Can anyone help with this?
I have just acquired a second 251. It is the one on the left. I see it is a different shade of green to my other one. This model is recorded in various shades, mid, dark, apple, lime. It looks a bit like the lime green one on keith Harvie's site.
For that matter what shade is the other? I thought it might be sun faded but looking at all the places the sun would not shine I see the colour is uniform.
The various Dinky reference books refer to: Mid - Green, Dark - Green, Apple Green and Lime Green. It would be interesting to see all four together on the same photograph, I have never seen this.
Here is an advert for the Aveling-Barford from a book called "British Construction Equipment" from 1947.
Peter, this picture may help you a little bit:
The lighter version is the common one. The darker is the early boxless version (the red dot representing the Invicta coat of arms can be present or not) and the one on the Christie's catalogue is the scarcer apple shade of green, which you may have indeed!
Kind regards, Jan Werner
Hi Peter:
Here are the rare and promotional colors of
the 25p roller from KH's site.
I saw a mint orange with promotional decals time ago
at a UK antique shop and did not buy it thinking it
was a repaint...!
Cheers, Jose.
New post-war Dutch Motorways being paved by an Aveling Barford Diesel Roller.
Now, some sixty years later, there still isn't asphalt enough yet!
Kind regards, Jan Werner
Have now obtained a third, a darker green one with red dot at the left.
Is this the set or does the lime green exist? (plus the rare orange of course)
Yes Peter, these seem to be the shade variations, although it's rather hard to tell from photos taken under different circumstances. The one you acquired recently is the first, dark shade of green, compare my earlier post.
Kind regards, Jan Werner
Started in June 2010 by the late Peter Golden, a new addition to this thread at last, with a picture of the apple green version.
My live 'colour chart' below shows from front to back the apple green, mid-green and dark green versions, in my opinion.
This would mean that Peter's copy at the right is the lime green one? Google images demonstrates various shades of green samples as 'lime green'. An example:
My apple green version was without box, but I am convinced that it should have an individual box. The one auctioned by Christie's in June 1995 (no. 668 and shown on the cover) had one indeed (but it is not clear which one).
As opposed to early rollers with small tow hooks this one has the larger post-1952 towing hook. It also has a shiny black base plate (no brunofix. As the apple green version seems to be the scarcer one, the time slot must have been short. Does anyone have an idea about the availability time span of this?
Kind regards, Jan
Jan,
Great to see the photos of this model, thanks for sharing. I bought mine in Canada, it indeed did come boxed but sadly my box was missing both end flaps. It’s hard to say if all of them came boxed or not but owing to the fact this was definitely a very short run I feel that your observation is likely to be correct.
I may be wrong, but I feel that Peter Goldens example in the lighter shade is not the apple green but another different alternate light shade of green, from the photo in my opinion it looks like the green commonly used on the 110 Aston Martin though I confess this is hard to determine 100% from a photo using artificial lighting.
Kind regards,
Stfan
Jan, this was in my latest group of Dinky purchases that I still have not had time to catalogue and integrate into my collection yet.
I think I have the variation that Peter shows in what I beleive to be 110 Aston Martin green, unfortunately its 11,000 kms away from me at the moment and I won’t be able to confirm till September at the earliest! Attached are photos of it together with what I am sure is a standard green 154 Hillman Minx (shot in the same photo session) to give you a better idea of its true colour.
Thanks, at least we're a little on the way to solving this colour issue!
Regards, Jan
Following up from my previous post regarding colours on the Aveling Barford.
I do indeed have in my possession an example of the Aveling Barford in what I would best describe as being 110 Aston Martin green (same shade as the standard hubs on the 163 Bristol, the shutters & back door of 25V Bedford Refuse Wagon or the standard green on a 27G Motorcart). It has a black shiny base with embossed letters which I expect would put it around the later end of the 1950s.
A word on colour descriptions, if I am not mistaken, the one that Keith Harvey describes as being apple green I have a feeling should actually be described as lime green? It appears to be the exact same green as found on the scarce later issue 252 Bedford O refuse truck, or should this 252 be described as apple green?
Does anybody think it would be worth pairing up the colours we have with other standard shades of green commonly found on other models in our collections so that we can get a better idea of what we have? This way we can make a comparison of how Meccano describe these colours on the corresponding factory drawings, this way we can get something a bit more black & white rather than the shade of grey we have at the moment.
Greetings everybody,
to pick up the discussion about colour shades of the green model, so far I have only seen three distinct shades of the green 25P-251 roller (early Dark green, standard Light green, and the later Apple (or is it Lime?) green. As a keen collector of Trade Boxes, I often find an empty box and then look for enough models in suitable condition to complete the box - those of you who do likewise will know that there are subtle shade variations in any given 'standard' Dinky colour which are not picked up in photography, so quite often you end up with four (or six etc.) models of slightly differing shade.
However, I have been lucky enough to find four near identical models to complete my 25P box:
If you have just read my earlier post in 'Photography Specials' about an orange 25P listed on eBay recently as a 'Buy-Now', you will have seen the only picture which accompanied the listing, which is now added at the foot of this submission. I am pleased to say that my hours of trawling through thousands of listings was finally rewarded with what I consider to be a 'bargain'. Although the picture in the listing was rather murky, after a few minutes research I decided that it was worth the chance for the asking price and committed to purchase the model, which arrived a few days ago:
and although it has a few paint small chips, after a half-hour of patient cleaning, it looks quite presentable:
My research into this colour variation produced only one reference (there is no mention of it in Richardsons GBODT) - Ramsays it shows it as model 25P with a value of £150 to £200. However, I do recall a reference to this model by Keith Harvie - but I have been unable to access KH's Dinky website which seems to be no longer operating. Nevertheless, I did find a copy of his description, which I believe accompanied the three-model picture added to this thread previously by Jose (latindinkyfan09) in July 2010. It reads: "Very rare Dinky Toys 25P Aveling-Barford diesel roller in all-over orange (a factory colour sample) in very near mint condition (slight marks), an original colour sample from the Meccano factory, in my collection for very many years and the only one I know of". If it was for sale, I would love to know how much he was asking for it!
Well, thats not quite right, because Vectis sold one in 2000, admittedly in only fair condition with considerable wear and chipping, for £180 - and now my model has turned up. But there the references end, because I have been unable to find any further evidence of the existence of any more models finished in orange. However, while examining my examples of this model for photography, I realised that over the fifteen years or so of production, there is a small difference in the height of the canopy (roof), which is one of those details which you are aware of but never really notice until something triggers examination:
Then I started to wonder if the low-roof version was a later modification, as all the Apple-green models I have seen have the low roof and 'mirror-gloss' baseplates, so after 1959 - but the theory doesn't work, because the orange model which also has the lower roof has an early 'Brunofix' base which was used around 1953. From left to right, we have a Light green model (from the 25P Trade box datestamped 1953), then another Light green model with 'mirror-gloss' base, then the orange model with Brunofix base and low roof, and on the right the Apple-green version also with 'mirror-gloss' base and low roof.
Finally, here is a picture of all my 25P-251 models - almost enough to start up a Diesel Roller hire business!
Those of you with 'Eagle-eyes' will have spotted that one roller isn't in 100% perfect operating condition, although the driver seems rather oblivious to the problem - I will have to have a word with the yard mechanics and get them to look at that leftside rear roller - it definitely won't hold any water ballast (surely not a 'blowout'?).
The Quality-Control girls must have been distracted from their job when this one went along the line! I bought it several years ago and both model and box are in near-perfect condition, so the shopkeeper probably intended to return it to Meccano but never got round to it.
Finally, this is the picture which accompanied the eBay 'Buy-Now' listing 171721954995 - was it a good deal?:
The only colour model which I do not yet have is the early 'Dark green' version with the insignia above the front wheel pivot painted red - there are several around, but other than Jan's excellent model, I have not yet seen one good enough!
Hope you find this of interest.
Regards to everybody, Adrian.
Wonderful mate!
One that is very much rarer than the £150 - £200 price guide suggests I think, I don't recall ever seeing one.
Very nice condition too. Congratulations on finding something worth while on Ebay!
Chris Warr.
That is a real beauty for such a rarity, Adrian. Congratulations!
Kind regards, Jan
Adrian,
Of course you post is interesting.
There are possibly two more colour variations :
The dark green promotionnal which was on Keth Harvie's picture posted by José (see below) and possibly an army green one part of the SADF lot but although I have had some information about it, I have never seen one.
There is a possibility that the promotionnal model was of the first run and made for and at the expanses of Aveling Barford Ltd.
For the records, it would be interesting to know the accurate height of both high and low models. Mine, the standard light green one is 63 mm high at the top of the front canopy rods.
It must be noted that the shape of the canopy rods is very different on the high and low models.
Hello Adrian:
Your Aveling Barford Steam Roller is perfectly authentic and a great buy, because of its rarity.
It was a promotional model with logo decals which I first saw in the UK 20 years ago in a small antique shop in the Costwolds. It was mint and the owner wanted 60 GBPs for it. As it was a high
price for me, I immediately called Mike Richardson to verify its authenticity--remember then, no internet nor cell phones--and he told me "it was probably a repaint as it was never issued by the factory..."
Unfortunately, Mike Richardson played by the book, and what was not in the Liverpool records, was not a factory original to him...not sure if there was ever a modification of the drawings of the toy. In any case, even if it was never tampered with and I had a good feeling of it, I did not purchase it. Later I tried to find the store to no avail. It was surely a promotional for the firm, probably not many made. Congratulations on your buy!
Sooner or later a mint example with its promotional box will appear...
Regards to all, Jose.
Hello Adrian
I would like to join the chorus from Chris, Jan, Jacques and Jose to congratulate you on a fine acquisition. I saw that model as I too scroll through all the new stuff on eBay, but not as frequently as I did years ago. I saw this unique orange Aveling Barford, and added it to my watch list for later checking and possible bidding. Well, the brain sure isn't what it used to be, and I forgot to even check my watch list! Add that to four more auctions I was desperate to bid on in January, and I have a serious problem. (Perhaps if one were to shine a torch in one ear, one would be blinded by the light coming out of the other!! :laugh: :laugh: :blush: )
I am glad though that you won the auction, as it certainly has added to your fine collection of Aveling Barford Rollers! Had I participated and won it, it would have been just another curiosity, not to mention the way eBay is set up these days, one does not know who's one's competitor is, which in some ways is a little sad.
I am glad that you are back on deck, and I look forward to your next email filling in all the latest details. Take care and stay well.
Kind regards
Bruce (150)
#517
Here's another light green color sold recently on eBay too.
It's a bit chipped, but it shows the red logo (faded) on the front.
See item No. 271785977539.
In fact this funny picture was destined to be included in the Dinky Toys Photography Specials thread, but is deserves a place in this high activity Aveling Barford Diesel Roller thread as well!
Kind regards, Jan
Greetings everybody,
thank you all (Chris first) for your comments which are much appreciated. Like most dedicated collectors, my collecting is not profit-motivated, but sometimes it is good to obtain a scarce item without having to pay 'the earth' for it - as Jan mentioned, it is easy to get carried away and later on, regret paying too much - so this purchase was one of my better ones.
Jan, I really like your 'funny' picture and certainly think it deserves it's place in this thread. Amazing what you can do with mirrors!
Jacques - I have measured the difference in heights to the top edge of the two casting 'pips' on the front centre of the canopy: the 'high' roof height is 64.5mm, and the 'low' roof is 59.5mm - the 5mm difference is accounted for, as you say, by the angle of the bend in the wire canopy supports.
Jose - your picture of KH's three models reminded me that I had seen this on KH's website a few years ago, but I had forgotten about the dark green version with decals on the body and canopy sides - I presume this was the one that you saw in the UK 20 years ago? Most of us can recall occasions when we let a particular model slip by and years later, really regret not taking the opportunity - I wonder what happened to that model? Despite what Mike Richardson told you, my feeling is that it could have been a sample made up for Aveling-Barford and decorated with paper labels rather than decals, much the same as my theory for the 141 'Lightning Fasteners' Vauxhall Victor Estate in my post on that model. If so, there would probably have been only a few sample models made up, whereas if it had proceeded as a company promotional, surely a greater number would have been produced, and accordingly more would have survived? Either way, I can understand your feelings! In much the same way, I wonder how many all-orange examples were produced, surely not too many.
Bruce - thanks for your comments, and I apologise for beating you to the draw on this model. I hope you were successful with your other auction bids - my wife has been telling me for years that I have a serious problem! Yes, it is a pity that eBay has become so secretive that one doesn't know the identity of other bidders - however, I am glad that this model wasn't snapped up by a dealer and relisted at some exhorbitant price purely for profit. I used to buy models from a number of dealers in the UK but have had issues with a couple of them who steadfastly refuse to add pictures of the undersides or bases in their listings, despite my pleas to them to do so (RL and AC please take note!) because often the base detail makes the difference to a variation collector.
Kind regards to all, Adrian (141)
Good evening Adrian:
Thanks for your kind words to everyone involved in this thread.
Actually, the one I saw was orange, similar to the one you recently purchased; and it had logos on the sides of the AB company, as well as on the nose.
Yes, it still bites me not buying that model; including trying later to
find the shop to no avail. In any case, I learned my lesson. If you think
that a specific toy is rare or scarce and you can buy it, do it! Happily, I did find a few which all happened to be unique models of which I'm proud of and that helped the research on Dinky toys advance. Such as what many other members of the DTCA are doing. And what this forum is all about.
And as they say, keep on collecting!
Best regards, Jose.
Hello Richard, fine new acquisitions you scored!
In my opinion the small hooks are the early ones, used until 1952, followed by the larger ones.
Also, the darkest green examples are the earliest ones. Remarkable to see that the red dot on the nose (representing Aveling Barford's 'Invicta' coat of arms), mostly applied on the darker ones, also appears on your brighter green one.
I wonder when your cabinets will collaps under the countless new additions of yours
Kind regards, Jan
Dear Jan.
I thank you very much for your care to my cabinets. The IKEA furnitures are strong !
But, now all are full and some new arrivals are laying down here and there !
I will manage this in september.
Kind regards.
Richard
There is something peculiar on the assembly drawing of this Dinky.
In the cartouche at the botom of the drawing one can read :
14 03 1952 job N° 12 866 added
and
29 04 1952 job N° 12 866 deleted
This is a short lived item, only 1 1/2 month but which is the part which has the number 12 866 ? it does not appear on the drawing.
An other drawing states : "25 09 1952 sales N° 25p added inside roof". Has this been done ? are there any road rollers with 25p inside the roof ?
These are more Dinky Toys mysteries.
I recently bought a promotional model of the aveling barford road roller.
I already got one and was surprised to see that they had different shades of green.
On these photo's i included the normal light and darker green version and the lime green version also.
I hope to find the orange one sometime...
One might wonder why - by just adding these extra Aveling Barford transfers - this promotional was not issued as a slightly more attractive regular Dinky Toy as well. Apparently Aveling Barford was not prepared to sponsor such an issue. Yes, and now for the orange one, good luck! Kind regards, Jan
There were 17 Dinky rymes over a period of 13 months ; 01 1960 --> 01 1961
Here is Jan's W favorite one.
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
Dinky 582/982 Pullmore - Dark Blue Cab/Dark Blue Body
DTCAwebsite upgrade 2023
--33 Mechanical Horse and Five Assorted Trailers
2024 AGM
186 Mercedes 220 SE
186 Mercedes 220 SE
--14a and 400 B.E.V. Electric Truck (1948-60)
--33 Mechanical Horse and Five Assorted Trailers
--25m and 410 Bedford End Tipper (1948-63)
--25m and 410 Bedford End Tipper (1948-63)
Trailer Caravans
Austin Van 470
Meccano Liverpool pricelist French F.A.S. Tarif Exportation 1957
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
2024 AGM
-274 - A.A. Mini van
Dinky Toys books
2024 AGM
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)
-066 Bedford Flat Truck (1957-60)
-066 Bedford Flat Truck (1957-60)
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)
--40h and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952-59)