Brimtoy Diecast

[Ewan]

Along with the 2 Moko Crawlers featured elsewhere the other reason for my purchase of the no-Dinky lot of Dinky was this Brimtoy Bedford O articulated lorry. I only recently found out that Brimtoy made diecast as I'd thought they were tinplate only, but there seem to have been a few cars and some trucks based on the Bedford O type. There are some rigids with a variety of tinplate bodies and the artics like this one with the same chassis cab and a tinplate trailer. I could see that the axles were missing but didn't realise the grille would be too. Having looked at it I'm guessing that the rear axle on the tractor was with a clockwork motor as it appears to have been held in with tabs passing through the body rather than crimping the axle through brackets on the actual casting.

I presume that the only way to repair this model is going to be by cannibalising another one? The thing is, I can't see there being too many of these around that would be so bad I could justify breaking them up in order to fix this one. Could anyone tell me if the tinplate models have axles and/or motors which are interchangeable with this one? Looking at photos the grilles seem different.

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DSCN7003 (450x337).jpg (77.17 KiB) Viewed 1346 times

[Ewan]

Another Brimtoy Pocketoy diecast to come my way is this Sunbeam Talbot. Apparently this and Brimtoy's Vauxhalls were the first new diecast models of British cars released after WW2, rather than reissues of pre war cars. Someone has obviously had a real go at the baseplate and I quite fancy getting hold of another front axle and seeing if I can straighten it out.

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[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hi Ewan, Brimtoy, Wells Brimtoy Wells-o-Toys whatever brand you want to call them, was a very large British toy company with parts coming from various suppliers. You would have to have a stock of beater models from the diecast and plastic ranges to be fortunite enough to find a replacement clockwork assembly for your truck and trailer.

The picture below shows what could be termed as a plastic version of the diecast metal version you show.

BRIMTOY O-Type truck and trailer.JPG (78.47 KiB) Viewed 1229 times

Only the cab itself is plastic, the rest is still tinplate.

BRIMTOY Bedford O-Type base.jpg (79.71 KiB) Viewed 1229 times

Here is the underside , the clockwork unit looks as if it could be fitted into the diecast model.

It would then be a shame to destroy that model if you can only find a good example!

This model however can be found easier in differing conditions.

BRIMTOY Bedford S-Type Ambulance.jpg (48.94 KiB) Viewed 1229 times

I have seen these for just a few pounds at UK toy fairs.

BRIMTOY Bedford S-Type Ambulance base.jpg (38.48 KiB) Viewed 1229 times

The underside of the Ambulance showing the same type of clockwork unit.

There are later versions of the Ambulance model with a friction drive unit replacing the clockwork unit and they can not be fitted to your model (or fitted with some fiddling about!), as it consists of the whole chassis assembly with the friction power unit built into the front section.

GHOSTHUNTER.