Toy Time

The other day I found my old Daimler ambulance. Today I have another old ‘car’ from my collection. I’ve put car in quotes because actually, it’s a van – a loudspeaker van.

Like many an old toy, it has seen better days but actually, apart from a repaint being needed, it isn’t in bad order. It is a Dinky but like other early models it has no base plate.

The maker’s marks are on the inside of the van roof.

This was one of my favourite Dinky toys. Vehicles like this really did roam the streets with somebody inside addressing the nation as they travelled. As a 5 year old, I saw this as a future job for me. I really fancied sitting there speaking to the world. Odd really – for despite a lifetime in a talking job (I was a teacher) I do talks to groups from time to time and I am absolutely riddled with nerves before I start.

Let’s return to the toy. It was almost certainly acquired at a jumble sale. New items just weren’t bought in my family. We were, it seems really poor for money, but I never realised this.  Web sites tell me that this model was made between 1936 and 1954 (but probably not during the 2^nd World War. It’s quite probable that mine is a pre-war one. I’m never much bothered by cash value but it might have some. As I write there is one on sale on EBay with a buy it now price of £45 and it isn’t looking much better than mine. Mind you, that may not sell. I notice ones that look good selling from £40 up to £120. But I’m not selling a bit of my old life.

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Tags: 1936, Dinkey, loudspeaker van, toy