18 May 2015
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Ramsay's British Diecast 15th Edition: Dinky Toys
See what Dinky diecast is potentially worth up to £20,000! ...
Ramsay's British Diecast 15th Edition: Dinky Toys Images
In 1931, Meccano Ltd introduced a series of railway station and trackside accessories to accompany their famous ‘HORNBY’ train sets. These ‘Modelled Miniatures’ were in sets numbered 1 – 22 and included railwaymen, station staff, passengers and trains. Set number 22 was comprised of six vehicles which were representative rather than replicas of actual vehicles. It was first advertised in the Meccano Magazine of December 1933.
At about this time ‘Tootsie Toys’ of America were introducing model vehicles into the United Kingdom and they were proving to be very popular. Consequently Meccano Ltd decided to widen their range of products and issue a comprehensive series of models to include vehicles, ships and aircraft. ‘Modelled Miniatures’ therefore became ‘Meccano Dinky Toys’ and set number 22 the first set of ‘Dinky Cars’. The first ‘Dinky Toys’ advertisement appeared in the April 1934 edition of the Meccano Magazine. The first Dinky car produced after the change of name was 23a in April 1934. It was probably based on an early MG but was again generally representative rather than an accurate model. Set 22 cost 4/- and consisted of: 22a Sports Car, 22b Sports Coupé, 22c Motor Truck, 22d Delivery Van, 22e Tractor and 22f Tank and is today highly sought after.
The range of models produced grew quickly so that the Meccano Magazine of December 1935 was claiming that there were 200 varieties to choose from! Although the phrase ‘Dinky Toys’ became a household name, the actual range was of course far greater and was not limited to cars; it even included dolls house furniture. Indeed, by the time the famous Binns Road factory in Liverpool finally closed its doors in November 1979 over 1,000 different designs had been produced. Pre-war models are rare today and fetch high prices, which reflects how difficult it is to find a model in really good condition. This is because so many 1930s models were made from an unstable alloy which has tended to crystallise and disintegrate. Fortunately the post-war models do not suffer from the same problem and much of today’s collecting interest is centred around the delightful models produced in the fifties and sixties with Gift Sets being particularly sought after. Most Dinky Toys boxes were made by McCorquodale in Northern Ireland.
In 1987 the Dinky trade name was bought by Matchbox who were at the time part of the Universal International Co. of Hong Kong. They introduced the ‘Dinky Collection’ in 1988 with some very fine models in a constant scale of 1:43. On the 7th May 1992 it was announced in the ‘New York Times’ that ‘Tyco Toys Inc.’ had acquired by merger the ‘Universal Matchbox Group’ and with it the famous ‘Dinky Toys’ brand name.
In 1998, Mattel bought the Matchbox brand and in 1999 disclosed that all new car models will be classified as ‘Dinky Toys’, including those previously included in their Matchbox Models of Yesteryear range. At the beginning of 2001, however, both of those famous names have been all but buried in favour of Mattel’s ‘Hot Wheels’ brand since most of their products have been aimed at the US toy market.
No. 22d Delivery Van W.E. Boyce
Type 1 with 'Hornby Series' embossed to underside of the cab - green cab and chassis, red back, 'W.E. Boyce - Archway Rd, Highgate' in gold to sides and 'Cycles' in white and green to rear, pale mauve washed solid metal wheels. Guide price £12,000 to £15,000.
No. 28a Delivery Van Hornby Trains (1934)
Type 1: orange body, 'Hornby Trains', 'British & Guaranteed' logo, gold wash wheels. Guide price £7,000 to £8,000.
No. 280g Delivery Van Bentalls (1939)
Green body, yellow upper side panels, white roof, 'Bentalls Kingston on Thames' and 'Phone Kin: 1001' in yellow. Two examples known. Guide price £10,000 to £11,500.
No. 280j Delivery Van 'Fenwick' (1939)
Apple green body, white roof, 'Newcastle on Tyne'. Guide price £8,000 to £10,000.
No. 505 Foden Flat Truck with Chains (1952)
Maroon cab/chassis, silver flash, maroon flatbed and hubs. Guide price to £7,500 to £10,000.
No. 920 Guy Warrior Van 'Heinz' (1960-61)
Red cab and chassis, window glazing, yellow van body and Supertoys hubs, spare wheel, 'Heinz 57 Varieties' and 'Tomato Ketchup' bottle design. Guide price £2,500 to £3,500.
No.944 Leyland Octopus Tanker 'Corn Products'(1963-64)
Only 500 promotional issues produced. White body and plastic tank, 'Sweeteners for Industry' in white on black labels. In No. 944 'Esso' box with 'Corn Products' sticker, wrapped in green/grey striped gift paper. Guide price £4,000 to £5,500.
28/1 Delivery Vans Set in Trade Box (1934-40)
First type castings, No. 28a Hornby Trains, No. 28b Pickfords, 28c Manchester Guardian, 28d Oxo, 28e Ensign Lukos, 28f Palethorpes Sausages. Box numbered 'A1008'. Guide price £17,500 to £20,000.
28/2 Delivery Vans Set in Trade Box (1934-40)
First type castings, No. 28g Kodak, No. 28h Sharps Toffee, 28k Marsh & Baxter, 28L Crawfords Biscuits, 28m Wakefield's Castrol and 28n Meccano. Box numbered 'A1008'. Guide price £17,500 to £20,000.
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You can order your copy of Ramsay's British Diecast Model Toys Catalogue 15th Edition online or call 01778 392006.
At about this time ‘Tootsie Toys’ of America were introducing model vehicles into the United Kingdom and they were proving to be very popular. Consequently Meccano Ltd decided to widen their range of products and issue a comprehensive series of models to include vehicles, ships and aircraft. ‘Modelled Miniatures’ therefore became ‘Meccano Dinky Toys’ and set number 22 the first set of ‘Dinky Cars’. The first ‘Dinky Toys’ advertisement appeared in the April 1934 edition of the Meccano Magazine. The first Dinky car produced after the change of name was 23a in April 1934. It was probably based on an early MG but was again generally representative rather than an accurate model. Set 22 cost 4/- and consisted of: 22a Sports Car, 22b Sports Coupé, 22c Motor Truck, 22d Delivery Van, 22e Tractor and 22f Tank and is today highly sought after.
The range of models produced grew quickly so that the Meccano Magazine of December 1935 was claiming that there were 200 varieties to choose from! Although the phrase ‘Dinky Toys’ became a household name, the actual range was of course far greater and was not limited to cars; it even included dolls house furniture. Indeed, by the time the famous Binns Road factory in Liverpool finally closed its doors in November 1979 over 1,000 different designs had been produced. Pre-war models are rare today and fetch high prices, which reflects how difficult it is to find a model in really good condition. This is because so many 1930s models were made from an unstable alloy which has tended to crystallise and disintegrate. Fortunately the post-war models do not suffer from the same problem and much of today’s collecting interest is centred around the delightful models produced in the fifties and sixties with Gift Sets being particularly sought after. Most Dinky Toys boxes were made by McCorquodale in Northern Ireland.
In 1987 the Dinky trade name was bought by Matchbox who were at the time part of the Universal International Co. of Hong Kong. They introduced the ‘Dinky Collection’ in 1988 with some very fine models in a constant scale of 1:43. On the 7th May 1992 it was announced in the ‘New York Times’ that ‘Tyco Toys Inc.’ had acquired by merger the ‘Universal Matchbox Group’ and with it the famous ‘Dinky Toys’ brand name.
In 1998, Mattel bought the Matchbox brand and in 1999 disclosed that all new car models will be classified as ‘Dinky Toys’, including those previously included in their Matchbox Models of Yesteryear range. At the beginning of 2001, however, both of those famous names have been all but buried in favour of Mattel’s ‘Hot Wheels’ brand since most of their products have been aimed at the US toy market.
No. 22d Delivery Van W.E. Boyce
Type 1 with 'Hornby Series' embossed to underside of the cab - green cab and chassis, red back, 'W.E. Boyce - Archway Rd, Highgate' in gold to sides and 'Cycles' in white and green to rear, pale mauve washed solid metal wheels. Guide price £12,000 to £15,000.
No. 28a Delivery Van Hornby Trains (1934)
Type 1: orange body, 'Hornby Trains', 'British & Guaranteed' logo, gold wash wheels. Guide price £7,000 to £8,000.
No. 280g Delivery Van Bentalls (1939)
Green body, yellow upper side panels, white roof, 'Bentalls Kingston on Thames' and 'Phone Kin: 1001' in yellow. Two examples known. Guide price £10,000 to £11,500.
No. 280j Delivery Van 'Fenwick' (1939)
Apple green body, white roof, 'Newcastle on Tyne'. Guide price £8,000 to £10,000.
No. 505 Foden Flat Truck with Chains (1952)
Maroon cab/chassis, silver flash, maroon flatbed and hubs. Guide price to £7,500 to £10,000.
No. 920 Guy Warrior Van 'Heinz' (1960-61)
Red cab and chassis, window glazing, yellow van body and Supertoys hubs, spare wheel, 'Heinz 57 Varieties' and 'Tomato Ketchup' bottle design. Guide price £2,500 to £3,500.
No.944 Leyland Octopus Tanker 'Corn Products'(1963-64)
Only 500 promotional issues produced. White body and plastic tank, 'Sweeteners for Industry' in white on black labels. In No. 944 'Esso' box with 'Corn Products' sticker, wrapped in green/grey striped gift paper. Guide price £4,000 to £5,500.
28/1 Delivery Vans Set in Trade Box (1934-40)
First type castings, No. 28a Hornby Trains, No. 28b Pickfords, 28c Manchester Guardian, 28d Oxo, 28e Ensign Lukos, 28f Palethorpes Sausages. Box numbered 'A1008'. Guide price £17,500 to £20,000.
28/2 Delivery Vans Set in Trade Box (1934-40)
First type castings, No. 28g Kodak, No. 28h Sharps Toffee, 28k Marsh & Baxter, 28L Crawfords Biscuits, 28m Wakefield's Castrol and 28n Meccano. Box numbered 'A1008'. Guide price £17,500 to £20,000.
You can order your copy of Ramsay's British Diecast Model Toys Catalogue 15th Edition online or call 01778 392006.
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