Hi Rob, if you like I will be glad to help you without any obligation and with all pleasure. Without being critical to The Journal, I think both your models AND The Journal deserve good photographs (as far as I can meet expectations in this).
Regrettably I will not be able to attend the Houten Fair of 29 November next. I will be present with a table on 14 February, but that will cause unneccessary delay in my opinion.
However, if you'd like to contact me by email, please do, and we will find a solution, no doubt. It will be a marvellous and unprecedented article on this subject. Perhaps John will be able and willing to help with the Foden factory drawings.
Met vriendelijke groet, Jan

Greetings everybody,

as most of us are Foden-lovers, I'm sure we all like to find as much information as we can on the development of the whole Foden range, and eagerly await new feature articles on this subject.

I have not seen the article by Clive Unsworth yet, but a few years ago I became fascinated by a number of listings on eBay for 'Rare' Foden models which were all being sold by one particular seller from Pickering, North Yorkshire. I started to record not only his sales, but also his purchases (which was possible in those days because the eBay feedback system showed the full ID of both buyer and seller) and soon realised that this man was buying Fodens and swapping the components to make supposedly 'rare' combinations.

Around the same time I came across a website hosted by a long-term Dinky dealer, Mr Kerri Stanley from Essex, who traded as 'Dinky World' (not to be confused with the current 'Dinky-world' from Holland) and who had compiled a most detailed article on the development, introduction and modifications of both the Foden and the Guy lorry ranges, including all known colour and box variations. I found this to be a most absorbing and comprehensive document and have printed off a copy which I use as my 'standard' reference work on these models.

Coincidentally, Kerri had also been following the trickery of the Yorkshire eBay seller, so I contacted him (Kerri) by email and we communicated frequently with updates on this man, who kept changing his eBay ID - and now seems to have disappeared from the eBay scene.

So the purpose of this contribution is simply to suggest that, if you have not already seen Kerri's website and his detailed Foden and Guy history, have a look - hopefully you too will find it most absorbing:

www.dinkyworld.com/history-a-information

Regards to all, Adrian (141)

This is a great site, Adrian! It will take some time for me to read it all, but I have asked already to the Administrator have it included in the 'Links' section. I presume Rob will appreciate this information (if he wasn't aware of it yet) Regards, Jan

Adrian,

Many thanks for the link to this very interesting web site.

Jacques.

Hello Adrian,
It is indeed a great site. I know Kerri Stanley and his site for some years. In fact I bought some rare Fodens and other Dinky rarities from him when he shared a stall with his father at Sandown Toy fair. As far as I know he is not selling anymore, but his site is very informative.
Kind regards,
Rob

Brilliant link! Thank You.
Chris Warr

Greetings everybody, particularly to Jan, Jacques, Rob and Chris;

thanks for your comments - I am pleased to have shared this information with other members who may not have known about it. I have learned much new information on other models/topics since becoming a DTCA member - just wish the 29c/290 bus experts would do something as comprehensive.

Rob - I had a sneaking suspicion that you might have known Kerri, or at least purchased from him! You are correct, he is no longer trading but I don't know if he still has a Dinky collection.

Before posting, I did go through the thread to see if there was any previous reference to 'Dinky World', but couldn't find any - however, I was very impressed with the pictures of your most comprehensive Foden collection - I am looking forward to the combination of your Fodens and Jan's excellent photography - hope you can both find the time to complete this project soon!

Regards from Australia, Adrian.

Hello Adrian and everyone else

Many thanks for the link to that website which I had totally forgotten of its existence!

With this resurgence in documenting the story of the Dinky Fodens, one should not forget CLASSIC TOYS magazine, in particular Issue 1, August/September 1994 dealing with the 1st Series and Issue 3 on the 2nd Series. Unfortunately, by October 1996, this wonderful, informative magazine had been consigned to history.

Two years later in 1998, I had been selling Dinky Toys to a small number of clients for about four years, mainly in Australia with some living in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. At that time there was very little in the way of information relating to Dinky Toys as well as a forum through which collectors could discuss any Dinky Toys topic and to advertise their surplus models or wish list. I then came up with an idea to produce a small periodic newsletter, which I called

Thanks Bruce, for this nice exposition and view. I have been very enthusiastic about Classic Toys too. I bought all issues separately, and at the moment that I had decided to subscribe it was all over. This was a wonderful initiative of Roger Bailey, and I underlined that any time I met him. Unfortunately, although the highest quality (and very good images) was pursued, it was not viable.

I have included all their articles in the Dinky Toys Bibliography. The Foden articles are to be found under the authors' names: Stewart Orr and Graham Bridges. At that time they were really the best, both text and images. Nevertheless, I must admit that I have never seen such eleborate and detailed information about the Fodens as on this website that Adrian has drawn our attention to. The link is included in the 'Links' section of this website now.
I have resumed my work on the Bibliography and hope to add a systematic/topical order, but that will take time.
I remain interested in offers for new titles!
Kind regards, Jan

This morning the postman delived my Xmas 2014 issue of Model collector and it includes the second article by Clive Unsworth on the type 2 cabbed vehicles, it is similar to the first with lots of excellent photographs and good supporting text.

I love the link supplied previously and will have to make time to study this sight.

I have a full set of Classic Toys magazines and will revisit these later.

Between the website, Classic Toys, Clive Unsworth and hopefully Rob, I reckon we will have the Fodens completely covered.

That would be brilliant, if I didn't live in England Rob I would galdly do the photography for you but I know that Jan can do just as good a job as I could manage.

Dave

Anyone else notice the mistake in the 1st cab Foden article in Model Collector? Page 44 shows a Red and Fawn 2nd cab!!
Acknowledging a lot of First cab Foden boxes were used to clear stock in the Factory to box the 2nd cab Fodens and it seems the author slipped that example in the article.
Nonetheless enjoyed the article and I never tire of Dinky Toy Fodens.

Regards,
Finja :)

Yes, that 2nd type tanker was rather obvious indeed, be it sitting on a first type box. I assumed that - perhaps a first type wanting - this one was used as a stand-in, just to demonstrate the colour scheme. If so, that should have been emphasized, of course!
Kind regards, Jan

I noticed that when I first read it, I just assumed it was a mistake.

Dave

Hi all,

This is my latest Foden addition. I bought it from the former owner of a Toy Museum on the IoW. He bought it some 25 years ago in the US and it has been on display in the museum. The Foden is not tampered with as far as I can see. The yellow wheels are not repainted and the axles are OK. The box has a 1955 date stamp and carries a Hudson-Dobson label.
The paint marks in the box match the color of the model.

Kind regards,
Rob

That'a real beauty Rob!
You never cease to amaze me with what you turn up. Just goes to show what is still out there doesn't it?
As I've said before I always wonder how many variations simply got played with then thrown away before an example was ever recorded?
Nice one!
Chris Warr.

A fine acquisition and addition to your stunning Foden collection, Rob. Do you think the tyres are original on this model, as from factory?
A surprising addition for your Foden article!

Was this the IOW Toy Museum you meant? I visited in 2004.
Kind regards, Jan

Hi Jan,

Yes, I think the tyres are original, the front of te cab is slightly faded and it looks like the front two tyres are lighter as well. The museum you visited is the same, so you could have seen my model on display there in 2004!
Kind regards,
Rob

Lovely set up in that Museum Jan, have you got any more pictures? A new thread on museums / displays would be great.
Chris Warr.

Rob, I'm not surprised about the fading. I thought the lights were too hot and intense for a good preservation of those lovely models.

It's a pity that even nowadays models that have been preserved in mint condition for many years do deteriorate because of poor display conditions.

Chris, I'm sorry, the only other photo I could easily take is this one above.

Kind regards, Jan

A rare issue with yellow hubs sold by Vectis for

VERY nice!
Don't think I'll bother to put it on the wants list I'll settle for looking for the plain old blue hubs one instead, though it's good to know that these are still out there.

Thanks for the museum picture anyway Jan, the lighting is worrying, I worry about the heat build up in my cabs with internal lighting, and usually open them a bit when the lights are on. Soon I'm going to change everything to LED so it won't be a problem then.

BTW, Years ago I paid admission to a Toy Museum I won't name, only to find I had a much better display at home!
CW.

With reference to Ron's recent acquisition of the red/grey Flat Truck with Chains (and mixed diecast/plastic hubs) I post the pictures of the 1962 and 1963 catalogues here, which show this model apparently with windows, and plastic hubs, and the remarkable rudimentary steering wheel (1962 only). I was never really aware of that.

1962

1963

As a bonus a quarter rear view of my (regular) example.
Kind regards, Jan

This catalogue error is well spoted, thank you for pointing it. There are certainly many more to be discovered.

Has the type one Foden with chains ever been packed in the green box ?

Hello Jan,
That is nice information on the last Foden produced and new for me! We will probably never know if Dinky Toys planned windows in the Foden or that it was "freedom" of the artist that made these drawings.

Kind regards,
Rob

Hello Jan and Rob

It would have been nice if Meccano had incorporated windows in the last Foden, as a nice farewell gesture to a model that goes back more than a decade.

Yes Rob, it was a case of "artistic licence" when the artist included windows, or having a dig at management for not including glazing in the windows of an old-timer that no doubt brought considerable profit over eleven plus years!

Kind regards to you all.

Bruce still in Manila. (150)
#538

Greetings everyone!

May I please draw your attention to Post #99 above.  You will notice that Post #99 is incomplete.  My current project is to attempt the recovery of Posts I created that were partially lost, lost completely or made unusable when the old website www.dtcawebsite.org was hacked. Hopefully this is to compliment the splendid efforts of a number of dedicated individuals who were brought into play and managed to save and bring into this new website, as much as was recoverable from the old website. Post #99 dated 17 November 2014 was one such Post that was not completely saved. For readers of "Fodens on Parade" now and in the future, the missing sections of this Post make it hard to read the following Posts and how these Posts compliment each other.

Through the miracle of modern science, herewith is Post #99 in its entirety!

Dinkinius wrote:

Hello Adrian and everyone else

Many thanks for the link to that website which I had totally forgotten of its existence!

With this resurgence in documenting the story of the Dinky Fodens, one should not forget CLASSIC TOYS magazine, in particular Issue 1, August/September 1994 dealing with the 1st Series and Issue 3 on the 2nd Series. Unfortunately, by October 1996, this wonderful, informative magazine had been consigned to history.

Two years later in 1998, I had been selling Dinky Toys to a small number of clients for about four years, mainly in Australia with some living in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. At that time there was very little in the way of information relating to Dinky Toys as well as a forum through which collectors could discuss any Dinky Toys topic and to  advertise their surplus models or wish list. I then came up with an idea to produce a small periodic newsletter, which I called “Dinky News”, utilising detailed information and observations I had been gathering for many years.  The first issue came out in June 1998 with one of its topics being a serialised “Production of Dinky Toys Since 1946”.

With the second issue in September the Production History had reached October 1947 with the release of the Foden Wagon, flat and tailboard lorries. Using all available data I had gathered over the years, I detailed the colours, when they were issued, what boxes were used and when with a total of four pages devoted to the Fodens. Another page listed the then current auction prices for Fodens. Issue 13 June 2001 covered the release in November 1951 of the 1st Series Foden Chain Lorry. Issue 14 September 2001 covered the release of the 2nd Series Foden Flat Truck with Tailboard in May 1952. Issue 15 December 2001 included the Flat Truck in January 1952 and the tanker in July. (I did have a problem locating information on exactly when the 2nd Series Foden 8-wheel Wagon was released but its release was mentioned.)

Unless I am mistaken, apart from Classic Toys magazine in 1994, this was probably the first amateur attempt to unravel the story of the Fodens, as in those days, the Internet as we know it today was in its infancy and at that time, I only bought infrequent copies of Model Collector magazine when they were available where I lived.

No doubt there are a number of current members of the DTCA who subscribed to Dinky News who can refer to these issues if they have not already thrown out their copies.

(Speaking of CLASSIC TOYS magazine, one excellent article over two parts in 1994, Issues 4 and 5 dealt with the South African Dinky Toys, truly the first in-depth article on this subject in an English magazine contrary to the statement from Model Collector that its recent publication on the subject was the first. Strange that nothing refuting this seems to have appeared on either this website or MC, unless I stand corrected!)

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

17 November 2014

Where it is beautiful one day, perfect the next!

But please someone, somewhere, send us some rain!  Here in Brisbane we have hardly had any decent falls of that liquid stuff from the sky for more than a month and three months when the rain gauge was almost filled. (Yes I know, off-topic!!)

Greetings all

I hope the above Post helps fill in the gaps. And for those who are interested, yes, Brisbane did eventually receive much needed rain several months later, but typically Australian, it came with too much quantity!

Kind regards

Bruce   (150)

11 February 2016

#766

The postman brought this today, I will do a more comprehensive review tomorrow.

Dave

You are absolutely correct Terry it does not have a hook and everything about it seems 'right'

Dave