Matchbox 1-75 series; left to right; MG TD No 19a (production 1956-1958), Massey-Harris tractor No, 4a (production 1954-1957}, Caterpillar Tractor No, 8a (production 1955-1959}. All are around 1/70th scale.
All these were purchased as a ‘job-lot’ for about £7. All are becoming rather scarce and to find three at once for a good price was quite surprising.
The MG needed a replacement driver, the tractor was missing a wheel and the Caterpillar required replacement tracks. This effectively doubled the price but still a satisfying deal.
Matchbox combine harvester ‘selection’:
From left to right:
MB 1-75 series No. 51(e), combine harvester; production 1978-1993; smaller than oo scale
Major pack No. M5, Massey Ferguson 780 special combine harvester; production 1966-?; probably around oo scale
MB 1-75 series No, 65(c), Claas combine harvester; production 1968-1973; smaller than oo scale
The 942 Foden Regent petrol tanker has always been considered one of Dinky’s more attractive models.
This one is a repro; but it’s a pretty faithful rendering by Atlas / Mattel and at a fraction of the price of an original. (Now priced in the 100s of pounds.)
In May last year, I bought a potted lily plant from a well-known retailer it netted down to about £1 after some bonus loyalty points.
It’s not very clear from the image but it was actually three smaller plants in the one pot whic grew rapidly and it was possible to split them into three separate pots within a week or two.
All three plants bloomed rather well but there is only one image available.
After flowering they died down and above-ground growth was removed in early spring 2020. However, all three plants subsequently regenerated and flowered in early June.
Some years ago, I found a tiny chestnut tree growing in one of my herbaceoous borders. I carefully removed it — it was so ‘young’ that it had not yet put down roots and was relying on the actual chestnut from which it had sprouted, for nutrients. It was potted up and rather surprisingly continued to develop. It has been potted-on a few times and is now a pretty strong dwarf tree. Still in a pot it is cut right back each year but continues to put on healthy growth each season.
Here it is in April 2019, having been cut back and showing new growth.
June 2019: full-leaf:
August 2019: showing early signs of Autumnal colouration. This small tree tends to ‘go over’ very early. My ‘main’ chestnut which is coppiced to about 10-12 feet also loses leaf before other trees.
October 2019: still with the year’s growth and ‘resting’ and absorbing.
December 2019: now devoid of leaf and almost ready to be cut back again. Fence repair required!
February 2020; Ready to go again…
Somtimes I think it might not ‘come back’, but so-far-so-good. It’s pretty carefully ‘tended’ during the season.
From left to right; a Matchbox ‘Models of Yesteryear’ first issue (Y7A) (1957) 4-ton Leyland lorry (Jacobs livry) which if the ‘books’ are correct was replaced almost immediately by Y7B, Mercer Raceabout.
Next, in the 1-75 series, No. 49a (first issue) M3 personnel carrier, produced 1958 to 1967. Good condition apart from missing tracks (since replaced).
Second from right 1-75 series No. 21a Bedford Coach produced from 1956 to 1958. This first issue was replaced by a slightly larger but otherwise identical, version in 1958. (69mm as against 55mm). Matchbox seem to make a habit of replacing models with slightly larger ones for reasons not immediately clear. Perhaps the moulds wore out and it was done for logistic and financial reasons. Some of the first issue were very small indeed; possibly too small for the young market they were aimed at?
Lastly a 1-75 series London Routemaster No. 5d. Despite the ‘D’ this was the fifth variation of ‘No.5’. THe first three were AEC Regent models (numbered usually as ‘RT’xxxx by London Transport). Like the coach, the ‘5b’ (1956-1961) was basically a slightly enlarged version of 5a (1954-1956) and was itself replaced by another further enlarged Regent model from 1961 (No. 5c). However, a Routemaster model was also introduced in 1961 and also designated 5c. In 1966, the 5d (again a larger model) was introduced with body colour grille and uprated internal detailing. It ran till 1969 (replaced by the Lotus Europa (aka Lotus 47).
ack: John Ramsey; “British Diecast Model Toys”
Meccano launched a range of oo-scale die-cast toys in 1958 to complement their Hornby Dublo model railways.
The range, of only 15 different models, was produced from 1958 to 1966. (Precise dates differ depemding on the source).
This Bedford flat truck (No. 066) was introduced in 1959 and was one of the last to be phased out. The Triang-Hornby merger made these attractive small ‘Dinkys’ somewhat redundant as Triang were eager to promote their own alternatives particularly ‘Minic Motorways’ — an oo-scale slot car system designed to integrate fully with Trian-Hornby model railways.
Not the greatest example; the paintwork has very likely been tinkered with and the box is a ‘repro’ but at less than 10% of the price of a good one, no need to complain.
eagleash 