Meccano Ltd, Binns Road, Miscellaneous

With mention of the Dinky Driver's licence in another Thread, here is THE DINKY DRIVERS' DIARY for 1969 together with a scan of several pages. Not scanned is a very detailed explanation the diary contains on the process adopted when selecting a model, followed by a journey through the various departments until the model finally appears in a shop window. Not sure if this is of interest though. :whistle: Bruce I was somewhat amused on reading the page DINKY TOYS COLLECTION LIST in the diary with one of the columns being 'Number Owned'!

Possibly posted before, but deserving a place in this thread, the list for the distribution of prints of drawings circulating in the Binns Road factory: And two details: Regards, Jan

Hi all, Not found by me, but picked up from Nick Jones' forum... Chris Warr.

Chris So this is where my friend obtained those pictures that I posted on another thread! Many thanks! I recognized the young lady on the left when I first saw your post. Seeing the film in motion makes one see more of how Meccano operated than just the still photographs - as if one is right there. Again many thanks for finding this as well as sharing it with us. Bruce

I found these photos, displaying parked cars in a dead end street of the Meccano factory. On the photo of the Meccano factory on the Meccano News Letter no. 6 of 27th May 1959 only one dead end street can be found. I assume that the pictures of the parked cars were taken in that dead-end street of the Meccano factory. Is here the main entrance of the factory? I think there are members who have ever gone in there. Is the stone designation 'Meccano' at the end of that street (which has had so much significance for the toy world) preserved somewhere for the city of Liverpool as a tribute to the founder Frank Hornby and all his employees of this factory? for example as a statue or somewhere in a museum? Note: On the road is indicated: No Parking. So everyone parks 'obediently' on the sidewalk. . After that they were allowed to park there. When I saw the 2nd photo I wished that the factory was yet still in working. I hope you had a great Christmas and wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year with very much fun in collecting Dinky Toys, that ever were made in this Meccano factory you see at the pictures. Jan Oldenhuis, 28-12-2017

JanGreat to see these old photos of our beloved Meccano factory. Now that it is long gone, we all wish something more would have been saved....it was such an iconic part of Liverpool for so long. Wouldnt a Meccano museum have been nice, with samples of the original equipment, machinery, paint tables, etc. displayed? One can only imagine the collective memories from so many years of its existence...... Best regards, Terry

Hello Jan and Terry) NIce to see these images being uploaded into the DTCA website. The top image was taken in the early 1960s. The 'No Parking': referred to those below the senior management level. The spaces were reserved for the Managing Director, General Manager Sales, etc. The main entrance to the facrtory is through the door on the right, unless I am mistaken. The second photo was most likely taken in the days leading up to the auction or even in the last few years of operation. However, here are several images of two of the countless ladies with whom all of us may have had a bond with during the time the factory was operational during 1956-57. The 'touch-up squad' with several paint brushes in hand, with a close-up view of one of these young ladies. If only we knew their names! 1122 900 824 900 Kind regards to everyone Bruce H. (150) 20171229/1172/1618

Hello all, Bruce, the door on the right leads to the offices, not to the work shops. I remember going through this door in 1959.The workers door is on the oposite side of the street.There are many photos and documents about the Meccano factories in the Dinky Toys Encyclopaedia under 'Meccano factories'. I wish you all the best for 2018 with many new Dinkys. Jacques.

Here are some more photographs of parts of the Meccano empire, featuring some of their own transport vehicles: First shows the Pallet Jekta van (BEK 348) inside the works, possibly at the casting factory at Speke. Note that this is a Bedford A Type, not a D type as modelled by Dinky. The second and third show a D type tractor unit (WKF 764), firstly in the loading bay, with its loaded trailer, and then parked in the street outside the works. This is (almost) the prototype for the Dublo Dinky articulated lorry, except that the real one has Scammell-type automatic coupling gear whereas the Dublo has Karrier-style outside landing gear - rather improbable on a trailer of this weight, usually seen on combinations up to 3-tons. This deviation from reality is understandable in Dublo, as it would be difficult to make a convincing Scammell coupling so small, but why did Dinky not make their Pallet-Jekta Van with the correct cab - they only had one, the A Type? Fourth picture is of a Bedford TK articulated van, registration number unconfirmed. This has recently been modelled in 1/43 scale by Ixo/Altaya showing variations of the numberplate from the next vehicle!. Next is the BMC FG van, JEM 294H, with a body not unlike the Dinky Bedford 'Castrol' van - another deviation from reality. Last, the Ford Transit van GED 861N, surely an obvious livery choice for a model already in the range? - and did they ever actually have a Bedford CA van like 482?

Two maps and one photo of the private road giving access to the main entrance of the Meccano Factory. The larger scale plan, a detail of a huge drawing of the factory, dates of 1971. Kind regards, Jan

On the 2nd map of Jan W you can clearly see that the main entrance is directly on the right. The entrance is drawn on the map with a revolving door. Main entrance Meccano Factory. Jan Oldenhuis 30-12-2017

Indeed Bruce! Perhaps you could suggest it to the relevent authority?