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Dinkinius's picture
Dinkinius
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Boxes - Lidded and end-flap. Excellent to Mint Condition After Many Decades

We often hear and read of the expression “mint in box”, with the “mint” referring to the model. But do we think of the box itself, that piece of thick or even thin cardboard whose very existence has assured the survival of the model in the condition it now is in. This Topic is dedicated to those folded pieces of cardboard which these days adds considerably to both the splendour and value of the model in which it was packaged, but more importantly to the box whose condition ranges from poor to remarkable, even to the extent of it being mint itself. It is to the latter that this Topic has been created.

Having seen and obtained a number of Dinky Toys whose boxes have survived virtually intact and unmarked after the passage of more than 50 years, I thought it would be appropriate to share images of these with the wider Dinky Toy collecting community. With the exception of one example I find it extra-ordinary how these have survived almost in the same condition, apart from very minor soiling virtually from the day they left the now non-existent Meccano factory. These gems are a testament to those at Meccano who produced these delightful toys and those whose foresight (or lack of foresight??!!) ensued their survival in remarkable condition, I salute you all!

The first example is a 666 Missile Erecting Vehicle with Corporal Missile and Launching Platform. This model arrived on 6 July 2016 from Collectoys in France. I could not believe the quality of the box - none of the corners have been bumped.  So it is the first example to appear in this Topic. I will admit that the box has a small soiling spot below the rocket's nose cone on the upper box side, but I think the lack of loss of the upper paper on all corners still makes it an ideal candidate for this Topic. (Others may disagree!)

I have three more to be added - a 689 Medium Artillery Tractor of which I wrote of its history in another Topic, and three yellow end-flap boxes containing a 734 Supermarine Swift Fighter, a 735 Gloster Javelin Fighter and a 736 Hawker Hunter Fighter.  These are still awaiting a suitable day to be photographed.

I hope you all will enjoy seeing these Dinky Toys/Supertoys in their amazing condition and hopefully others can share their unbelievable boxed models, most of whom I feel have been hibernating all these years.

Bruce   (150)

20161014/1008/1641

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
Jan Oldenhuis
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Bruce, Here is my 934 Leyland Octopus Wagon with box.

It has my favourite 2tone colour scheme, especially because it has the lovely yellow band between the radiator and the green band. It also has the loading platform fitted with a rivet Instead of a screw and bolt so that it can't be manipulated.

It's  hard to find this colour variation in mint condition with box. It arrived 17-9-2016 from Ebay Germany spielzeug-magnet.

Regards, Jan O.

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Jan

An excellent box and a worthy contender for this Topic, not to mention the model inside, uncommon and in excellent condition - with thanks to that great box!

Thanks for sharing this with our members and wider audience.

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

20161810/1015/2106

janwerner's picture
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A wonderful pristine example Jan, congratulation with that addition!

I used this photo of the no. 531 Leyland Comet Wagon with its box in the no. 533 thread a moment ago, but I might as well repeat it here. Box and model not 100% but 99% mint, a lovely example, bought in August 1999.

But some oldies, childhood toys of the early 1960s, survived quite well too, with their almost mint boxes, the French no. 552 Chevrolet Corvair and the British no. 948 Tractor-Trailer McLean as examples. Kind regards, Jan W

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Jan

All four deserve a place in this Topic, and many thanks for including them. The smaller end-flap boxes in excellent to near mint condition are indeed quite uncommon due to their fragility. I wish the 948 I bought last year was in as good condition as yours!

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

20161018/1016/2116

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This one is not perfect, but considering it is from around 1937, it is in wonderful condition, and still has bright colors, and no tears or serious scuffs.  This is the #33 Mechanical Horse and Five Assorted Trailers set, in its basket weave box.

                  Best regards,  Terry

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Terry. It is a very beautiful colorful set. Very well preserved. The models are mint and bright colored. The tyres are still perfect after so many years. Very special to have such a beautiful set.

Best regards, Jan O.

Dinkinius's picture
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Terry

What else can I write that has not been written before?!!  This box deserves its place in this topic in its unbelievable condition after almost 80 years!!  Still with its insert and those fantastic models. What a brilliant example of Meccano's use of boxes in the 1930s. The colours of the box's paper covering is mind-blowing.

Its further longevity is assured while in your care.

Thank you Terry for posting these images in this Topic. Highly appreciated.

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

20161810/1017/2127

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Hi Terry, your 33 set box is beyond praise. We might wish that we have the same looks when we are eighty, your box's age. And also that our inner parts are in that fine condition!

I hope trade boxes are also meant to be demonstrated here, lidded as they are. Especially those have a storage function, in warehouses, shops, getting soiled, quick notes written on them about contents and price, model after model being taken out and sold, sometimes waiting for a long time for every model to be sold out. So they will mostly have had a lot to suffer from that or they were - far more often than the attractive, illustrated individual boxes - just thrown away. Chance of survival was best when they were just forgotten, or if they came into the hands of serious collectors in an early stage. I do not have many trade boxes, about ten, I just do not collect them, but in the very scarce case that a cheap and fine example with original contents (an 'impossible' combination of course) comes along I may surrender. Two nice examples below, for the B.E.V. Electric Truck, both the early natural card trade box 14A and the individual yellow illustrated 400 box, and a later all yellow small one for the 70F/733 Shooting Star Jet Fighter (the other side shows the LF roundel, sorry no photo). Kind regards, Jan       

Dinkinius's picture
Dinkinius
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Hello Jan

Trade Boxes are most certainly ideal candidates for this Topic, and I really like the two examples you Posted.  Trade Boxes themselves are in the uncommon category and your 14A and 733/70F are in very fine condition. These boxes are prone to damage while still in the shop, as they are constantly handled, possibly at least six times or more by shopkeepers who may not have had the cleanest of hands!

And of course, the bases for these boxes too have a quality inspection stamp. What are the stamps for these two Jan?

It is nice to have such a near mint box for the 400 as a companion to the much earlier 14A Trade Box set.

I too do not normally collect Trade Boxes, but like you, when one comes up, preferably with contents, and at a price that is more than acceptable (except in the case of one particular trade box and contents!) I tend to weaken! 

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

10161810/1018/2148

dinkyfan's picture
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Jan----Those trade boxes look almost new.....how wonderful that they have survived so well, and that you also have very nice models with it. And you are right.....the various trade boxes usually suffered terribly, with lots of handling and shuffling, and they weren't meant to be kept. Superb!
Best regards, Terry

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This is my DT 930 Bedford Pallet Jekta Van with windows.  It has also the 3 pallets and an instruction leaflet. The lid box is inside stamped 5 characters in blue with 60 at the end. Kind reagrds, Jan O.

 

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Many thanks Jan for posting these images of your 930 Bedford Pallet Jetka Van, one of my favourite models and I question Meccano's decision not to have produced more of this model in a different livery as well as with tray or flat-top, as the cab is an excellent rendition of the Bedford A and D series of trucks.

Can you post a picture of the inner quality inspection stamps please Jan that also includes the letters as well, that I can included in the appropriate Topic.

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

20161810/1019/2230

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
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Bruce, here is the blue inner quality inspection stamp of the lid box of my 930 Bedford Pallet Jekta Van.

Kind regards, Jan O.

Dinkinius's picture
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Good morning Jan

Quite a coincidence really, but my 930 Bedford Pallet-Jetka Van was quality inspected the following month by the same person, AC 5 60.  It only arrived a month or two ago from Collectoys in France. It has a penciled price on the end of 19.50, which I presume to have been French Francs. The model is in excellent condition with just a couple of tiny pin-pricks, but the box is no-where near the condition of your's!  So we do know the 930 was trundling down the production line in Binns Road in at least April and May 1960.

So far my records show production was in December 1959, January then nothing so far found for February then March through to May 1960. The last stamp is one of those unfathomable ones at times, this one reading on three lines, 091/462/610, of which I have my suspicions but a price on a box with a similar stamp may assist!

Many thanks for the details, and I wish my box was as good as yours!

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

20161030/1022/1229

dinkyfan's picture
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     Another nice, early box, is this 513 Guy Flat Truck with Tailboard, in what I think is the first style plain box with the bright, white label.  It appears that the staples used on these early boxes often have rusted some, from moisture in the air..........but still a very nice, still somewhat crisp box and a lovely early Guy truck to boot.

              Best regards,  Terry

 

 

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Lovely boxes posted above by Jan and Terry! Bruce, the stamp on the 14A box is unreadable. You can see it placed vaguely over the word 'Made'. Anyway, it a very early one, I presume 1948-49. The stamp on the 70F/733 is better. I made a scan and also found a picture of the front side of that box, attached here.

Two other randomly chosen 'ordinary' Dinky Toys boxes added, of the no. 283 BOAC Coach (I cannot find any deficiency) and a near perfect one of the no. 172 Studebaker Land Cruiser. Kind regards, Jan 

Dinkinius's picture
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Jan

More splendid additions for our enjoyment!  I did not think for one moment when I created this Topic that so many worthy candidates would be available for viewing!!   Many thanks for sharing some of your priceless collection with us.

The 172 Studebaker Land Cruiser was a favourite of mine, although mine has the fawn hubs. I recall taking it to church on many Sundays. (And being asked to keep my "driving" to a quieter level!!)

Finally, I have been trying to come up with a more concise title for this Topic, and I had one, briefly, before it slipped my mind. Can you put your thinking cap on and suggest one?  That goes for you too Terry, whom I am sure will be reading this, and any other readers. It has to be succinct and catchy!

Kind regards to you all

Bruce H.   (150)

20161101/1026/1047

 

dinkyfan's picture
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Bruce---Here is a try for a thread title....."Boxes; all types, pristine years later" ........short, and to the point!
Terry

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What's in a name, Bruce? If only the contents answers to the description. Priceless, well, I do not show the horrible or wanting boxes! But I must confess that in the past, say 15 years I have been more aware of and fascinated by (the quality and information of) the boxes. I bought the two items below just for the boxes only, the contents usually worth even less than their packaging. The box the French put their import 571 Coles Mobile Crane in is hardly known, available 1951-52 only. I have never seen a better example. I found the very nice box for the 18-Pounder Quick Firing Field Unit no. 152 as a bargain, with completely shattered contents inside. I replaced that (a little incorrectly) by my post-war set, which was sold from trade boxes only. (I hope others will also contribute here ...). Kind regards, Jan 

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I found another worthy candidate for the nice box thread.....it is a 562 Dumper Truck, with a date code of K 013, which I assume dates it from 1953.  The model and box are both practically mint, and it does not appear that it was hardly ever taken out of the box.  And the top label is still nice and bright.....these old toys and boxes are a kind of time machine for us!

           Best regards,  Terry

 

 

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A great example, Terry. I have two other boxes (natural card and green paper covered) for this model, they are nice, but not worth showing in this 'top quality box' thread. I selected a chronologically related, only a few months later (sorry, stamp inside not readable) box, the huge one for the no. 752 Goods Yard Crane of 1953. It started as a Dinky Toy, the Dinky Supertoys brand had just been dropped on the boxes. They are not often seen in that good condition, their sheer size making them rather vulnerable for damage (I do not have the exact dimensions available, it is stored away, probably ca. 11 x 11 x 20 cm). Kind regards, Jan

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I found another couple of boxes of extraordinary quality to add to this thread. Especially the prewar 161 set box is nice. The contents of such boxes are often found crumbled on the bottom inside. This set is also in poorer quality than the box (but far from crumbled, fortunately). The Fire Engine is the later version with windows, but with diecast wheels. The box shows no stamp inside. Kind regards, Jan 

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While creating a new Topic on the 756 Lamp Standard (Double Arm) copies of the boxes contained in the Trade Pack as well as the Trade Pack itself belong in this Topic, so here they are.  The only box that appears to have been opened is the box at the top of the six inside the Trade Pack, no doubt used to previously photograph the contents before I acquired the set.

Bruce H.   (150)

20161101/1028/2130

dinkyfan's picture
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Bruce--All I can say is, wow......what unbelievable condition all those boxes are for in. It is amazing what is still out there, after all these years, and still unopened or unused. Great find.
Best regards,
Terry

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This is my DT 344 Estate Car with box. It has the spun hubs and black knobbly tyres.

Kind regards, Jan O.

janwerner's picture
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Jan, I thought mine could hardly be surpassed. Hardly, because yours is really unsurpassable in quality!

I always had the idea that my box was a little too old for the model (with cream hubs and treaded tyres) it contains, but I believe Meccano never used a box with italic brand lettering for this model - as introduced for many models ca. 1957/58. For yours this is even more remarkable, because many of these models with spun hubs will be found in plain red/yellow Dinky Toys boxes. Anyway, a beautiful model and box!

In addition the box for the French no. 550 Chrysler Saratoga. Not 'new', but incredibly nice, taken into account that we played a lot with it, albeit in the final play-years. It shows the lozenge window, unveiling that it contains the lilac (and black) version. Kind regards, Jan W 

Jan Oldenhuis's picture
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Hello Jan.

The table in the Ramsay Guide is in this case more detailed than Mike Richardson in his GBODT. Mike does not even speak about spun hubs, knobbly tyres and various types of boxes. Ramsay 15th edition mentions four types of boxes for model 344 Estate Car (1954-61) and describes each model with the corresponding box.

Box Type 1: Dual yellow picture box.

Box Type 2: Yellow picture box.

Box Type 3: Yellow picture box showing red panels not brown.

Box type 4: Red & yellow panel non picture box.

My model is in Ramsay described as: Brown and dark brown side panels, spun hubs, "M" tyres, type 2 or 4 box. My model has all these details and box 2.

I also doubted about this combination when I bought this, but it is according Ramsay a genuine combination.

By the way Jan: your 344 combination and the French box of the Chrysler "Saratoga" are also sublime. A French box has mostly something special, such as text with details about the model.

Kind regards, Jan O

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Greetings Jan O, and everyone else

To assist in your assessment based on details provided in John Ramsay's 15th Edition of his catalogue of which I was one of those who sent these details back prior to the 13th Edition I provide the following images.

Here they are:

Box Type 1: Dual yellow picture box.

Box Type 2: Yellow picture box.

Box Type 3: Yellow picture box showing red panels not brown.

Box type 4: Red & yellow panel non picture box.

We then find Estate Cars obviously in an incorrect box, and these from a very reputable auction house in the far north of England:

And this model and box sold for an unbelievable sum of £120 - far in excess of its true value to an unsuspecting collector, with this the description, 

Dinky No.344 Estate Car - light brown with dark brown panels, spun hubs, ridged black tyres and later baseplate with No.344 inscribed - Near Mint in Fair dual numbered picture box. Scarce.

And no mention of the fact that the box is incorrect for the model. The word "scarce" was the clincher.

Kind regards

Bruce H.   (150)

20161105/1031/1854

janwerner's picture
janwerner
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Thank you, Jan and Bruce, for this reminder of the 'box story' of the Estate Car. Checking my documentation I realized that Nigel Mynheer made some notes on the Estate Car and its boxes in Model Collector of October 2001. As you may remember this was a series of articles devoted to the Remy-Meeùs collection, then auctioned at Christie's South Kensington. 

In the mean time I came across a ten year old photo which I took when I had the pleasure to add a virtually mint boxed no. 660 Mighty Antar Tank Transporter to my already present childhood example, which had been repainted many times since 1956. The model was so nice in its fully original packaging that it took me some weeks to muster up the courage necessary for taking it out of the box with all its untouched interior packing pieces. As you may be able to see the staples look threatening, and might do serious harm to the pristine model (as often happens with many models inside). After taking it out I never put it into this box again since then. Kind regards, Jan 

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Jan---It is a joy to see these absolutely pristine boxes plus their inner packing pieces. Sadly, when I was a youngster, I saw no reason to keep most of these.......they just got in the way of setting the Model in the box; who knew?
Best regards, Terry

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