Where everything started

God bless America and the Dowst industry...

Tootsietoy their toys brand was the first to produce O gauge model cars with grille, base & body assembly and rubber tyres, those where the first diecast models.

The Dinky toys resulted from this assembly system, it is said that Frank Hornby copied without the authorization which prevented the export of his miniatures to the USA until 1945.

It is in 1933 that Tootsietoys launched by agreement with Graham Paige the Blue Streak, available in several versions, four bodies were made using one or two spare wheels and three of them were also provided with a touch of tan on the roof simulating a soft convertible top.

Dinky 24g Tourer

Switzerland and Belgium despite their common boundaries with France, imported more british Dinky toys than French ones. In the fifties those countries even had special catalogues with both sides of the pond's material.

Carter Paterson covered wagon

I got both at the same period last autumn. First the black hubs one which I acquired from an eighty years old english boy on the  internet. This used to be one of the best pieces of his collection. And... indeed, it's a very nice one, really fresh with hardly minor scuffs. The decals are intact and despite a part of the hook missing and a small crack at the cabin, it's free of any fatigue...

Dinky 24g Tourer

Introduced in 1934 with the seven other models of the glorious 24th serie, the tourer (aka four seater), reproduces perfectly the spirit of the pre war sport car which  remained untill the MG T was deleted in the 50's

That 24g is believed to be based upon the Morris Sports special Four-Seat relaesed in 1934 althoug it's commonly admitted that the 24 serie never tried to reproduce existing cars, therefore one can imagine everything about the brand of this one.

Ovaltine for health

This was my first original delivery van, as many others I got it from eBay, pre war Dinky toys rarely come in the shops in France...

Another van ...

... Came in with the Crawford's biscuits van. I think I won't have any words to describe my feelings when I held this one in my hands, after a speed dating with a picture I 'd felt in love "at first sight". But when I received it, I couldn't believe my eyes, super bright color, free wheeling (which is in fact quiet rare for an almost eighty years old Dinky toy), decals on the top and ... Blue hubs !!! Yes you know how to make me sell my soul now.

As the Crawford's biscuit van, it comes from a #28/2 trade box (I'll write something about trade boxes soon), and had a "long life" from the early 1935 to late 1939. It's an impressive exemple in a really near mint condition, the mix of the colours is just splendid...

The original Pickfords removals van

I recently had the chance of buying a very rare original Pickfords van... 

Introduced in early 1935, available by june but discontinued in the early weeks of 1936, the reference 28b Pickfords van was soon replaced by the new 28b Seccotine van. Available in february 1936 the Seccotine van stood until the third casting in 1939...