Dublo Dinky Toys ‘OO’ Scale (5/32")
I collect Dublo Dinkys because they complement my
collection of Hornby Dublo Trains. Collecting Dublo Dinkys is like collecting
anything else, once you start you want to find out everything you can about what
was made, availability and price. You soon find out what is rare and what is
common plus what is available and its condition.
Collecting Dublo Dinkys is a fairly easy thing to do and
also it’s very easy to collect them ALL as there were only 14 models made in the
series. However, as with all collections, to find the variations takes effort
and time.
In all of this we have to remember they were produced as
toys to complement the railway so details such as windows, wheel hubs and decals
were not available. The finish however was done to the Meccano high standard of
baked enamel, which allowed for robust play.
The collecting of Dublo Dinkys is done by two groups,
Dublo train collectors and Dinky Toys collectors, and this is why their prices
are substantial. The boxes contribute greatly to the value. In the UK,
collectors only want models in original boxes.
Models produced in order of manufacture 1957 to 1971:
064 Austin Lorry
065 Morris Pick-Up
066 Bedford Flat Truck
061 Ford Prefect
062 Singer Roadster
063 Commer Van
067 Austin Taxi
068 Royal Mail Van
069 Massey Harris Ferguson Tractor
072 Bedford Articulated Truck
070 AEC Tanker
071 Volkswagon Delivery Van
076 Lansing Bagnall Tractor and Trailer
and 078 Lansing Bagnall Trailers (6 per box) released
separately
073 Land Rover and Trailer with Horse
Wheel Variations:
Grey Smooth
Grey Treaded
Black Treaded
Tractor Dark Grey but from 1959, Polystyrene 45 Grey (lighter grey)
Prices:
Prices vary from $40.00 for the Grey Bedford to $300.00 for the boxed Trailers
078
A complete set of one of each of the 14 would be worth
around $2000.00. This does not include variations.
Meccano started to introduce this range of die cast cars and commercial vehicles
to complement their Dublo trains. The emphasis was on collecting and the scale
was '00'.
There are several interesting aspects to these vehicles.
One is that the range is very small, only fourteen were produced. Another is
that they are not particularly sophisticated and the choice of prototypes is
quite odd. There is only one typical saloon car in the range, the emphasis being
on commercial vehicles. Many do not have windows, unlike the Matchbox cars,
which were advanced and plentiful. Yet the Dublo Dinkys are among the most
sought after Dublo accessories today.
One thing is sure. When you have been collecting Dublo
trains for a while, you start wanting these models badly. They will hold their
price, they are bright and colourful, and no Dublo collection is complete
without them.
The following is a list of the Dublo Dinkys with photos:
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Ford Prefect 061 The
only bread and butter car in the range, disappointing in hearing aid
beige and not the best representation either. You have to have one
though! |
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Singer Roadster 062
Not particularly recognizable or common in real life, but
colourful in yellow with red seats. |
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Commer Van 063
A nice model without many distinguishing features. |
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Austin Lorry 064
A fairly common model. A nice model lorry but not often
seen in this shade of green in real life. |
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Morris Pick-Up 065
Similar to the front of the Morris 1000 but larger,
although it's hard to tell in this scale. One of the models most easily found
today. |
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Bedford Flat Truck 066
The grey colour has the advantage of looking the same when
most of the paint is missing. The back is extended to take a container which
makes it an odd looking lorry. |
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Austin Taxi 067
A really nice model with a driver in the cab and essential
for outside your station. Some people collect multiples of these and line them
up. |
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Royal Mail Van 068
Another familiar sight in the UK until the late seventies,
this is a postman's van based on the Morris 1000. Very popular.
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Massey-Harris Ferguson Tractor 069
The same tractor used in the 4649 low sided wagon. Has a
hole in the seat, possibly for a driver, which never materialized.
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AEC Mercury Tanker Shell-BP 070
A reasonably chunky and popular model
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Volkswagen Delivery Van 071
Notable for being the only model which advertises Hornby
Dublo on the side. Strange they should have picked a German outline for this.
The name was applied in red with a rubber stamp and varies in clarity. The van
is yellow.
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Bedford Articulated Flat Truck 072
Again, colourful with yellow unit and red trailer, this
looks great with a furniture or meat container on the back. Can be parked at a
rakish angle near the goods yard. |
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Land Rover and Horse Box 073
One of my favourites, you get a green, series two, short
wheelbase Land Rover with windows (illustrated). If you're lucky you also get an
orange horse trailer with a hinged ramp, a horse, and a nice box. The horse
alone is highly sought after (it’s easily lost) and comes in light or dark
brown, as in the BR and SR Horse box (4315, 4316). Great for arranging various
cameo scenes.
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Lansing Bagnall Tractor and Trailer 076
Even more essential for terminal station platforms, this
is the smallest model, a maroon electric pulling unit with driver, and one
trailer. Extra trailers were available in boxes of six (078) up to the 1970's. |
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Lansing Bagnall Trailers 078 (6 per box)
Extra extra rare and useful because you always want more
trailers.
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Variations:
Many of the models can be found with grey smooth tyres,
grey treaded tyres and black treaded tyres.
For further reading, I recommend The Hornby Companion
Series Vol 3 by Michael Foster. It’s full of valuable information and can be
ordered through Chapters Indigo Books.
