DUBLO DINKY TOYS

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In November 1958, Meccano Ltd introduced the Dublo Dinky range of models to run alongside its popular Dinky Toys range. The Dublo series of vehicles was produced in 1:76 / OO scale and was initially designed to be used in line with the Hornby railway system but was also aimed to compete directly in the small-scale toy car market which at that time was dominated by Lesney’s Matchbox. 

The Dublo range was relatively cheap to produce having a one-piece die-cast metal body with a simple metal base plate and either smooth or treaded plastic wheels.

The Dinky Dublo range consisted of just 15 basic models although with upgrades and modifications that figure would increase to something like 42 variations. There were no colour changes throughout the short life of Dublo and all models came boxed.

The Dublo range met with only limited success so much so that the first model was withdrawn in October 1960 having only been on sale for just 18 months ! The writing was on the wall as yet further models were withdrawn over the following three years until finally in November 1963 those models that still remained in the range were also discontinued, a mere six years after the Dinky Dublo line was introduced.

Thus ended the production of Dublo Dinky Toys under Meccano who themselves went into receivership some two years later.

DUBLO DINKY TOYS – Model List

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061 FORD PREFECT

Fawn bodywork finish with silver trim

Grey smooth plastic wheels, tin base plate

Introduced 1958 – Withdrawn 1960

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062 SINGER ROADSTER

Orange bodywork finish with red interior, silver trim

Grey smooth plastic wheels, no base plate

Introduced 1958 – Withdrawn 1960

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063 COMMER VAN

Blue bodywork finish with silver trim

Grey smooth plastic wheels, tin base plate

Introduced 1958 – Withdrawn 1960

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064 AUSTIN LORRY

Green bodywork finish with silver trim

Grey or black smooth plastic wheels

Introduced 1957 – Withdrawn 1962

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065 MORRIS PICK-UP

Red bodywork finish with silver trim

Grey plastic smooth or tread wheels, no base plate

Introduced 1957 – Withdrawn 1960

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066 BEDFORD FLAT TRUCK 

Grey bodywork finish with silver trim

Grey smooth plastic wheels

Introduced 1959 – Withdrawn 1966

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067 AUSTIN TAXI

Blue lower body, cream upper body finish with silver trim

Plastic wheels black or grey tread, smooth grey plastic wheels

Introduced 1959 – Withdrawn 1964 

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068 MORRIS VAN ‘ROYAL MAIL’

Red bodywork finish with silver trim and royal crest

Grey or black plastic wheels with tread

Introduced 1959 – Withdrawn 1964

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  069 Massey Harris Tractor

 Blue bodywork finish, hole for driver, tow   hook

 Grey plastic wheels with tread

 Introduced 1969 – Withdrawn 1964

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070 AEC MERCURY TANKER – Shell / BP

Green cab with red tank

Black or grey plastic wheels with tread

Introduced 1959 – Withdrawn 1964

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071 Volkswagen Delivery Van

Yellow bodywork finish with silver trim, red ‘Hornby Dublo’ lettering

Black or grey plastic wheels with tread

Introduced 1960 – Withdrawn 1964

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072 BEDFORD ARTICULATED TRUCK

Yellow cab with red semi-trailer

Smooth grey, grey or black plastic wheels with tread

Introduced 1959 – Withdrawn 19964

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073 LAND ROVER and HORSE TRAILER with Horse

Green car with green or orange trailer, tan or white horse

Smooth grey, grey or black plastic wheels with tread

Introduced 1960 – Withdrawn 1964

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074 THIS NUMBER WAS NEVER USED

Intended to be allocated to a separate Land Rover model which was never issued

075 THIS NUMBER WAS NEVER USED

Intended to be allocated to a separate Horse Box model which was never issued

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076 LANSING BAGNALL TRACTOR & TRAILER

Maroon tractor/trailer, blue driver/seat

Black plastic wheels smooth or with tread

Introduced 1960 – Withdrawn 1964

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077 THIS NUMBER WAS NEVER USED

Intended to be allocated to an AEC Transporter model which was never issued

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078 LANSING BAGNALL TRAILER

Maroon bodywork finish with wire drawbar & tow hook

Black plastic wheels smooth or with tread

Introduced 1960 – Withdrawn 1964

Glamorgan Toy Products

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Glamorgan Toy Products often referred to simply as Glamtoys or the even shorter GTP were based in Hannah Street, Porth, Mid-Glamorgan, South Wales and it goes without saying that the company name was derived from its geographical location.

Glam Toys, which I will refer to in future as GTP, was founded in 1935 by Jacob Beatus who was a pre-war emigre from Nazi Germay and, like his compatriot Phillip Ullman of Mettoy fame, set himself up producing tin plate toys but on a much more modest scale.

The toys produced by GTP were small, basic tin toys, cheap to produce and cheap at the toy counter and it goes without saying that Woolworths were one of GTP’s largest sales outlets. Typical GTP toys included racing and saloon cars, emergency vehicles etc. together with various novelty items such as ‘clicking’ frogs and other animals as well as small railway rolling stock items and the like.

Products were often marked simply ‘Made in England’ or ‘Made in Gt. Britain’, vehicles usually carried a registration plate marked ‘GTP’ followed by a three digit number which can be used in helping to compile a comprehensive list of the GTP vehicle range.

GTP toys came unboxed and as a result it is difficult to find any that come in pristine condition the majority in fact tend to be classed as ‘play-worn’. Post War saw a change in attitudes both from the retailers and the buying public and a more sophisticated market place demanded that toys now be packaged in individual boxes. Reacting to this GTP gave up part of their manufacturing plant and began to produce their own boxes in house. However it soon became clear to the management that they could make greater profits from producing the packaging rather than from the toys they contained. 

By 1935 toy making had been abandoned at GTP and Jacob Beatus now concentrated his efforts in producing cartons under the name Jacob Beatus Ltd.

The Automatic Garage pictured above is part of the GTP product range, numbered GTP 584, the garage features detailed tin-printing in colours, an automatic spring loaded door and is some 15cm. wide.