In this article, I’ll show the three versions of the Dinky Supertoys 562 Muir-Hill Dumper Truck in my collection. Among them is the British No. 562 that was imported into France and assembled by Meccano Bobigny, and assigned the product number 887. This model was produced by Meccano Bobigny from 1959 to 1961. The English model 562 was renumbered to 962 in 1954 and remained in Dinky catalogs until 1965. The Muir-Hill Dumper Truck was so popular that it had a production run of 17 years!
Dinky Supertoys 562 was announced in the September 1948 issue of Meccano Magazine in an advertisement that highlighted following features:
- adjustable front wheels
- tipping bucket
- reversible driving seat
In the December 1948 issue of the same magazine an article titled “Mechanical Surface Excavation Plant” described the Dinky Supertoys 562 as a Muir-Hill Hiway dumper, and included two images of the real Muir-Hill Hiway dumper truck.
The real Muir-Hill Hiway dumper on which the Dinky Supertoys 562 Dumper Truck was based.
Muir-Hill Hiway Dumper Truck brochure.
Images: Dave Busfield
The Muir-Hill Hiway Dump Truck Model 10B that included a raked steering column and a seat that could be rotated. The Model 10A has a fixed seat.
Image: Grace’s Guide
Front view of the Dinky Supertoys 962 Muir Hill Dumper Truck with rubber tires and a blue driver.
Close up of the Muir-Hill Hiway Dumper Truck showing the swivel driver’s seat.
Image: Grace’s Guide
The first version of the Dinky Supertoys 562 Dumper Truck with metal wheels and cast tan driver in a first version Dinky Supertoys box.
The French assembled English Dinky Supertoys 562 Muir-Hill Dumper Truck with French blue and white striped Dinky Supertoys box bearing the French product number 887 and named “Basculeur Automoteur (Dumper) Muir-Hill”, produced during 1959–1961.
Shown below is the Muir-Hill Dumper Truck model that was exported by Meccano Liverpool to Meccano France in 1951 as number 562. In Paris it was repackaged in a French box and released for sale in France as No. 562 “Dumper Basculeur Automoteur”. Also see my other article 6 UK Dinky Toys repackaged by Meccano Paris for the French market (1950–1951).
The English Dinky Supertoys 562 repackaged in France for the French market as “Dumper Basculeur Automoteur ” in 1951.
No. 962 Muir-Hill Dumper Truck in yellow red Dinky Supertoys picture lid box, with rubber tires and blue plastic driver.
Comparing the heights of the English No. 562 (left) and French No. 887 (right) Dinky Supertoys Muir-Hill Dumper Truck. The English model had metal tires while the French model had rubber tires.
Rear view of the English No. 562 (left) and French No. 887 (right) Dinky Supertoys Muir-Hill Dumper Truck.
In “The Great Book of Dinky Toys” by Mike and Sue Richardson, the authors state the wheel, tire and steering wheel assembly of the No. 562 Muir-Hill Dumper Truck are the same as those of the No 27A Massey-Harris tractor.
Comparing the wheels of the Muir-Hill Dumper Truck (L: English No. 962, R: French No. 887)
Shown above are the different versions of the hubs of the front wheels of the French No. 887 Basculeur Automoteur Dumper Muir-Hill. The earlier version on the right has concave hubs while the later version has convex hubs. The text “Meccano Fab. en France” on the rear rubber tires on the model on the right is also clearly visible.
First version of the English Muir-Hill Dumper Truck
The chassis and baseplate of the first version of the English Muir-Hill Dumper Truck lacked a model number. It sported metal wheels and had a rivet in front central area that was used to fasten the headlights to the model.
No. 887, the French assembled version of the No. 562 English Muir-Hill Dumper Truck
The No. 887 French assembled version of the No. 562 English model had “562” inscribed on the chassis while the baseplate was inscribed “887” and the legend “Assemble en France Meccano Paris”. This version also had rubber tires and lacked a rivet for fastening the headlights.
Dinky Supertoys 962 Muir-Hill Dumper Truck with number 562 on the chassis.
Shown above is the No. 962 Muir-Hill Dumper Truck with the number “562” on the chassis, rubber tires, and a matte black baseplate without a model number.
Here are the three versions of the Muir-Hill Dumper Truck. From left to right: Dinky Supertoys 562, the French 887 and the 962. Note the clearly visible differences in color.
Shown above are the same models on their boxes.
Finally, here are the three versions of the Muir-Hill Dumper Truck in their boxes, showing the inner packing pieces. From left to right: Dinky Supertoys 562, the French 887 and the 962.