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Townie54's picture
Townie54
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Forum

I have seen some views expressed that the Forum is little used. It can't be that members are too old to be tech savvy, as so many things have to be done on line now, and the more mature tend to be quite active on Facebook and the like.

Many car clubs have members who pay and just enjoy receiving their regular magazine. This doesn't engage the membership or enhance their club experience. The Journal is excellent and worth the membership fee alone, but if there is an email address for every member (as snail mail really is so last century) then a brief interim e-News can be sent, with events info, extracts from the forum and so on, and encouraging members to log on and get involved.

Comments please.

starni999
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DTCA MemberUK

Hi Mate,
Great idea! Though easy for me to say as I haven't got to do it!

I would love to see more use of this forum, I love the Journal and treasure each issue, but have never written to it as I prefer to post here, where I can get a response straight away.

I guess it all comes down to if Dave has the time to set it up, if there is anything I can do, though I'm no PC genius, I would be happy to.

Cheers,
Chris Warr.

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

I think this is a splendid idea and I can raise it at the next AGM in June.

I have now sold well over 200 copies of my recently published book (a limited edition of 300) and you would be surprised at how many cheques I have received from people who do not have an e-mail address or Paypal, at least 30%

Knowing the DTCA committee they will 'need to discuss it' so do not expect an answer any time soon, these are the people who never bother to come onto the forum as they all still use quill pens.

Dave

Townie54's picture
Townie54
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That sounds like a step in the right direction - there are a few geese about here, so let me know if more quills required for committee

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

I have just sent the following e-mail to Michael Driver (DTCA Chairman) and Nelson Twells DTCA Secretary.

"Hi Guys

The DTCA website forum has been really active over the last 12 months although only about 10 - 12 people regularly use it some serious and meaningful discussions take place.

Our sister organisiation the HRCA have a couple of pages in their journal covering recent forum topics, that way the whole membership have the opportunity of contributing.

Can I ask that this be discussed as a SPECIFIC AGENDA TOPIC at the AGM in June of this year.

It would be an incredibly easy task for Mike Forbes to cut and paste the interesting, and or, controversial topics into a couple of pages in our journal.

In a similar way to the HRCA it gives our ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP an opportunity to enhance the depth of the topics and grow the knowledge base within the DTCA significantly.

I would like to lead this up at the meeting if possible.

Can you please give this serious consideration.

Many thanks and kind regards.

Dave Busfield"

I will advise you guys about the outcome.

Dave

dinkyfan's picture
dinkyfan
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DTCA MemberUSA

Dave--Many thanks for being pro-active on this and getting it started. This forum has such a great potential to be both interesting and informative to all active members, and it is much faster and more responsive than any journal can be.
But the reality is, sadly, that many members have either chosen not to participate or just do not use the internet much at all, and having some mention or synopsis in the Journal seems to be a good idea and start.
They probably won't do it, but it would be great to poll the members, and ask several questions, and amongst them "do you use the internet", "do you participate in the forum, and if not, why"?
Another question/comment I have concerns Talk Model Toys. I notice that forum was very active just a few years ago, and there still is some activity. Do many of those formerly active folks there also belong to DTCA? In reading many of the topics posts there, it was apparent that quite a few people were chiming in and participating frequently. Do you think it is largely a matter of our membership aging to a point??
Terry

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

Age certainly has an influence on the problem but it should not - I am now nearly 70 and have mastered Photoshop, InDesign and a number of other programs - I have just not let them beat me!!!

A significant problem is that NOT ONE DTCA committee member has visited this forum in over 12 months. That is DISGRACEFUL.

I keep battering away at trying to get them to embrace modern technology rather than being frightened of it but I get nowhere.

I discovered when I published my book recently that there are a large number of members who do not own a computer and wanted to pay by cheque. This was no problem whatsoever.

This does not affect the DTCA committee members they ALL have e-mail addresses!!!!!!

I sincerely hope that if I can get the Forum active in the journal we can get more people contributing. These are people with SERIOUSLY GOOD DINKY KNOWLEDGE and we NEED THEM TO PARTICIPATE.

Dave

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

I think the participation in fora like this is a general problem (if it is a problem at all). There are many people who just like to watch what is happening and have no desire at all to participate, or it is simply not in their systems communicating like this. I don't mind, I respect that. It's no use 'forcing' them, board members or not. If I'm correct the board praised us - Dave, you and me - very explicitly for our efforts for the forum last year, so they are not really indifferent - let alone negative - in this matter. That's enough for me, although we might fiercely have wished otherwise. Let everyone do what he likes to do, let not people do what they do without passion. That's contra-productive, in my humble opinion.
Nevertheless: of course we must raise this point again during the next AGM!!! Perhaps the informal approach is even more effective than the formal approach ...
Kind regards, Jan

starni999
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DTCA MemberUK

Nice one Dave!

Lets hope it happens, I would love to reply to some topics in the journal, but when I consider the two months wait for a reply I don't bother. There is nothing like the instant response I get on the website.

There are so many things in the Journal that are wonderful and enhance our knowledge, but likewise I'm sure that many Journal readers would benefit from the topics here, I have learned lots from the Forum in the last 12 months, and I'm sure others would benefit also.

Chris Warr.

starni999
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DTCA MemberUK

Nice one Dave!

Lets hope it happens, I would love to reply to some topics in the journal, but when I consider the two months wait for a reply I don't bother. There is nothing like the instant response I get on the website.

There are so many things in the Journal that are wonderful and enhance our knowledge, but likewise I'm sure that many Journal readers would benefit from the topics here, I have learned lots from the Forum in the last 12 months, and I'm sure others would benefit also.

Chris Warr.

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

You have raised the crucial point Chris, we all learn from each other, the more activity the better our collective knowledge becomes.

Dave

dinkyfan's picture
dinkyfan
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DTCA MemberUSA

Dave--I wonder if some of these folks are just intimidated in trying to post, especially photos. I belong to several other unrelated forums, and someone is always commenting on how hard it is to post pictures, etc.
Maybe a thought would be to have a section in one of the upcoming Journals devoted to showing how things work on the forum, with detailed info on how to post pictures, etc. and maybe a small section in each Journal devoted to interesting topics on the forum, so the other members have some idea of the range of the discussions.
And Jan, I agree......we do not want to force anyone to use the forum that just does not want to, and there are always "lurkers", who will likely never post. But I think Dave and I feel there has to be some more who can and would post, maybe with some modest effort to show just how good it is, and with some help.
And that brings up another point: are there any instructions on the forum or in the Journal on how to submit articles.....what format, who to send to, images (how large?), etc???
Terry's

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

At the DTCA AGM this weekend I suggested linking some of the threads on the Forum over to the Journal and that was accepted as a good idea.

It will start in the October Journal as the July one is now full.

I will keep you all informed of developments

Dave

starni999
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DTCA MemberUK

Hi Dave,
That really is wonderful news! Can't wait to get some "cross pollination" from the Journal.
I'm glad it went well this weekend, I really hoped to attend, but a while ago I slipped a disc and have been flat on my back for 2 weeks. Apologies to Jan also who had said he may be able to get to see me during the AGM, I hope to be up and around again soon so we can rearrange!
Chris Warr.

dinkyfan's picture
dinkyfan
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DTCA MemberUSA

Dave--Many thanks for your continued efforts on our behalf to link the Journal with our forum; only good can come from this, and maybe we can somehow rejuvenate interest in the forum from some of the other members who do not participate much.
And Stephen, hopefully your back will get better soon. I have had back disc problems most of my life, and they can be very debilitating for sure. Best wishes!!

Terry

starni999
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DTCA MemberUK

Hi all,
Firstly just wanted to say what a pleasure it is to open my inbox and see loads of new posts here on the forum. Getting very busy now, and we've some great new members.

Secondly I've been talking with some mates from all over the world who I've met on various sites, and mostly on a big US site that has recently sadly lost most of it's members, and I'm always asked where I go to post now, when I say DTCA the answer I get a lot is that it's a great site, but they are a bit worried to post here as their models are not rare or mint / boxed, I've told them not to worry and will keep posting up the battered old stuff to prove it!

If you're "lurking" out there lads, come on in,

Chris Warr.

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

I totally agree with what you say Chris, the activity on this site is fantastic.

Keep it coming guys.

Dave

Dinkinius's picture
Dinkinius
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AustraliaDTCA Member

Greetings all!
This topic is a matter of which I have had some concern ever since I decided to do something about my inactivity with the Association. I am afraid I have been too lazy, which probably explains the plethora of threads and posts from me in recent weeks - I have had a guilt attack!!
I certainly agree with all the comments made, and I would like to thank the other members who contribute to the Forum and to the moderator who looks after us! Having a section in the Journal devoted to comments made throughout the numerous posts and threads, could stimulate more to participate.
There is a need to motivate more than just the handful who have been contributing in one way or other.
More power to the Guilt Attack!
Bruce

starni999
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DTCA MemberUK

Hi all,
Just passed the address onto another couple of mates, in NZ and USA, so hopefully we'll see a couple of new posters soon.
CW.

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

Thanks very much Chris, this present boost makes us more optimistic than we have ever been in the past five years! Jan

dinkycollect's picture
dinkycollect
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DTCA MemberFrance

Collectors with any type of collection are welcomed to the club and to this forum. What ever the quality of their models, mint or played with we need to have a very large amount of models available for research. The present discussion about the Fodens needs more models to be examined and any collection may contain an extremely scarce little jewel.

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

My copy of the DTCA Journal for October 2014 arrived this morning and the link to the Forum has been included as I requested.

We even got onto the front cover!!!!

The main photo refers to the article about the casting variation on the Riley Saloon.

Dave

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

There is a two page spread covering four topics, here is Page 6 and Page 7:

It will be interesting to see what the response is to this.

Dave

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

The much needed connection established!
Thank you Dave, regards, Jan

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

As I stressed to Mike when I sent the bits to him for the Journal, it is absolutely fantastic that we have the amount of interest in the Forum which we are currently enjoying.

The important thing is that the discussions are really meaningful and it is not full of drivel like Facebook.

I sincerely hope it adds another dimension to these discussions and gets more people involved.

There is a huge amount of knowledge out there and if it is shared it becomes a much more beneficial association.

Dave

dinkyfan's picture
dinkyfan
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DTCA MemberUSA

Kudos Dave for getting this done and seeing it through.....long overdue, but so glad that the forum is at least getting some mention. Hopefully, others will see just how many interesting topics are covered here and the level of participation that exists. It is nice that the info flows so quickly, so if a query or question is posed, it gets attention very soon.
On a related note, just curios how many members we actually have who are from the U.S.? I don't believe anyone currently posting here is from the states, other than me. That is also very sad, as I would expect more membership and participation from us.
Thanks again!

Regards, Terry

starni999
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DTCA MemberUK

Well done Dave!
When I got the Journal envelope through the door I thought straight away "I wonder if there's any mention of the Forum?", then I saw the front cover and was really pleased.
If we can get a double page every issue that will be great, and hopefully a few readers will be drawn over here to check out the responses.
Chris Warr.

buzzer999's picture
buzzer999
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DTCA MemberUK

I do hope to get some response from this.

As well as the DTCA, I am also a member of the Hornby Railway Collectors Association and have close links with the Bassett-Lowke Society. A number of people I know well from all three groups do not have a computer or an e-mail address, furthermore they do not want to go down that road.

I am hoping that this link to the journal will bring them into our discussions and add to the knowledge base.

ALL of the DTCA committee members have computers and I am very disappointed that they do not get involved from time to time.

Dave

dinkycollect's picture
dinkycollect
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DTCA MemberFrance

Rich Henderson wrote to the editor about spare parts for Dinky Toys found in Canada. (The Journal October 2014 page 16).

I doubt that these were for repairs. The Canadian agent would certainly not have replaced a base plate or even a body.

So why these spares. Were they left over from importations in CKD to avoid VAT or purchase tax on finished goods as was done in several other contries ? The only tool necessary to assemble these models was a stand drill to rivet the base plates.

This may be the origin of coloured hubs found in the States and Canada. The Brinks armoured van may also have been assembled in Canada.

Dinkinius's picture
Dinkinius
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AustraliaDTCA Member

dinkyfan wrote:
"Kudos Dave for getting this done and seeing it through.....long overdue, but so glad that the forum is at least getting some mention. Hopefully, others will see just how many interesting topics are covered here and the level of participation that exists. It is nice that the info flows so quickly, so if a query or question is posed, it gets attention very soon.
On a related note, just curios how many members we actually have who are from the U.S.? I don't believe anyone currently posting here is from the states, other than me. That is also very sad, as I would expect more membership and participation from us.
Thanks again!

Regards, Terry"

Terry

Here is an interesting response from a friend in the United States who asked a similar question a number of years ago. He was a very early member of the DTCA but resigned several years ago. This is what he wrote in an email to me recently:
"I think this club is oriented towards Europe mostly and not interested in overseas members. ...they do not allow us to meet other members by email or other means of communication, because of a 'privacy law' that exists in the UK. I argued as to how can we contact other members direct for sharing Dinky Toy information, etc.--for example if I wanted to organize a gathering in the United States--or to just learn how many are members in North America? They replied that to do this one has to go 'through the DTCA'...(!)"
So Terry your query as to how many members are in the United States will most likely remain unanswered.
As for your other point, "It is nice that the info flows so quickly, so if a query or question is posed, it gets attention very soon.", I am afraid that is not completely correct, as I have posted a number of questions and these have become lost when further posts are made that are basically waffle and my question becomes swamped and forgotten!!

Regards
Bruce

dinkycollect's picture
dinkycollect
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DTCA MemberFrance

For those who do not have the January 1948 Meccano Magazine, here is the enlarged six pence stamp with the Royal Air Mail service car.

In these early post war days, the quality of printing was not as good as it is today.

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