New arrivals

Three new items arrived, two from the very last year of Dinky. The 449 Road Sweeper has the retooled front, which was available both painted in silver and in (what I believe was) the more accurate black, as shown here. The 289 Routemaster with the 'Yellow Pages' advert (obviously recycled from the Leyland Atlantean) was only available in limited quantities in the United States in 1989, according to Keith Harvie, whose opinion I value. The 989 Auto Transporter has obviously seen better days but is the only one I've ever been able to own (though I have the Dan Toys replica). Lucky for me, it was listed on eBay as being the #984, and I was able to purchase it for just $55. Now, I need to find a replacement tyre!

Jon Always nice to some new acquisitions, and two from the very last year of production are very interesting, and ones I am not familiar with. I've heard that 989 Transporter is difficult to find, so nice going! Best regards, Terry

Would benefit from some gentle cleaning, as they say. And a new tyre will be no problem. Nice finds! Kind regards, Jan

I was in the south for a couple of weeks and when I return, last sunday, I found that in my letterbox : an another bus, but with black hubs and, a chrysler airflow with smooth black hubs and tyres ! it's my first one. Kind regards Richard

Unfortunately what you see is already the best it would clean up! But, I'm still happy to have it ...

I wonder if there is any use left for me to continue contributing to the forum. My only drive is the sheer enthusiasm for the Dinky Toys hobby, and to mutually share our enthusiasm, knowledge, news, pictures etc. here. But as the forum seems to be almost deserted at present, this appears to turn out to be a one-way traffic. My enthusiasm for Dinky Toys will always remain, but my limitless optimism for this site and forum to become a success, with many members contributing and exchanging information, is severely put to the test. Where is everyone? (127 registered users!). Well, this is probably my final try not to enjoy a lovely new addition on my own, but to share it with others:

Jan, do not be discouraged. Many of us are tapering off our new acquisitions due to lack of space or age, and in any case no one else can match up to you in your dual talents for photographing and cataloguing models, but that does not mean we're not out here appreciating what you do. That Foden is a real beauty! To my mind, the ultimate Dinky forum/resource may never exist, but if I were a programmer, I would try to create it. It would be a version of Jacques' Dinky Encyclopedia, but available online instead of just on a disk, and for each model there would be a comment thread allowing users to append comments and additional information. Anyhow, know that few of us can emulate your contributions, but with each post you are sharing joy -- so please don't stop.

Hi Jan. Your Foden is wonderful. I have this model but without box. and yours is more 'new' than mine ! Since my last post on march the 28th, I went on the forum almost everyday, there was no activities ! Perhaps, all the members are travelling all around the world , looking for some sunny springtime ! Cheers Richard

A recent acquisition is this 661 Recovery Tractor - a later version with plastic wheels, hook and driver. There is the date B57 inside the box lid. There are several differences with the earlier versions: 1) There is a washer on the end of the winding rod. 2) The driver is in a lower position. 3) The tyres are narrower. 4) The paint finish has a slight sheen compared with the matt finish of earlier versions. This is one of my favourite military Dinkys and I think it captures the look of the real vehicle really well. Chris.

Thanks, Jon and Richard, for your encouragements, much appreciated, and Chris for your new contribution. As soon as I have better photos available I will post them in the 501 thread. Remarkable, Chris, those final adjustments to the Recovery Tractor. The washer and the narrow tyres were new to me. Also remarkable that the handle still retains its (plastic) grip, whereas this was removed from i.a. later versions of the Coles Lorry Mounted Crane and related items. Kind regards, Jan

Jan, don't stop, please! Love to read your comments. I will try to be more ambitious and I'll start with this bus that completely fooled me at a local flea market. I havn't got the original bus in white and red but I knew about it, of course. This withe/yellow version was new to me, though, and I thought I had found a rare one! Impossible to see that it was a repaint! Still can't. French Dinky 541 Petit car Mercedes (1963-1971) Ragnar

Wow, Jan, your comment on the generally poor respone (on which I have to agree) has stirred-up the kettle. Hope it will last. I am really missing Jacques contributions, answers and sometimes challenging comments. This is how it should be, I think. Let's hope he will soon join us again like in the past. Best regards from Thailand Walter