand name decals. The last appearance of this trio in the 1970 Dinky Toys catalogue. Kind regards, Jan

A nice set indeed, Jonathan. The lower in the picture listing the simpler and the better (my taste ). Buying imports is an expensive business nowadays. I bought all but one in France and the Champ in the Netherlands. No extra VAT or import duties and low mail costs for all. The book of Roger Bailey is really cheap. 25.00 GBP only for 150 pages in hard cover and delightful contents. Good value for money. Kind regards, Jan

Could someone e-mail me Roger Baileys e-mail adress ?Thanks and regards.Jacques

Jacques, I have just done so, cordialement, Jan

Thank you Jan

These new Dinkys all arrived this month (plus one Norev interloper) and I was too indolent to photograph each separately. But here at the garage, fuel is a problem, so the military has been called in to supply a tanker, and the police to keep order ...

Looking at the familiar old traffic jam it seems that many have abandoned working at home by now. It strikes me that Dinky models of the 1970s, like the Austin Allegro and the Rover, 40-50 years later by far do not match the prices which their 1940-1950s brothers fetched after the same 40-50 years. A very nice bunch of additions after all, Jonathan. Does the garage also belong to the newcomers? An attractive shape it has. French origin? I have a more than average interest in toy garages at this moment, since a friend of mine and I intend to compile a booklet on this subject .... Kind regards, Jan

I was just speaking to another collector friend yesterday about how relative time becomes as we age. When I first became a somewhat-informed Dinky collector (after Cecil Gibson's book was first released), the prewar models shown seemed impossibly ancient, since I was ten years old and prewar vehicles had disappared both in full-size and toy form. Yet the Dinkys were only about 30 years old at most! Now, here were are with Binns Road having closed 42 years ago next month, yet the last Dinkys produced still seem 'modern.' Some of the latecomers however are now far from cheap. The Austin Princess Police Prototype and GMC Tanker shown in my montage above are cases in point. Jan, you are right that the garage is also a newcomer. I do not collect such things as a rule (no room) but this one turned up at a reasonable price from a U.S. seller who had had it since he was a boy. Still with its original box, it had come from the famous Marshall-Field department store in Chicago, which was also a loyal source of DInky Toys throughout the years. This particular garage was made by MGF. I will love to see your booklet on toy garages. In the meantime you and others may enjoy this nicely illustrated website picturing many: unsafe link It seems that over the years, the French enjoyed the very best toy garages ...

Jon--All very nice acquisitions! Especially one of my favs.....that Panhard 'Kodak' articulated truck...from the little glimpse it looks very nice....how about some more of that one? And I agree about the prices of later Dinky's....from what I have seen, many seem to be selling for higher prices, while run of the mill 1950's models have gone down from past highs. I also really like that garage....it is begging for a proper diorama! Best regards, Terry

Terry, thanks for the kind comments as always. The Kodak truck is very nice but I believe it to be partly touched up/restored. I only bought it to add to my fleet since the model is an all-time favorite. I already have two others, plus a Dan Toys replica. I guess I'm dreaming of a Kodak diorama ...