John Beugels

Dear friends, I am deeply sorry to let you know that John Beugels (John45) passed away last Friday. I knew of his illness since last June. We were friendly acquainted since 1994 already, when we met at the opening of a 60th anniversary Dinky Toys exhibition in Gorkum (NL), to which he contributed a stunning section of pre-war Dinky Toys, among them some of his numerous splendid aircraft gift sets. He contributed a lot of Dinky Toys information and illustrations to Sue Richardsons Diecast Toy Aircraft and GR Websters Dinky Toys Aircraft 1934-1979. The DTCA owes a lot to John as well, as he was one of the best writers of very useful, well-researched articles in The Journal, and his contributions to this forum testified of his great knowledge of pre-war Dinky Toys. Personally, we agreed that we had a lot in common as our fundamental approach to Dinky Toys and their history, and the basic research sources like factory archives and especially design drawings, is concerned. We will miss a great expert in the field of our beloved hobby, a pure-bred collector, and a very nice, modest and helpful friend. His partner, Ina, with whom I was in contact in the last few weeks just let me know about his death. I dont know of other details (yet). I presume many of us will share my condolences to her and Johns family. Kind regards, Jan

Jan-Like many others, I did not know him, but greatly enjoyed his many articles in the Journal, plus his many contributions to the forum. He seemed like a very nice, almost larger than life collector, full of Dinky knowledge plus having a wonderful collection. As time marches on, we are gradually losing many irreplaceable veteran collectors.....very sad indeed. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to his family........ Best regards, Terry

I am very shocked by this message. We visited each other at home to admire each other's collection and talk about our hobby. I was impressed by John's extensive pre-war collection and the many drawings he owns. He had an enormous knowledge of prewar items and was a specialist in the field of drawings. We lose a specialist and a valued friend and collector in him. Kind Regards, Jan Oldenhuis

I corresponded wth John a lot over the last ten years about Dinky Toys and his remarkable collection. A collector of pre-war models and information, his knowledge was encyclopedic to the point where he was viewed by many as the highest authority. As you say, Jan, John contributed and shared through many books and articles - and he kept extensive notes and documentations that have not yet been published. Although he did not mention his illness, I realise he hinted about it though concerns about what might happen to his collection in the future - but told me that he had decided to continue collecting and not worry about it. So goodbye and thank you many times, John, and condolences to family and friends at this time.

A bad surprise, one more friend gone.John and I did a lot of work together on the list of parts and the variations listed on his drawings. I visited John a few years ago and we spent a whole day photographing his fantastic collection for the Dinky Toys Encyclopaedia for which he is an important contributor. On this visit we solved the problem of which autogiro was made in France and which in England. I will miss John as I miss Perter Golden, Geoffrey Webster, Michel Cousineau, the Richardsons and several others. John is a great loss to the Dinky Communauty.

As someone who never met John Beugels, and only knew of him through the DTCA, I am nonetheless saddened by his loss to our community. However, our loss will not equal the loss of his family, to whom I offer my condolences through those who were his friends and colleagues.

As another who never met the great man, I can only echo the sentiments expressed in previous posts - the great loss to the collecting community of a knowledgeable friend, but an even greater loss to his family and close friends. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy live on.

My sincere condolences to John's family. I never met John in person but I did have many exchanges of emails with him while rebuilding the DTCA website. John was very humble and offered his vast knowledge expecting nothing in return. He is an enormous loss to our Dinky Toys community.

John's collection will be auctioned this month: www.vectis.co.uk/auction/the-john-beugel...-tinplate-toys-787-1

it's always very sad to see a lifetime collection being broken up at auction. Hopefully the prices realised will be very much more than the estimates, some of which seem ridiculously low - tinplate garages for less than 100? - bargain of the century!

Well this is a very, very sad sight. Every toy and piece of paper seems so familiar after having talked about them all so often with John, listing and sorting and speculating about what it all meant. Of course it is completely understandable if John's family want to pass on his collection but I can't help but think they have been scandalously ill advised by Vectis, from who I would have expected better. Far, far better. These alleged experts seem to think that dumping 500+ premium lots at auction on a tuesday morning is going to realise the best result for their client. And look at the estimates these so-called specialists have come up with. The traders are just going to clean up on this one. Fancy a Vulcan for under 100? How about a handfuls of atlantas, atlantics, singapores for 100 and change? Get yourself a Jep stuka for a song and a nice box to go with it. Or ... yes, look ... how about an original Marklin Junkers... that's 100 too.I know, let's have a game of spotting the most stupidly underestimated lot in this fire sale.

Having looked more closely at the large number of very desirable items in the auction. I think the low estimates are a deliberate ploy to attract a larger number of bidders hopeful of a bargain, thus improving the chances of realising high prices. i hope so, for the sake of John's family at least.