One of the longest lived models in Dinky Toys history was the 25h (250) Streamlined Fire Engine. First introduced around 1936, halted in 1941 due to WWII, then reintroduced in 1946, and made until 1957. Some report that it was still made up until 1962.
One of the earliest versions was the 25k Streamlined Fire Engine with Firemen. This little model featured 6 stamped, embossed tinplate firemen, with hand painted faces and helmets. Only made from around 1939 through 1941, then discontinued. Here is a close-up of the firemen.
The early post war models had plain black wheels, and a baseplate with simulated drive train, early 1950’s versions had red wheels, and finally, from the mid-1950’s they had a silver painted ladder, and the last ones also had treaded tires.
Here is the early post war baseplate, with simulated drive train.
And this is the later 1950’s plain baseplate.
The next picture shows all four major versions.
In trying to find the original prototype that Dinky Toys based this toy on, a collector found a photo in the Meccano Magazine from April 1935. TalkModelToys (2003–11) showed this photo of the Merryweather and Sons Ltd of London fire engine.
Photograph by David John Busfield
PlanetDiecast (2011–12) also discussed the prototype fire engine. So this truck was a very popular model for a very long time and collectors continue to talk about it!