Wonderful series of posts on various wheel configurations....I feel well out of my league, having only one model per most types of Dinkys. But I do have a couple of interesting wheel colors; the first is the 25 wagon, in light blue, with matching wheels. I bought this as NOS from H.Hudson Dobson in 1959, and since it also has the later small tires, it must have been near the end of the export life here in the states. The second one is the 25 tanker, also with small tires, colored wheels, and no advertising. Bought around the same time frame. I don't think either of these is rare, just not seen too often.

I have listed three variations of the tanker without "PETROL"

Rather a factory flaw than a true wheel variation:

Nothing particular, the no. 29f/280 Observation Coach in medium grey shade, hubs included, and red flashes.

However, showing a greyish green hub in front on this side!

And this one, a no. 40a Riley, not as spectacular as the earlier examples posted by others, but with not very common early post war satin black hubs (I believe this one, the first issued, is the only 40 series model with these early satin black hubs). I haven't seen the finely treaded pre-war / early post-war black - apparently original - tyres on other 40 series models either.

Kind regards, Jan

Rob
NQ09 is indeed 1949, although the quality stamp for the other boxes may be on the outer base, probably faded by now. What is fascinating is the example shod with Supertoy grooved hubs which could date the model to late 1951 or early 1952. Although this type with the rear axle support bracket change appearing circa 1949, the grooved Supertoy hubs made their appearance in January 1952 on a 2nd Type Foden with Tailboard so your Type 2 could date from around this time-frame. Fascinating stuff!
Bruce

This is not a variation but a flaw, this hub is not finished.

Rob,

I knew about the yellow hubs but not about the plastic ones. They must be very rare.

Adding to my earlier post, here is a better example of the Porsche in cream with beige hubs and now a cream Porsche with red hubs.

and another example in red with blue hubs.

and a better example of the cream with beige hubs that I had posted earlier.

Hi Rob,
I've been pretty lucky with the Octopus Tankers, but Black and Red hubs have escaped me and just don't seem to be around anywhere. Wonderful to see them in such great condition. I remember these in the shops when I was a kid, pity I didn't get more than one!
Chris Warr.

Stunning collection, Rob! It strikes me again that the Shell-BP stickers on the sides can apparently both be applied over the split between the tank halves, and also exactly above. Why? The tiny yellow band printed in between seems to suggest the correct position: the basis about three mm below the split. I can only boast the possesion of one Leyland Shell-BP tanker, and it shows the sticker pasted over the split between the tank's yellow and white sections. The one on the back, however, takes the split as a basis.
Two of your tankers have the side sticker positioned exactly on the split as a basis.

Kind regards, Jan

I think the positioning was down to the person in Binns Road who was applying the stickers.

I bought my tanker from an auction some years ago and when I viewed it I nearly walked away as it looked filthy. Upon close inspection I realised it had come from the house of a heavy smoker and the staining was nicotine.

As the tank is retained by two self-tapping screws I thought that it was worth pursuing.

Thankfully mine is the version with the stickers completely on the top section of the tank and it came apart easily.

After a really careful cleaning session I had a near mint tanker with an excellent box. This was a superb result as no-one else bidded and I bought it for a fraction of its value.

It pays to look closely at what you are buying.

Dave

Ah lovely Rob!
The lemon hubs I found, the blues are still on the ever expanding list!
Chris Warr.

This is my most interesting and rarest wheel variation:

It is the 162a Dragon Tractor and it is fitted with rubber wheels rather than metal tracks.

The 152a Light Tank can also be found with this variation but I have yet to find one.

Dave

Hi Rob

The tractor was on e-bay and not described properly so I think there were only about five bidders.

Here is an image of the 152a Light Tank with wheels:

This is scanned from the July/August 1999 'Binns Road Gazette' by Keith Harvie.

Keith states the following:

"152a Light Tank with rubber replacement wheels instead of tracks. Possibly due to the unavailability of tracks or shortages in materials closer to the war. Some Light Tanks can be found with the wheels from the 35 series cars. No documentation to verify this replacement procedure has been found. In 30 years, I have never met anybody who bought one in a store."

I am on a mission to find one of these as it is the only significant gap in my military collection.

Dave

Here are the green Jaguar XK 120.
Does some members know an other variation in this colour ?

Kind regards
Richard

Here are the uncommon hub variations for the cream and green US issues of the 282 Duple Roadmaster Coach, red and green. Of course the usual issue has cream hubs as shown in the bottom photograph.