New arrivals

Hi all, Well done Richard. Your patience saved some money. The Pathe News Fiat is a nice model. It always fetches a good price and the price you paid is very reasonable. It has been more than two years since I bought my last Foden. Today this rare 503 second type export version arrived. It is French blue with light blue hubs and a burnt orange Tailboard. I bought it from QDT, some of you must have seen it. Both model and box are unusual. The model has a burnt orange body. On my first and second type Foden with Tailboard in violet blue and orange, the orange body is much brighter. I tried to make a photo showing the difference, but the difference in reality is more striking. (Jan, I miss your photo quality and experience! ) The box is the first blue covered box for a second type Foden I have seen branded as Dinky Supertoys. Also on the left side of the label only English text is written whereas on the normal label the model is described in three languages. The export box has a date stamp on the outside bottom of LH 10 3. Made in October 1953. It has a Hudson Dobson label and a price of 2,75 is scribbled on it. Not visible on the picture is that the box has been relabeled. I would love to see the other label, but that will remain a mystery. QDT informed me that a fellow collector from the UK contacted them. He bought a similar Foden in the USA some 25 years ago. That confirms to me that there was a gap in my collection that I was not aware of. I will write a small article on this Foden for The Journal. Kind regards, Rob

Another wonderful find and acquisition Rob! QDT does offer some very nice Dinky models most of the time. I will look forward to your article. Best regards, Terry

Fodens - a never ending story ... Great addition to your fabulous Foden collection, Rob. I can take photos for your intended article, if you like, always a fun job to do. Anyway, we may meet in Houten, the 14th this October. Vriendelijke groet, Jan

This little vehicle arrived today from Australia. I must admit I paid over the odds for it because I was hoping it might be the SADF version. But, I know there was also a 'regular' green version, a bit darker and glossier than olive drab. So, I'm not really sure which I have here!

Jonathan--Maybe Jan can comment here, as he and some others seem to have several of the post war versions. That is a nice find, and I am not sure about the color. My only comment would be, that since it has ridged wheels, is is not immediately post-war, but could be a few years later. Not sure what era those South African versions were built.....hopefully, someone else will chime in. Best regards, Terry

Does a SADF version really exist? In my opinion there are two shades of post-war green, the gloss olive drab one and mid-green. Possibly there is confusion about the olive drab army green and this regular gloss olive green finish. Jonathan, hard to see on your picture which shade of green yours is. A photo of my olive drab one below, as well as a Vectis picture of the mid-green finish, an early post-war example. Other contributors here may have better information. Kind regards, Jan

Terry As far as I know the SADF models were issued circa 1952 - 54.

Jonathan, All military Dinky Toys made for the SADF that I have seen, have green painted hubs, not black. I do not know whether or not a SADF Mechanical Horse and Wagon was made. I have never seen one, but it could exist. I would expect it to have green hubs.Kind regards, Rob

Gentlemen, thank you all for the comments. In looking at past sales, Jan's nice photos, and Rob's comment about wheel colours, I have to conclude that even if there was an SADF version of this model, the one I purchased isn't it! I was just believing what I wanted to believe, and in any case should have held out for a sample in nicer condition. But as purchasing errors go, a minor one, so I won't be grumpy about it:) Cheers, Jonathan

Jonathan----What is amazing is the accumulated knowledge of Dinky Toys on this site; I knew you would get some quick responses back, and at least you now know the likely status of your model, and a vintage Dinky like that is worth having.Best regards, Terry

Jacques, These models arrived this morning and fortunately, you will have new informations for your encyclopedia ! I don't say anything ! you will have the surprise next thursday for the meeting of the fench DTCA branch ! Best regards to all. Richard

Well richard, from your picture I can see that two of the mounties are at the pub.