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Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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--14c and 401Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck (1949-64)

Just received the first issue Dinky Toys 14c Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck and the last issue 404 Climax Conveyancer Fork Lift Truck, both with box. The forklift truck is produced in 1949 and is manufactured still during the closure of the plant until 1980. I find it interesting to bring the development of this model in picture. In DTCA I did not find an existing topic 14c, 401 or 404. However, in TMT, but not fully until the end of Binns Road. The model is classified as a Commercial Vehicle:

1) 14c UK: 1949-1954 - Orange, Brown or Dark Red, Green Fork. Tan driver - 108 mm - 1954 renumbered to 401

2) 14c French: 1950-1951 - Orange, Yellow Fork ???, Tan driver - 108 mm - Text baseplate ??? Pictures???

3) 401 UK: 1954-1964 - Orange with Green Fork. Tan driver - 108 mm - Renumbering of 14c

4) 597 French: 1959-1961 - Orange with Yellow Fork. Tan driver - 108 mm - baseplate: Meccano Paris Dinky Toys Chariot A     Fourches Coventry Climax Assemble en France 597

5) 404 UK: 1967-1980 - Red and Yellow, later Orange and Yellow - 97 mm - CG4 decals, Pallet, Instruction sheet. Steerable.

6) 404 UK: 1978-1980 - Yellow - 97 mm - TC4 decals, Pallet, Instruction on the back- and underside of the box. Steerable.

I show pictures of my two models and boxes in which the differences are visible. I have box 14c with stock number 50003 on the lower right front. This box variation I have not seen in TMT or DTCA. My box 14c is priced 7/2 with pencil. Through my collection catalogs and leaflets can I reconstruct that my box in March 1951 in the store is priced. The stock number is (re) introduced around 1950 and starts with 5 digits at 50000. My stock number 50003 (March 1951) does not match the model number 14c. Box 582 Pull More Car Transporter (1953) represents stock number 50582 which matches the model number 582. I don't know if the stock numbers after the renumbering were still be used. I have not seen examples of that. I add some photos of a French Export 14c box. This box is also mentioned in TMT, but no picture. There are several box, model and color variations of the truck 14c, 401 and 404. I found 13 box variations of the Fork Lift Truck:

1. 14c UK - orange lid box - orange label - orange model lettering

2. 14c UK - orange lid box - orange label - black model lettering

3. 14c UK - orange lid box - orange label - orange model lettering - stocknumber 50003

4. 14c French - orange lid box - orange label - white model lettering Chariot A Fourche

5. 14c UK - orange lid box - green label - green model lettering

6. 14c French Export - red lid box - yellow label - black model lettering Chariot A Fourche

7. 401 UK - Blue striped lid box - red model lettering

8. 401 UK - Yellow lid picture box - black model lettering - yellow under box

9. 401 UK - Yellow lid picture box - black model lettering - blue under box

10. 597 French - Yellow lid picture box - black model lettering Chariot A Fourche - yellow under box

11. 597 French - Yellow lid picture box - black model lettering Chariot A Fourche - blue under box

12. 404 UK - White Yellow carded picture box - black model lettering

13. 404 UK - Red Yellow Blue hanged window box - white model lettering

I hope at reactions in this forum with additions of information and variations, even for model 404. OK ... of course ... I know. .. the later models, such as 404 have plastic parts, but to speak with the daughter of Frank Hornby: "Aren 't they Dinky!". It deserve a place in this forum too. I'm from 1946, but hope that also younger members the stunning "modern" models from the period 1960-1980 will show and discuss in this forum. I have for instance some questions about changing the name of model 404. Why were the name of model 404 changed in 1967 from Coventry Climax to Conveyancer Fork Lift and why were model 404 after that in 1978 changed in Climax Conveyancer? Did the Coventry company no more exist in 1967? Is model 404 a reproduction of a real one from an other company than Coventry? I am a Dutchman (not the flying Dutchman) and don't know enough about the British Companies, but I am interested to know that. I hope that UK members can solve these questions.

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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A nice summing up, Jan, thanks. An intriguing model of which I have some (box)variants too, but still a lot to go ...

I have mentioned before that the both the French assembled model and its box and official French illustrations show some remarkable inconsistencies as the name and the representations of the model are concerned.

Firstly, the French pictures are all mirrored, showing the handle and the box next to the driver's seat on the left side of the model. This goes both for the French box for the early import version and the one for the later French assembled issue. But for the catalogue pictures as well.

Secondly, the base of the French assembled Fork Lift Truck  reads clearly CHARIOT A FOURCHES (plural), whereas all the box titles and the catalogue texts show CHARIOT A FOURCHE (single).

Kind regards, Jan

 

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Thank you Jan for your comment and the pictures. An interesting addition from you in terms of the difference in the modelname on the box and the base plate.

Thank you for the very sharp picture of the base of 597. Very clear. Well noted that the image has been mirrored in the catalog. Fascinating to discover these things. That is the fun of the hobby.

I still have a question about my photo of Box 8: 401 UK: Does this model actually exist with a blue driver? Patrick Trench and Ramsay describing this model only with a Tan driver.

Best regards, Jan Oldenhuis.

55Zephyr
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Hello Jan O., Jan W. and greetings to everybody,

 

thank you for an excellent summary of an often-overlooked model. I have four examples in my collection, so, Jan, using your box number system, I hope this brief summary will answer your question about the box type 8 model.

 

My first model is is an early production in box type 1, orange lid, orange label and lettering, which has a date stamp on the base 'ASo29' - but I am not sure what this represents - I originally thought February 1949, but the model was not released until November 1949, so that can't be correct? Another mystery!

 

My second model is in your box type 5, orange lid, green label, green lettering, and thoughtfully, someone has written 'Xmas 1949' in tiny letters on the top edge of the lid label. The box base has the date stamp 'BF109' so October 1949, just in time for Christmas!

 

My third model is a later issue in a type 9 yellow-lidded box with blue base, and inside the lid is the date stamp '12 EO 61' so presumably December 1961. This model has a tan-painted cast driver and green-painted cast wheel hubs with later grey block-tread Supertoy tyres.

 

Now, to come back to your question: my fourth model is a very late production, and is in a type 8 yellow-lidded box with yellow base. Unfortunately, there is no date stamp on this box, but the model  has not only a blue plastic driver, but also green plastic wheel hubs, so is a very late production model - I would think some time around 1963.

Hopefully this will answer your question - I think that the blue plastic driver replaced the tan cast one around 1960, and the green plastic hubs were fitted from around 1962.  In any case, I think your box type 9 was the earlier one, and the one you listed as type 8 with the yellow base was later (what a pity the date-stamping of the box lids seems to have stopped around 1962).

 

Kind regards,  Adrian Nash 141

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Thank you Adrian for your very valuable addition and your answer to my question about the blue driver with a photo of the subject.

I still found two examples 401 at Vectis with a blue driver, both with model 8 box with also a yellow base as yours. Vectis also talks about a later version. So it is clear that the combination 401 with blue driver with a box 8 with yellow base actually exists. Adrian thank you very much.

Kind regards, Jan O

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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Just funny: a Christmas card I made some years ago ...

Kind regards, Jan W

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janwerner
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By the way, as no. 4 is concerned, I have seen that picture before, but box (early 1950s) and model (concave hubs, ca. 1960) do not match, they do not belong to each other. Kind regards Jan W.

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Thanks, Jan W. I had already doubts about this combination. That's why my questioning in the description of model 2 of my model list: 14c French: 1950-1951 - Orange, Yellow Fork ???, Tan driver - 108 mm - Text baseplate ??? Pictures???.

I have the photo from Ebay with the intention to show the box. I asked the salesman about it, but he evades an answer, so it is not right.

Jean-Michel Roulet describes the color of the fork of model 14c somewhat cryptic. He writes: (I have the Dutch translation and I translate with Google in English) - "14C:. Coventry Fork Lift Truck. It is an English small Fork Lift Truck sold in a French box of red cardboard with yellow inside, in 1950. But if this model appears again with a cast text: "Assemblé en France" from 1959 to 1961, with the fork yellow painted sheet, and catalog number 597, here is an English model sold in a French box, hence its presence in this list, and not in those of the imported vehicles as is the case with the 27 AC farming tractor, for example. "

I think. Roulette is here describing the French box 6 from my list and not the French box 4 with the orange label. But the describing of the model is not clear to me.

Therefore my questions:

1) In what years was the French 14c box 4 with orange label issued (Perhaps a date stamp in the box??) and with which model 14c? French or UK? What color fork and text of the base plate?

2) Which color model and baseplate belongs to the French 14c box 6??

The characteristics of model 597 are clear: yellow fork and French baseplate.

Kind regards, Jan O.

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Jan.

I found just now a comprehensive and very detailed article from your hand about 14c Chariot Coventry Climax (1950) in TMT.

In that article my latest two questions are answered. Can you copy that beautiful article from TMT in your comment.

Kind regards, Jan.

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Jan.

I found just now a comprehensive and very detailed article from your hand about 14c Chariot Coventry Climax (1950) in TMT.

In that article my latest two questions are answered. Can you copy that beautiful article from TMT in your comment.

Kind regards, Jan O.

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janwerner
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Hi Jan O., I'm glad you found it. I have written a few hundreds of such 'articles' over there, and later on the Planet Diecast Forum, in the past decade. It is not feasible for me to copy all of them here, that would be a tremendous job. Let's hope that this second version of he DTCA website will live forever, because so many information has gone, or has got hidden and 'frozen', because of the virtual loss or decline of such webforums. Sometimes I get a little bit 'tired' of writing this all again and again.sad

Some of my favourites, however, will be published in The DTCA Journal in a fresh format, in the column 'From my Dinky Toys Collection Catalogue', starting in the next issue. I hope they will be appreciated.

Kind regards, Jan W.

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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I totally agree with the comment made by Dave. I also look forward to your articles.

Kind regards, Jan O.

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buzzer999
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Knowing the quality of your catalogue Jan, I, and all other members of the DTCA will be very pleased - I can't wait

Dave

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Dinky Toys Fork Lift Truck: Summary and Conclusion.

Regarding the very valuable comments from members here, TMT and elsewhere I come to the following general conclusions about the production of Dinky Toys Fork Lift Truck: (N.B.: The numbers of the boxes with corresponding photos in this summary have been placed in the probable order of appearance.)

1) 14c UK: 1949-1954. Orange, Brown or Dark Red. Green Fork. Tan driver - 108 mm - 1954 renumbered to 401. Not steerable.

UK Box:

5. orange lid box/green label/green model lettering

1. orange lid box/orange label/ orange model lettering

2. orange lid box/orange label/black model lettering

3 orange lid box/orange label/ black model lettering with stock number 50003

2) 14c French: 1950-1951. Orange with Green Fork. Tan Driver - 108 mm - UK cast model 14c with UK base plate. Not steerable.

French box:

6. red cardboard lid box with yellow label/black model lettering

4. orange lid box/orange label/white model lettering

3) 401 UK: 1954-1964. Orange with Green Fork. Tan driver - later blue driver - 108 mm - Renumbering of 14c. Not steerable.

UK box:

 7. Blue striped lid box/red model lettering

 9. Yellow lid picture box/black model lettering/blue base

 8. Yellow lid picture box/black model lettering/yellow base (Note the later blue driver on the photo!)

4) 597 French: 1959-1961. Orange with Yellow Fork. Tan driver - 108mm - UK cast mould - French base plate with text: Paris Meccano Dinky Toys Chariot A Fourches Coventry Climax Assemble En France 597. Not steerable.

French box:

10. Yellow lid picture box/black model lettering:  Chariot A Fourche/yellow base

11. Yellow lid picture box/black model lettering:  Chariot A Fourche/blue base

5) 404 UK: 1967-1978. Red and Yellow, later Orange and Yellow - 97 mm - CG4 decals. Conveyancer on Fork Lift. Pallet. Instruction sheet. Steerable rear wheels.

12. UK box: White yellow red carded picture box/black model lettering

6) 404 UK: 1978-1980. Yellow - 97 mm - TC4 decals. Climax on Fork Lift. Pallet. Instruction on the back- and underside of the box. Steerable rear wheels.

13. UK box: Blue/yellow/red hanged window box/white model lettering.

I make the summery complete as far as I know. I can still make changes or additions. I hope still to get response to my questions about the name change of model 404.

Kind regards to all.

Jan Oldenhuis

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janwerner
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Hi Jan, thanks for this revision. What is the rationale behind the box sequence 5, 1, 2, 3? I would be eager to know because I never found out.

I like these exceptional early 1950s French boxes of the 14c Chariot a fourche(s), 561 Bulldozer, 562 Dumper basculeur automoteur and 571 Grue roulante. But also the earlier red ones for the Chariot a fourche(s) and 27ac Tracteur Massey Harris et  remorque ependeur d'engrais. And of course the more common later French assembled ones in the period 1959-1961, also including the 551 Rolls-Royce and 972 Camion-grue roulante (20 tonnes) - 20-Ton Lorry Mounted Crane 'Coles'. A nice, well-illustrated article about these 'unusual' French boxes (and their contents) was published by Brian Salter in Model Collector of June 2006, pages 67-73.

My rather scarce box for the 571 Grue roulante - Coles Mobile Crane pictured below.

Kind regards, Jan W.

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Hi Jan W. Many thanks for your welcome addition.

Considering the valuable comments of Adrian Nash above, about the stamp in his 14c orange box with green label BF109 (october 1949), may this box be the number 1 in the list. The date of the stamp in his orange box with orange label and lettering ASo29 (february 1949 ??) he is not quite sure what date it does mean, but can still be also number one. Can someone explain this date stamp? The 14c was issued november 1949.

The other reason that I placed number 5 as first before number 1 in the list is that in TMT two persons also places the UK orange box with the green label before appearance of the orange box with orange label. I found nowhere else information about the UK orange box with green label. I post the list, as the probable order of appearance.

I hope at response of more members who have a 14c orange box with green label and lettering or 14c orange box with orange label with a date stamp to gain more certainty about the order of appearance.

Kind regards to all,

Jan O.

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Just found an addition for my earlier boxes section of the Coventry Climax Fork Lift Truck (orange + black printing). On the snap shots attached it is invisible that the box lid got very unfortunately pierced by the handle during transport. A big pity and shame after near 70 years of life intact. Nevertheless a fair addition for a mere 30 dollars as the price sticker attached demonstrates, so it's no use returning it. I will have it restored. The seller and I agreed on a refund of 10 euros for a comforting bottle of wine. Quality control stamp: mT 851. Kind regards, Jan   

champ
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DTCA Member

A very intersting topic.Many thanks.

Peter.

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janwerner
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This reminds me of having visited, together with Jacques, the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre in June/July 2017. An original 1:1 Coventry Climax was on display there. The only difference with the Dinky was the scale and the colour - and the double wheels! Some phone snapshots below:

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janwerner
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Just returned from the restorer: box lid cleaned and severe piercing nicely repaired:

 

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Jan. Amazing how beautifully the hole in the box has been restored and it can now remain in your collection without visible annoyance. The person who does not know will absolutely not notice that there has ever been a hole in the box.

Kind regards, Jan Oldenhuis

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dinkycollect
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Dear Jan W.

Congratulations, I know how good your catalogues are which is not always the case in your country. I have just spoted an error in the Dutch catalogue of 1952. The doors of the 29d Autobus Parijs model are on the wrong side. The photo must have been fliped.

                                           

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janwerner
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Jacques, I don't know what you're talking about !winkwinkwink

By the way, will I see you in Derby, one month from now? Kind regards, Jan 

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dinkycollect
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Hello Jan,

                 

I have one of these too, it is extremely rare.

Sorry but I have not planed to go to Derby this year, it is a bit far for just one meeting.

All the best.

Jacques

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janwerner
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DTCA MemberNetherlands

1. laugh

2. crying

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dinkycollect
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Many years ago, some one asked (it could be on TMT) if the holes which are at the very front of the body were for some sort of unissued accessory. I had found in a Meccano Magazine that these were lifting holes used to lift the truck into ships hulls. This is evidenced by one of Jan's photo of the rear of the actual truck, this photo shows two lifting rings.
I can not find this Meccano Magazine any more, did any one keep which Meccano Magazine this was in his archives ?
Thanks for your help.

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Eureka. The lifting eyes of the 14c truck are described on page 430 of MM November 1949. The general description of the Dinky Toys model 14c starts on page 422 which refers to pages 416 and 417 which in turn refers to page 430 where the lifting eyes are described. In the bottom photo on page 417 you can clearly see the lifting eyes on the back of the truck so that it can be lifted into a ship with a crane. Unfortunately, photos still cannot be uploaded, otherwise I would have included them. This is still an embarrassing loss. This is the link to page 430: http://meccano.magazines.free.fr/html/1949/4911/49110430.htm
All the best,
Jan Oldenhuis 9 March 2024

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dinkycollect
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Thank you Jan for finding this Meccano Magazine which I have been looking for. I will ad it to the page for the lift truck in the Encyclopaedia so that it can be found easily.

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