Yet another trailer ! When receiving for a short time the n-plus-one example of this trailer in a lot, I decided to study the variants of the model. And you know what ? There are several variants!
Looking a bit around, I noticed that I have four different variants, and there are two other variants I don't have yet in my collection...
The production
This trailer appeared for the first time in the June 1949 issue of MECCANO MAGAZINE and remained in the DINKY catalogs until 1970. Quite a long life for this model !
One can notice that the wordings under the trailer show "HALESOWEN FARM TRAILER" despite the commercial 3-models boxes of the beginning and then the individual boxes have the printing "HARVEST TRAILER".
The différent versions
The very first version is all made with zamac, including the wheels and the little wheel under the tow bar (this one being the same as the wheel mounted on #190 CARAVAN TRAILER or the wheels of the #107A SACK TRUCK). Color is light brown and bright red. No reference number cast under the body or paint support. No rear beam. The steel blade under the towing eye is fixed with rivet that goes through the casting.
The second version the same as above, but the circular support for painting has been added under the casting near the wheels axle.
The third version has the #27B reference number cast on the left upper part, before the DINKY TOYS wording.
The fourth version has the new #320 catalog number written on a partially squared block cast over the #27B, following the 1954 renumbering. A beam is added at the rear of the trailer, around the hook between the both longitudinal beams.
The fifth version is fitted with yellow plastic SUPERTOYS hubs and sooth tyres. The little front wheel is now in grey plastic (same as the wheels of the trailer of #796 HEALEY SPORTS BOAT). The rivet holding the steel blade under the towing ring is no more visible from the upperside.
I discovered a sixth and probably last version of this trailer ! Identical to the fifth version, but the front wheel has been deleted. Note that this is not a fifth version with missing wheel ! The holes for the axle have been filled. The rear hook is riveted on a square block added under the beam, with the positioning tabs for the rear hook on each side instead of on the front.
The following pictures show the towing rings on the trailers. On the left one the rivet holding the steel blade is visible, on the right one the rivet is no more visible.
Original post published on December 31st, 2016
Version en français ici.
