New arrivals

Jan....Another lovely 151b for your collection. You certainly do not see that export version very often, especially in that spendid state......nicely done!Best regards, Terry

Thank you Jan for your advice. As you know some french car productions for export business was fitted out with white tread tires (as for the Lincoln Premiere ref.532) but it's not sure that they were marked DUNLOP ! Yes they are 'very white' but I think that the Dunlop 's don't get old and are not yellowing. Very nice transport wagon you received ! mine is not so perfect. This morning, my new arrivals were two trucks. The military GMC wrecker, which is for me a very successful model (I already have the desert version) and the horse box with light red hubs. (I already have the dark red hubs version) Friendly yours Richard

Hello Richard, I have a light blue Chevrolet Corvair with white treaded tyres. I did not know of the export difference, but now I understand why. From Germany for about half the current price: a lovely French no. 888 Camion petrolier saharien, the duo companion to the no. 39B/893 Unic semi-remorque saharien, the articulated oil tubes truck. An impressive, huge and heavy model, with wonderful detailing, comparable to heavy duty vehicles like the British Thornycroft Mighty Antar (although slightly different in scale). Kind regards, Jan

Terry Thank you for your kind words. I am glad you never specifically mentioned the Duple Roadmaster Coach that is my 'new' old arrival, as I made an unforgivable mistake that when I received this Dinky Toy in 1953, it was in fact a 29h. I guess it was a case of 'lusim tingting' which is Melanesian Pidgin English for losing one's mind, when I incorrectly referred to the bus as a 282. Just goes to show my proof-reading has much to be desired not to mention that it is with some relief that my Posts are not often read by many, especially those who know better!!!! But I must thank Dad for allowing me to 'borrow' his camera and use a valuable frame to photograph my toys in action! Thanks again old friend for your kind words. Kind regards Bruce H. (150) 20161110/1038/1250

Just received a package today, with two new Dinky Toys. The first is the 25s 6 Wheel Wagon, civilian version, in a very early post-war version. It has smooth black wheels and also those very nice lightly treaded tires, seen only for a short time postwar. So I am guessing 1946 or 1947 at the latest. The second one is a very nice 38 series Armstrong Siddeley. For me, this was an unusual one, in that it has the thicker plastic windscreen, along with the silvered edges. This is the first of that series for me with that thicker windscreen, and I sure like it. It is so much nicer than the thin, flimsy ones seen on most models. It sits nice, straight, and upright. And since it is thicker, and has those silvered edges, looks much more authentic. I am assuming it was a cost issue for Meccano to discontinue it. Does anyone have any idea when these were made this way? Were they introduced with that windscreen, and made that way until late in production? I don't ever remember reading any comments on them. I can only imagine that the drawings made some reference to it, with a description and dates......I also included a photo of both of my Armstrong Siddeley's for comparison of the thin and thicker windscreens. Best regards, Terry

Hi Terry, congratulations with such nice additions! I think you can easily put the dating of your wagon one year earlier, 1945/46. I happen to own exactly the same version (/node/2276). That Armstrong Siddeley is a very nice one too. My US export version of that one has a replacement windscreen, the flimsy original must have collapsed some time in history. Kind regards, Jan

Jan or others----I was hoping to stimulate some conversation regarding those 38 series cars that came with the thicker plastic windscreen, along with the silvered edges. To date, I have seen scant information or even mention of it. In Richardson's 'Dinky Toys and Modelled Miniatures', they mention briefly that the silver edges were only done for a short time, but no further information on exactly when or for how long. Now that I have a nice example, I am curious to try and find out more. Upon close examination, it is apparent that the silver finish has been applied to the backside of the windscreen, which helps protect it from being touched by fingers or dusting cloth. I was also amazed at just how small and fine the detail is, and how perfectly it was applied....very straight and true. I now wonder how they did it; was it some sort of mask, or did they use some type of tiny roller? I am sure that many over the years have re-painted these, but cannot imagine anyone getting anywhere near the same result with a brush. I have both this one, with the sturdy windscreen, and also a later export version, with the more common 'flimsy' screen. Comparing the two, side by side, it is instantly clear which is the better windscreen, and just looks so nice on the model. To those of you who have not seen or acquired one of these, I would sure suggest buying, to see just what Meccano was able to do. I was and still am amazed! Comments please..........Best regards, Terry

Hi all, Just received an orange 405 Jeep with plastic hubs and filled in front bumper to go along with the red version I already had. Not mint, but acceptable. Ron F

Terry I am one of 'The Others'!!! The thicker, silver-edged windscreens, according to Ramsay were the earlier (first) models from 1947 with the hubs being black. I notice your green Armstrong Siddeley is the later export with green hubs which would date it from between 1950 to 1955. Just to throw the cat among the pigeons, my 38e Armstrong Siddeley with the green (later issue) export hubs has the thicker silvered windscreen that would normally be found in the early 1947 issues. Something tells me that this does not seem to be 'the order of things' so perhaps the green hubs were issued far earlier than expected. I have never really bothered to carefully examine the windscreen, especially when it was new, as all I ever copped was a thumping from my brothers because I had a Dinky Toy that had a windscreen AND seats, whereas all their cars, Packard, Lincoln Zephyr, Hillman Minx, etc had no glazed windscreen and no seats!! Hopefully a drawing may surface that will answer the question as to when the thicker silver-edged windscreens were first used and then deleted. Kind regards Bruce H. (150) 20161117/1040/2030

Terry, your 6 wheels wagon is a beauty ! I have a frazer nash with silver paint around the windscreen and black hubs. Yesterday a little Citron 2cv arrived ! it's a type 2 with only one rear light. To-day an another Citron : the van HY CIBIE with concave hubs. Now, my Citron van HY 1200kg family is complete. I think that it is the only french van that Meccano produced with 3 different advertising + the BAROCLEM but the stickers were not applied in Bobigny Cheers Richard

RichardVery nice additions! I have a very similar early 2cv that I bought from H.Hudosn Dobson around 1958.....I always liked that little French car.....lots of charm. And that Citroen Cibie van is very striking, with that bright blue color and the excellent graphics.....nice models!Best regards, Terry

Thank you Terry. I also like very much the Citron 2CV...... so much, that I have an original scale one ! The car is original but not the paint ! Friendly yours Richard