“…my old friend!”

en vente cette semaine: Dinky Toys France – Peugeot 203 type 1 254R VERT METAL – Edil toys – Iso Griffo 12 Dinky Toys France – Peugeot 203 type 1 24 R BLEU METAL – Edil toys – Ferrari 275gtb 9

…an encounter that my father and I had in Birmingham, at the NEC. Located in the eastern suburbs of this major English city, the venue was dedicated to trade shows, exhibitions, and even concerts. It could be compared to the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, though on a larger scale. In fact, it hosted major events, as London lacked a venue with such capacity. The site was strategically positioned, not far from the M1—a motorway running the length of the country from north to south. The airport was nearby, and the venue was also served by a railway station. It was only logical, then, that Barry Potter—a prominent organizer of vintage toy events in England—would choose to host an exhibition there. I recall the early editions, where two immense halls were filled with exhibitors; it was billed as the largest toy-related event in Europe. During one edition in the 1990s, my father and I were chatting in front of a vendor’s table when, to our surprise, the man joined the conversation in perfect French—tinged with just a hint of a Belgian accent. He introduced himself as Erik. He was of Norwegian origin and had spent his entire career at Massey Ferguson, including many years stationed in Beauvais, where the company had an assembly plant. Later, he was sent to Brazil and then India, before concluding his professional life in Great Britain at the tractor manufacturer’s European headquarters near Coventry, where he lived. He dedicated his entire working life to Massey Ferguson—a reflection of an era when one could remain with the same employer for one’s whole career. Erik, for his part, held his former employer in high regard. It was in Beauvais that he had learned our language. He was a jovial man, clearly delighted to be speaking French, and we struck up a friendship. We continued to see each other for twenty years, and I even visited his home several times. We shared another passion: English Dinky Toys trucks—that was his primary focus when it came to collecting miniatures. In fact, my father and I even traveled across the Channel with the goal of finding different color variations of models like the Foden and the Guy. I thought of him when I saw the Massey Ferguson 1035 made by Milton, an Indian toy manufacturer.

en vente cette semaine : Milton – Massey Ferguson 35 tracteur 835

Clever as he was, during his time posted in India, he had managed to hold onto several examples of these models—which were also distributed through the Indian Massey Ferguson network. I bought a few from him. He quickly grasped the appeal and rarity of the items, and their selling prices soon skyrocketed. The object itself is superb. There is also a plastic version, which came in a gold-colored box; Erik let me have a few of those as well. I have a soft spot for agricultural machinery, and I even made an exception to my usual collecting habits by acquiring a few models in larger scales—1/20, and even 1/15! After all, every rule needs an exception! We also have a Fordson by Charbons—a beautiful piece, and quite rare, especially in such a fine state of preservation. The figure is often missing. Toys of this type, cobbled together with whatever materials were at hand, never featured high-quality paint; and since they were sold in general bazaars, they were certainly never intended to become collector’s items. Finding an original example in this condition is a real feat. Erik would surely have agreed—and, with that guileless smile of his, he would have punctuated his remark with a, “…my dear fellow!” It was a charming little verbal tic of his.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Charbens – Fordson tracteur agricole

Thinking of him brings another memory to mind. In addition to his Dinky Toys trucks, he kept a display case dedicated to the world of agriculture—a nod to his professional past—filled with tractors from brands that competed with Massey Ferguson. This superb Hanomag Robust by Siku, also up for sale, could easily have belonged in that collection. I particularly like its modern, “boxy” design, which stands in contrast to the two older tractors mentioned earlier. It is the 1960s, and the appearance of agricultural machinery is beginning to evolve. This Siku model embodies all the qualities one expects from the German toy manufacturer.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Siku – Hanomag Robust 900 V287

The Dinky Toys Foden Mk 2 tanker would have delighted Erik; it was exactly the kind of product he enjoyed. While this color combination might be less striking in a display case than the versions branded “Mobilgas” or “Regent,” it is also significantly rarer than those two. The first examples of the Foden Mk 2 tanker to leave the Liverpool factory featured the same two color schemes seen on its predecessor, the Foden Mk 1: a two-tone blue, and a red cab/chassis paired with a putty-colored tank. This latter combination had appeared on the Foden Mk 1 shortly before the transition to the new cab design, so it was only logical that the new model—the Foden Mk 2—would adopt it as well. Before long, however, Dinky Toys decided to add advertising decals to the tank. This proved to be such a success that it long kept this red-and-putty version in the shadows. It is a rare piece. It is also worth noting a small detail that speaks volumes about the mindset at Meccano.

modèle en vente cette semaine  : Dinky Toys GB – Foden Mk 2 citerne 504

modèle en vente cette semaine: Dinky Toys GB – Guy otter plateau dosseret 513

This variant is much harder to find than the version equipped with navy blue mudguards. The shade of yellow is distinct—one could even argue it is an entirely different color. I also recall that Erik—having run out of new Foden and Guy variants to collect within the 25 series—began looking elsewhere; a classic phenomenon among collectors, where one eventually broadens the scope of their search. This week, I would like to highlight this 25D “Pool” tanker truck. Much like the aforementioned Guy model, its light-gray shade contrasts with the more common dark-gray version. The tampo-printed markings are superb. It is a fine piece that is easy to date: it appeared during the war and remained in production until the end of the 1940s. The condition of this particular example is exceptional.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Dinky Toys GB – Camion type 2 citerne pool 25D

French-made celluloid toys do not attract much interest among collectors. They appear to have been produced from the mid-1930s to the late 1950s. The oldest example in my own collection dates from the mid-1930s and originated in Japan—these were produced for the American market. They were made as single, solid pieces and were intended to be hung on Christmas trees. Later, versions were developed that could stand on their own, fitted with independent wheels. These celluloid toys were sold at markets by traveling vendors or in variety stores—they were inexpensive, mass-market items, sold with little care. It is rare to find one that still has its original individual packaging. They are, quite simply, trinkets or cheap novelties. Many enthusiasts disparage them, failing to appreciate their true worth; for my part, I see a historical interest in these models. One simply needs to place them back in their original context—primarily, they were sold in rural areas. I imagine that, in a war-torn, post-war France, their vibrant colors must have been their greatest appeal. One only has to look at the models for sale this week—a Renault milk truck, a Peugeot 601, and an aerodynamic coupé, all three in pink—to see for oneself.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Cellulo – Peugeot 601

modèle en vente cette semaine : Lavirolette – Auto coupé aérodynamique mécanique

modèle en vente cette semaine : Cellulo – Renault camion laitier

modèle en vente cette semaine : Cellulo – Latil camion charbonnier

The bright orange “Latil” coal truck fits right in. One must also learn to appreciate the aerodynamic—sometimes even exaggerated—lines of these little toys, which transport us back to a specific era. I imagine they truly fired the imaginations of the lucky children who owned them—children for whom brands like Dinky Toys or AR were financially out of reach. Models such as the Peugeot 402 coupé or the 302—an aerodynamic, motorized coupé—embody the very essence of speed. They possess a certain charm when displayed, and I keep them in my cabinet alongside my AR pieces and other *plastiline* (plastic-molded) models. It is high time to take an interest in them. Personally, I have sought to assemble a coherent collection, without feeling the need to track down every color variant. These models are fragile, so it is important to select pieces that have been well preserved. They are sold at reasonable prices—an open invitation to explore.

An odd pairing—like a carp and a rabbit. Every time I see this unusual set, I can’t help but think about the decisions made by Solido’s management. Around that same period, looking to get more mileage out of existing tooling, Solido put together three gift sets that shared the same packaging: a plastic base (silver, or sometimes blue) topped with a clear plastic lid. The whole thing was protected by a cardboard sleeve featuring illustrations of the three models included. Looking at the drawings on the sleeve, one has to wonder why Solido chose to pair the trailer and outboard motor with a Citroën Ami 6 estate, rather than with the sporty, two-seater Alfa Romeo—it’s hard to imagine that elegant spider at a campsite! This incongruity only adds to the charm of the toy—for that is exactly what it is: a toy. These sets have always been hard to come by. At the time of their release, many Solido collectors failed to see their appeal; the odd nature of the pairings likely led to them being rejected. I recall seeing collectors swap the trailers around in their display cases to make the combinations seem more plausible. This week, we have a superb example, complete with a beautiful box and even its fragile cardboard sleeve—a piece that is often missing. It’s the kind of item that any enthusiast would be proud to own.

modèle en vente cette semaine : Solido – Alfa Romeo Giulieta cabriolet avec caravane 158