This article covers the history of the Dinky Supertoys Foden tankers which were released in four versions. The Dinky Supertoys fuel tankers that appeared later with beautiful period advertising of oil companies on the sides and rear of the tank are charming reproductions of the real fuel tankers that filled the underground tanks of roadside gas stations. They represent a period when the economy began to flourish once again after the war, and motorized traffic — thirsty for fuel — increasingly appeared on the roads.
The range of vehicles that Meccano Liverpool produced, including the Dinky Supertoys, began to expand. The large tankers were part of the Dinky Supertoys range whose production began in 1947 and continued until 1964. Their history is truly remarkable. There was an interruption in the use of the Dinky Supertoys name for a period of time that requires explanation, which I will describe in this article, and also show the beauty of these very popular tankers and their boxes.
Dinky Supertoys 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker with 1st type cab (1948–1952)
The first Dinky Supertoys tanker, the No. 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker, was advertised in the December 1948 issue of Meccano Magazine as “A fine model of one of the giant tankers familiar on our roads.” and was the fourth of five Foden truck models that were released. The advertisement included the Dinky Supertoys 521 Bedford Articulated Lorry and the Dinky Supertoys 562 Dumper Truck.
The first tankers were produced for five years without any advertising, and later with attractive logos. It was a marketing strategy by Meccano Liverpool that was designed to maximize profit from the model. They were released in various color combinations until 1953, with two types of Foden cabs as shown below. The Fodens were very popular and with their long production timespan, became a bestselling product of Meccano Liverpool.
Foden trucks and tankers were released with two types of cabs.
Image: Courtesy Michael Driver in Ramsay’s Model Toys Catalog 15th edition.
A Foden DG 8x4 tanker “BISOL”.
Image: Alan Biggs (Flickr).
Dinky Supertoys 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker
Image: Carter’s Price Guide.
Shown above is the Dinky Supertoys 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker with the 1st type cab and a circa 1948 1st type Dinky Supertoys picture box with an orange and white label. Note the silver flash on the side of the cab and the early black herringbone tires.
Interestingly, these tanker bodies weren’t made by Meccano Liverpool but were supplied by an outside contractor in London whose proprietor, Tom Atkins, was an ex-Meccano employee. The tanker section complete with pipe holders and ladders were assembled at Meccano after spraying, but the filler caps were a genuine Meccano item. (Source: Classic Toys, Volume 1 Issue 1 August/September 1994)
“It comes as a complete surprise to me that they were outsourced to Tom Atkins. Meccano were well versed in manufacturing complex tin parts.”
(Response by Vic Mumby)
Image: Vectis Auctions
Shown above is the Dinky Toys 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker with the 1st type cab but a light blue Dinky Toys picture box with an orange white label. Note the sudden change from the Dinky Supertoys box to a Dinky Toys box which occurred during 1951–52. More on this later.
Dinky Toys 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker with 2nd type cab (1952–1953)
A Foden S18-FG tanker “HOUSTON”.
Image: Alan Biggs (Flickr).
Image: Vectis Auctions
Shown above is the Dinky Toys 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker with a 2nd type cab with a Dinky Toys picture box. This Dinky Toys Foden tanker appeared for only one year in the 1952 Dinky catalogs. As described below, its release was very short and in May 1953 it was replaced by the Dinky 504 Foden Tanker “Mobilgas”.
The 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker with 2nd type cab included in 1952 Dinky catalogs for just one year, and classified as a Dinky Toys (not Dinky Supertoys) model. Also note the ridged (instead of grooved) hubs.
Oddly enough, the December (Christmas) 1952 issue of Meccano Magazine contained an advertisement for the No 504 Foden Tanker with a 1st type cab, while the version with the 2nd type cab was included in all 1952 Dinky catalogs. In Classic Toys Magazine (Volume 1, Issue 1, January/February 1995), Graham Bridges and Stewart Orr wrote:
“The first three Dinky models (with 2nd type cab) arrived in 1952 and were available within a few months of one another. The petrol tanker arrived one year later. The new chassis and cab was an entirely new casting and really bears no relation to the old ones.”
This leads me to conclude the 504 Foden petrol tanker with the 2nd type cab wasn’t available until 1953. Its release was short lived and it was replaced by the 504 Foden tanker “Mobilgas” which was introduced in the May 1953 issue of Meccano Magazine. Thus this combination of model and box is very scarce and highly sought after by collectors.
Dinky Toys 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Mobilgas” (1953–1955)
To make the familiar Foden tankers that lacked advertising more attractive and recognizable, Meccano Liverpool applied the name and logo of the respective oil companies to the tanks with beautiful transfers. No 504 Foden Tanker “Mobilgas” was the first model to feature an oil company’s name and logo, and was introduced in the May 1953 issue of Meccano Magazine as a Dinky Toys model. It was the start of the series of well-known oil company fuel tankers that were produced until the Meccano factory shut down in 1979.
The 504 Foden Tanker without advertising was replaced in 1953 by the 504 Dinky Toys Foden Tanker “Mobilgas”, and with all Fodens being classified as Dinky Toys. This was first advertised in the 1953 UK catalog shown above. The sales number 504 was retained with the addition of “Mobilgas”. The image on the Dinky Toys box received the Mobilgas transfers, and the “Mobilgas” suffix in black text was added to the model name.
A Mobilgas service station in the 1950s on the A4 near London with typical British cars, Morris Minor and a Ford Anglia, with attendants. At the time, gas stations were operated by attendants who provided service to motorists.
Image: Alamy
The 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Mobilgas” shown above with the attractive Mobilgas transfers has the flying horse (Pegasus) logo of the Mobil Oil company on either side as well as on the rear of the tanker. The white Mobilgas lettering on the sides of the red tank is outlined in blue and the red Mobil Oil flying horse logo faces forward. Meccano drawing Job No. 12821 B shown below indicates how the transfers on the tank were to be applied. The model is a US export version with the red H. Hudson Dobson export label on one side of the box.
Drawing of the Foden Tanker “Mobilgas” (Meccano Job No. 12821 B, dated 6 November 1952). The description of the change at point 2 in the drawing refers to the deletion of the 20 mph speed limit sign on 3 July 1957.
Image: Dave Busfield.
Here we see the rear left side of the model with the Mobilgas flying horse logo at the rear of the tank, facing forward as shown on the Meccano drawing above. This model is the the first version with red filler caps and grey tires, unlike the later version that has black filler caps and tires. This first version also includes the 20 mph speed limit sign on the left rear fender. This is my first model with a US export label and is in excellent condition. The box is stamped “M8 8”, possibly for the person who inspected the model.
The picture above shows the front of the model with its detailed radiator grill, headlights and bumper in silver trim. Access to the two filler caps (that were made by Meccano) on the roof of the tank is provided by a ladder on the front left of the tank. Below the tank on either side are connectors to connect a hose for delivering its contents to their destination.
Here we see the 504 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Mobilgas” with its Dinky Supertoys Foden base. The tin plate tank is attached to the chassis with six fold-over mounting tin tabs, with the spacing between the tabs being uneven along the length of the tank. The spare wheel is riveted to the chassis. The model is resting on a type 1 Dinky Toys 504 blue box with an orange and white label with an accurate image of the tanker, below which is the factory code number 50506.
This 504 box was soon replaced during the renumbering phase by a blue and white striped dual numbered 941–504 box, and later by a single numbered 941 box. The 941 box continued to sport the “Dinky Toys” name although the model was classified as part of the “new 900 Supertoys range”.
These pictures show the 941 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Mobilgas” on a dual numbered 941–504 blue on white striped Dinky Toys box (left) and a single numbered 941 box (right). Note the black filler caps and tires.
Dinky Toys or Dinky Supertoys?
Dinky collectors would have been surprised to see the 504 Foden Tanker with a Dinky Supertoys base suddenly being advertised as a Dinky Toys model and released in a Dinky Toys box, soon after the announcement and start of Dinky Supertoys production in August 1947. This is one of the remarkable developments at Meccano Liverpool.
In the early 1950s, Meccano Liverpool was struggling with renumbering and the move to the Dinky Supertoys name. Between March 1951 and January 1955, advertisements in Meccano Magazine bore the name Dinky Toys exclusively without any explanation. For four years, no Dinky catalog or price list mentioned Dinky Supertoys. Only the American catalogs from 1952 and 1953–1 still listed Dinky Supertoys, which must have been a mistake. No new Dinky Supertoys models were released and all new issues were named Dinky Toys. Existing Dinky Supertoys models were issued in Dinky Toys boxes during that period.
The new model 505 Foden Flat Truck with Chains (with a Dinky Supertoys base) that was advertised in the January 1952 issue of Meccano Magazine, was released as a Dinky Toys model with a first type cab and a Dinky Toys box. It seemed as if the Dinky Supertoys name was being phased out.
Reintroduction of the Dinky Supertoys name
In his New Year’s article in the January 1955 issue of Meccano Magazine, The Toyman announced the reintroduction of the Dinky Supertoys moniker with the words: “And I have one fine piece of news for you – the DINKY SUPERTOYS will return this year”.
In February 1955, Dinky Supertoys advertisements in Meccano Magazine resumed and the reclassification of 17 Dinky Toys to Dinky Supertoys was announced in the March 1955 issue, including the 941 Foden Tanker Mobilgas and all other Fodens, as shown in the pictures above.
The Dinky Supertoys advertisement of February 1955 announced: “New Dinky Supertoys will be added during the next few months”. The first Dinky Supertoys announced as “new” was the No. 972 Coles 20 Ton Lorry Mounted Crane which was pictured on the back cover of the May 1955 issue of Meccano Magazine. The reissue of Dinky Supertoys boxes took some time to be implemented in practice. The 941 Foden Tanker Mobilgas that had been recently reclassified as a Dinky Supertoys didn’t receive a Dinky Supertoys box, but two Dinky Toys boxes. Its successor, the Dinky Supertoys 942 Foden 14-ton Tanker Regent, was also initially released in a Dinky Toys box. Pictures of these boxes appear later in this article.
Cause of the interruption
The cause of the interruption of the Dinky Supertoys name in the early 1950s was undoubtedly the shortage of metal due to the Korean War (1950–1953). Because the production of Dinky Supertoys required more metal, production focused on Dinky Toys, causing the Dinky Supertoys name to temporarily disappear. The supply of Dinky Supertoys models was therefore very limited.
This coincides with a remarkable advertisement of Meccano Limited in the August 1951 issue of Boy’s Own Paper magazine. The advertisement shows a drawing of the Dinky Supertoys 561 Blue-Knox bulldozer in action with the statement: “UNLIMITED REALISM but limited numbers!”. Below the drawing is written “Dinky Toys are true to life – but today the metal from which they are made is urgently needed for the real thing. Look after your collection. To vary it, swap models with your friends until new ones are in the shops.”
Note:
The ad shown above was posted by DTCA Chairman Michael Driver in the July 2017 issue of the DTCA Journal, along with the description “Because of the metal shortages, the supply of Dinky Toys was restricted and Meccano produced limited supplies of Dinky Toys for sale in that period.” I was able to obtain this issue of Boy’s Own Paper and scanned the cover and ad for this article. I think it’s remarkable that this advertisement never appeared in Meccano Magazine.
Meccano Liverpool looked for alternative raw materials and produced some models in aluminum, such as the No. 581 Horse Box and the No. 582 Pullmore Car Transporter. But they also struggled with production capacity, as The Toyman revealed in his New Year’s editorial of January 1955: “Last year indeed Dinky Toys created new records, and even with the vastly increased production that followed on additions to our works during 1954 (Speke factory), we were still unable to keep pace with the demand.”
Dinky Supertoys 942 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Regent” (1955–1957)
To renew its range of Dinky Toys tanker vehicles, Meccano Liverpool introduced the popular Foden tanker in a new finish with the name and logo of the British Regent Oil Co. Ltd. in red, white, and blue Regent livery. This tanker was the first to be once again advertised as a Dinky Supertoys model, namely the Dinky Supertoys 942 Foden 14-Ton Tanker “Regent” in the June 1955 issue of Meccano Magazine, along with a separate description by The Toyman that read “The catalogue number of the Regent tanker is No. 942 and it is of course included in the Supertoys range”, thereby definitively classifying it as a Dinky Supertoys model.
A Foden FG Tanker Regent at a fuel depot.
Image: Aroldo Morais (Facebook)
A Regent gas station, Rockhead Street, Delabole, Cornwall (2013).
Image: E Y Busman (Flickr)
In the June 1955 issue of Meccano Magazine the Dinky Supertoys No. 942 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Regent” was advertised with the byline “Another version of the popular Foden 14-ton Tanker is now available in the well known Regent finish of red, white and blue.” It replaced the Dinky Toys 941 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Mobilgas”.
Shown above is the No. 942 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Regent” in its first blue and white striped Dinky Toys box, despite it being classified as a Dinky Supertoys in the advertisement and in The Toyman’s description above.
This picture shows the No. 942 Foden 14-ton Tanker “Regent” atop a correct Dinky Supertoys box and stamped “Z E1156” for “November 1956”. The company name “REGENT” is adorned in gold and outlined in black.
Shown above on the left is the Meccano drawing for the Foden Tanker “Regent”, Job. No. 12821.C dated 15 October 1953, supplied by Jan Werner. The description of change at point 2 of the drawing refers to the deletion of the 20 mph speed limit sign on 2 February 1957. On the right is Meccano Memo 17888 “Transfers for Foden Tanker Regent”, dated 18 October 1953 and supplied by the DTCA.
Shown above is the right front view of the Foden Tanker “Regent” with its radiator grill, bumper and headlights attractively accented in silver chrome.
The rear of the Foden Tanker “Regent” is adorned with the “TT REGENT” logo as shown in Meccano Memo 17888 pictured earlier, as well as the 20 mph speed limit sign on the left rear fender. Note the “LF” sticker on the end of the box, indicating the model was painted using lead free paint.
Shown here are four versions of the Dinky Supertoys Foden Fuel Tanker shared on Flickr by the late Dave Busfield. The Foden Dinky Supertoys tankers were succeeded in 1958 by three versions of the Leyland Octopus Supertoys tankers. They were the last tankers produced by Meccano Liverpool in the Dinky Supertoys range.
Acknowledgements
- Classic Toys, Vol 1 Number 1, August/September 1994
- DTCA Journal, July 2017