New arrivals

I like those red wheels a lot. I wasn't aware of that variant, and my Burmah and Shell tankers both have white wheels. I never saw either of the tankers in U.S. shops, if I remember correctly. I imagine they were but I obviously wasn't looking during the brief period they would have been on sale. However I got it, the Burmah version was a relatively easy find, but the Shell was more elusive. I think I got mine from Keith Harvie.

The Burmah tanker has also been made with yellow hubs.

Congratulations, Mark, with these new accessions of yours. I am less familiar with these later issues, but they certainly look fine! Some new arrivals of this January, provisionally presented in a corner of a new display cabinet in the making. The orange French no. 898 Tracteur Berliet et remorque surbaisse porte-transformateur (1961-1965) was the Grand Prize of this month. I paid half the price that one might reasonably expect at this moment because the transformer was missing. For the rest both model and box are very near perfect. I bought it on eBay France but immediately started searching for the single transformer, which I quickly found on eBay UK be it a DAN-Toys replica, which will well do as a stand-in until I will have found a real one. Of course this low loader is the civilian version of the French Berliet Tank Transporter, and the counterpart of the Mighty Antar with Transformer. Another fine accession is the Massey-Harris Manure Spreader, the intermediate one with red plastic wheels, a real bargain from the UK, but nowadays, with all import costs added, not a bargain in the end. Now I have the three main versions in my collection, which should be enough And finally a very fine French 1954 Meccano Trains Hornby Dinky Toys catalogue. The combined catalogue often offers a more attractive display of Dinky Toys than the regular single Dinky Toys catalogues. A very much appreciated addition! I have been waiting for weeks now for a grey Loudspeaker Van with black speakers and wheels. It is on its way from England, but patience is a virtue these days. Kind regards, Jan

Hi Jan, Thank you for your compliments. I see you have been busy too with new addtions. The Dinky 898 Berliet in orange is one of my favorites French Dinky toys and the orange color is very pleasing. There was a mint/noxed original transformer on eBay on Friday and was sold quickly, hopefully it was you. Your other items are very nice as well and the catalog is a great find. Thank you for sharing. Mark

Very few people know that Berliet got an order from China for sixty of these prime movers with special semi-trailers. The trailers were sub-contracted to Fruehauf France and appeared to be missile launchers / erectors. The trailers have been made and delivered to Berliet. I have not seen any pictures of this trailer, some code 3 makers would certainly be interested.

By the way, this is the new cabinet I'm working on, as mentioned above. It is meant to be used for display of some gift sets. I converted a simple narrow Ikea book case by closing the back, closing the fronts of each section with a glass plate (still standing in the lower right corner) and covering the bases with classy red velvet (like all bases of my display cabinets).

Jan--What a great idea, and that narrow cabinet looks to be a perfect fit for those gift sets you can proudly show. And, as usual, your expert craftsmanship is on full display.....very nicely done! Best regards, Terry

Thanks, Terry, it's one of the many aspects of my miniatures loving hobby. Never a dull moment! Kind regards, Jan

Impressive and not so expensive.

600 328 I knew that I had it some where and I found it today. It is the photo of the Meccano show room that Meccano Ltd. had on Berkely square London in the 1960s.Photo from the 1960 trade catalogue.

Complete, dust free, and back to where it belongs ...

Very nice