Rain didn’t stop play

Warwick and Warwick’s Diecast, Model Soldiers and Toys Auction on 17 May did very well – and valuer Jill Smith noted that the bad weather didn’t deter bidders.

A Meccano No. 1 constructor car in red and blue realised £377, not inexpensive for the model in question, which turns up fairly regularly on the swapmeet scene, in anything from strung on the card examples to made-up cars. Proof that Pedigree is still a name to be reckoned with came in the shape of a Captain Scarlet plastic action figure: this achieved a creditable £236. German tinplate from the World War Two years remains very sought after and usually commands a high premium but the Lineol German 88mm Flak Gun must have delighted one bidder, who secured it for a reasonable £188. Another iconic German manufacturer is Tipp & Co and the Army ambulance was a good example of the company’s craftsmanship, it finally selling for £212.

Back to more familiar territory with Corgi and Dinky: the former’s Mini Cooper S in Monte Carlo trim is a popular model with collectors, and was also found in the Monte Carlo set, along with the Rover and the Citroen. The 1966 vehicle was snapped up for £271. As for Dinkys, there was something for everyone, ranging from a Dinky Covered Wagon “Carter Paterson” version with a green tilt (No. 25b) which achieved well above estimate at £365; to a trade box (28/2) of delivery vans which included  type 2 Marsh’s Sausages, Dunlop Tyres, OXO, Kodak, Crawford’s Biscuits and Meccano vans. This very attractive lot sold for £1,062. Finally, still on the commercial Dinky toys, a Mechanical Horse and five trailers (Gift set No. 33/1) sold well for £424.

For more up to date Dinky collectors, the Thunderbirds Lady Penelope FAB 1 (No. 100) had to be worth a punt but a lot of people wanted it, pushing the outrageous six-wheeled pink Roller all the way to £377.