Jan---
How wonderful that you somehow noticed that! Like you, I seldom buy or have much interest in the latter Dinky's, but this one certainly bears owning and showing, after learning it shares those long-ago parts. That is remarkable that the ladder from the Streamline Fire Engine was around that long! By the way, since that is not a diecast part, do we know for sure if Meccano actually made it, or did they have have it made outside?
Regards,
Terry

Hello Jan, and greetings to everybody from Australia,

thank you Jan for another excellent post on one of your (and my) favourite topics, Dinky Fire Engines. By incorporating all the additional Meccano Magazine features, you really present a well-researched and interesting article, even though Dinky models from this period may not be your primary interest. I hope you will allow me to add a few further details about this model to your thread.

As you are probably aware, the 259 Miles Fire Engine model, being introduced in 1961, was towards the end of the 'Spun Hub' phase of Dinky production when many of the then current car models were fitted with the standard Spun Hubs - but very few non-car models were fitted with them. This model is one of the few exceptions, in fact, the picture of the model on the fragile flap-ended boxes shows the model with Spun hubs - around 1963, they were replaced with Plastic hubs which were used until the model was discontinued.

Of course, the first 259 production models, like most other models at this time, also were fitted with the standard pre-coated 'Mirror-Gloss' baseplates which went hand-in-hand with Spun Hubs. Around the same time as the introduction of the Plastic hubs, the baseplates were also changed to 'Matt' or 'Satin' finish (I'm not quite sure which is the correct terminology) so here is a picture of the baseplates of my two models:

As I only shot these pictures today, it was only when I examined them that I realised that, apart from the finish, there was something different about the baseplates. Look closely - have you spotted the difference?

Yes - there is a baseplate rivet missing! On the model with the later Matt/Satin finish baseplate, not only has the rear rivet disappeared, but also, both the model number 259, and the 'Prov. Pat.' lettering, has gone. The difference is explained by a modification in the rear fixing of the baseplate, which you can see here - the rear rivet has been replaced by the addition at the back of the baseplate of a 'tongue' which now fits into a slot in the lower rear of the casting - presumably a time-saving and therefore cost-saving modification:

I don't know of any other modifications made to this model, other than the adoption of 'Visi-Pac' boxes for a year or so around 1965 - I am still looking for one of these in good condition, and although I know of one currently for sale, I think the seller is asking a little too much - do I wait and maybe lose the chance if someone else buys it, or should I take a deep breath and pay the price? Answers in a sealed envelope please.......

Anyway Jan, I hope these additions are worthy of your excellent article and help to complete the picture.

Regards to everybody, Adrian (141)

Dear Jan,

It is amazing how such evident things as this ladder are missed. There are certainly other ones around. Congratulations Jan for spoting this.

To issue the Airport fire tender ref. 276 in 1962, the rear of the Bedford Miles fire engine ref. 259 has been modified. A slot has been added on the rear panel to insert a lug of the base plate.

Although both the 259 and 276 were available until 1969, the 276 Airport fire tender does not seem to have been fitted with plastic hubs. Was it ?

Is this one with the silver panels original ?

The drawing for the ladder job 10 151 is not known but it probably does not state if this part was home made or subcontracted outside. As most of the documents have gone, we will probably never know. As the life span of the ladder was so long, there have probably been several tools to cut the ladder.

Jan

Thank you for bringing this piece of Meccano history to our attention - the tinplate ladder and its longevity.

Adrian

Thank you too for the wealth of information you have shared with us on this later issue, 259 FIRE ENGINE.  I often wonder why Meccano brings forth a model for the delight of young people, but only referred to it as a fire engine - its true manufacturer identity being never conveyed in its sales literature and on the box and model itself.  This started with the predecessor of the 259, the 555/955 and its earlier fire engine, 25h/25k/250. Why some models were given the "luxury" of being identified by its manufacturer, and others not will always be a mystery.

I started collecting the 259 Fire Engine through Adrian, when he brought to my attention that this model was another example when silver cast hubs were used. But which of these came first - spun aluminum hubs or silver cast hubs? I think the spun hubs were the first issue, followed by the cast silver hubs.

To add to this, one should also consider those models that have appeared with their cast silver hubs being painted red which I think followed the cast silver hub example at a time when a decision was made to go plastic.

The final issue of course were those shod with red plastic hubs.

However, of the two very near mint and boxed 259 Fire Engines in my collection, neither of these have had the tinplate ladder tabs bent away to hold the ladder permanently to the body of the fire engine. Is this normal?

Like Adrian and Jan, when this model was released in 1961, I was in my final year at high school, and well beyond any real deep interest in Dinky Toys, having replaced these with girls! From 1961 onwards, I only received four Dinky Toys, 186 Mercedes Benz 220SE, 196 Holden Special Sedan (naturally as my father was employed in a garage that sold and serviced Holdens) 197 Morris Mini Traveller and 198 Rolls Royce Phantom V - these being given no doubt as a means of weaning me off Dinky Toys for Christmas! The larger Dinky Toys had long been removed off Santa's list!

So, I have extended my collection to include the 259 - but I have definitely drawn the line from the Lines Bros take-over of Meccano!

Regards to you all

Bruce   (150)

7 January 2016

#748

Bruce-Well, I might as well show mine to round things out a bit.  Like the rest of you, this vintage of Dinky Toy is outside my normal range of interest, but a few years ago I thought maybe I should have one, just to see what they had done to our beloved toys.  Jan and I agree that something was lost with these later toys.  Lots of features, but they somehow lost some of their earlier charm.  I am not sure where mine fits in timewise, but it does have the silver cast wheels and shiny baseplate, but also came in a Visi pac box.  Also, as a sign on how far Dinky fortunes had fallen by the early to mid-1960's, the price tag on the end flap was crossed out, and cut in half for a sale...it went from $1.98 to $.99!

      Best regards,  Terry