New arrivals

A new arrival a few months ago,
a very nice 981 Horsebox with its Australian price showing,
29 / 9.The model
and box came
from
Leonard Joel Auctioneers in Melbourne,
who also have an online bidding site.The model is a replacement for my original that ' someone ' threw out ' because it had become too chipped ' ! That ' someone ' was certainly not me ! At least I still have the original box that my departed Horsebox once occupied,
and it too bears the same price.[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 1817_800x586.jpg [/img]

Bruce -- Nice addition there...especially to replace a 'trashed, chipped Dinky'....what an inglorious end that was to the poor model! The Horse Box was always one of my favorites as a young collector....so big and painted a very nice color, and those opening ramp/doors. I still have my original U.S. version, purchased new from H.Hudson Dobson before 1960, and still very nice....I will have to take some new photos and post one of it. Congrats on a nice Dinky! Terry

Terry Thanks for the compliments for the 981! I just purchased another one, through an online auction near Sydney, in New South Wales, 'Trains, Planes and Automobiles' that run their monthly Toy auctions through www.invaluable.com . (There will be no auction in October.) I have also added a 642 to the collection. We all look forward to seeing images of your 980. Bruce

Very nice Horse box and tank transporter. 642 is the RAF pressure refueller 980 is the Horse van Express U.S. version. Terry,can you please show the box for your Express horse van with 980 ? Jacques.

Jacques For some unknown reason, #642 was only referred to by Meccano as 'Pressure Refueller' and not 'RAF Pressure Refueller'. The side panel on the box does mention that the original is a six-wheel R.A.F. vehicle used on aerodromes for refuelling and defuelling aircraft. However in sales literature such as catalogues and price lists it was simply known as 642 Pressure Refueller. This is similar to how we have started referring to at least one other model by a name it never bore - 944 Leyland Octopus Shell-BP Fuel Tanker, when in fact it was only known by Meccano as 944 Shell-BP Fuel Tanker, no mention of it being a Leyland Octopus. Kind regards Bruce

As neither the 642 or the 944 were ever referred to as Leyland vehicles it begs the question; was there a rift between Meccano and Leyland? Dave

The official name of some models is sometime peculiar and does not refer to the manufacturer of the prototype. For example, in the case of the Elevator Loader the official name is 'ELEVATOR LOADER' but the full name 'BARBER GREENE OLDING ELEVATOR LOADER' is engraved in the hopper. There must be many other examples. I do not think that there was a case with Leyland, at the time there were enough truck manufacturers in England and Meccano could have choosen some of the other. The car carriers 984 and 989 are not named Leyland either, the double deckers have no marque either.

Just arrived from the Vectis auction last week: The Leyland Forward Control Lorry, Austin Wagon and Austin Devon will go into trade boxes. The Frazer Nash is new to me and I love it, I need a trade box for this now. They are all nice and were very reasonably priced. Dave

Congratulations, Dave, and let this reasonably pricing go on and on ... Regards, Jan

Very nice items Dave. Concerning the Austin Wagon, is it the version without cover ? Richard

By the way, I agree with Jacques on the naming issue. In my opinion there is nothing to worry about or worth explaining about this. Names on the model itself, in Meccano Magazine, in the various official and unofficial catalogues, leaflets and other advertising, on the boxes, in varying periods, and what else are used very inconsistently, and mostly unintentional or simply for practical reasons. Kind regards, Jan

Hi Richard The newly received Austin Wagon is definitely the one without the tin tilt (cover) as it is marked 30j on the baseplate. I have three Blue Austins in the trade box and two are shown above my existing one on the left which is marked 30s and the new one on the right which is marked 30j. The third Blue one in the trade box does not have a number. Dave