Flared Wings V/S Rounded Wings

The two main books about Minic are quiet confusing about the first and second series. Sue Richardson in her 1981 self published book writes that flared wings came first but in his book "The Minic book" published by New Cavendish in 1987, Peter Bartok claims that rounded wings came first.

So basically, one of the two authors was wrong about that question but which one ?

Knowing the different works of Mike and sue Richardson, I would be inclined to believe Sue Richardson, It would (my own theory) means that Tri-ang would have made a complex pressing for the wings in the first series and then another less complex and perhaps less costly but to compensate for this, would have added the famous tin petrol can on the running board. 

Alas there's a flaw in this theory, rounded wings can be found with or without the petrol can.

Flared wings

Second theory, according to Peter Bartock, rounded wings came first and in the second series, the cars could be found either with rounded wings (with petrol can) or flared ones.

Again there's something itches me, why would Tri-ang made some other wings at this time while the rounded wings with petrol can were launched.

Rounded wings

It finally took me a few months to find out the real story. As always with contemporary "little" History, it's hard to get information from the toys themselves, people who created them are no longer with us for many years. All we can do is to start from period documents and fortunately, the first advertising in Meccano magazine in 1935 is conclusive. Flared wings can clearly be seen on them. Irrevocable.

Well, Sue Richardson was right, flared wings came first, then rounded with or without tin petrol can. But ! It doesn't mean that flared wings have been deleted in 1936, indeed, they can be seen on some 34M Standard open tourer with passengers, and I've seen some product from the late thirties with the cruder pressing, in particular the rear rack or the triangle on the front doors.

Below some larger pictures of the models above

 

 

Flared wings and petrol can one of the rare examples as seen on

this 34M Open tourer with passengers by Taylor & Barrett.

To conclude, if I know now how it begins, the following years of production are somewhat obscure...

Anyway, from Wings to Birds there's only one step to do and... The Birds were a British outfit which started playing in 1964, they're famous for having Art's brother Ron Wood as lead guitarist. By 1965 the American Byrds were number one in the charts with Bob Dylan's cover Mr. Tambourine man.

The Birds then rechristened themselves Birds Birds and made a last single on the new label Reaction.

Say those magic words of course flopped, and it's a shame because it's one of the most exciting single of the period. After that the Birds split, Ron wood joined the Jeff Beck group and later the Rolling Stones, Bass player Kim Gardner went on to join the Creation another damned band...