Hi all, an attempt now for an overview (not in all details) of the Commer Fire Engine and its variations in models and boxes:










Year: 1952


Ladder: brown


Plastic windows: no


Reels: medium grey


Rear control panel: red-silver


Hubs: diecast


Tyres: grey radial tread


Base plate: brunofix, Dinky Toys 555


Box type 1 (blue, black/orange printed label)







Year: 1953


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: no


Reels: medium grey


Rear control panel: red-silver


Hubs: diecast


Tyres: grey radial tread


Base plate: brunofix, Dinky Toys 555


Box type 1 (blue, black/orange printed label)


 




Years: 1953-54


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: no


Reels: medium grey


Rear control panel: red-silver


Hubs: diecast


Tyres: grey radial tread


Base plate: brunofix, Dinky Toys 555


Box type 2.1 (Striped, DINKY TOYS 555)









Year: 1954


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: no


Reels: medium grey


Rear control panel: red-silver


Hubs: diecast


Tyres: grey radial tread


Base plate: brunofix, Dinky Toys 555


Box type 2.2 (Striped, DINKY TOYS 555/955)


 





Year: 1954-55


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: no


Reels: light grey (slight distortion on the left)


Rear control panel: red-silver


Hubs: diecast


Tyres: grey radial tread


Base plate: brunofix, Dinky Supertoys 955


Box type 2.3 (Striped, DINKY TOYS 955)




(The short sides showing differences between box types 2.1-2.3)








Years: 1955-56


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: no


Reels: light grey


Rear control panel: red-silver


Hubs: diecast


Tyres: grey radial tread


Base plate: brunofix, Dinky Supertoys 955


Box type 2.4 (Striped, DINKY SUPERTOYS 955)







Years: 1957-1960


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: no


Reels: light grey (distorted on the left)


Rear control panel: red-silver


Hubs: diecast


Tyres: grey radial tread (later grey or black block
tread)


Base plate: brunofix, Dinky Supertoys 955


Box type 2.5 (Striped, DINKY SUPERTOYS in italics 955)









Years: 1961-63


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: yes


Reels: light grey (repaired)


Rear control panel: red-silver


Hubs: diecast


Tyres: black block tread


Base plate: gloss, Dinky Supertoys 955


Box type 2.5 (Striped, DINKY SUPERTOYS in italics ‘with
windows’)


 





Years: 1964-?


Box type 3 (USA market yellow visipac box)


 



Years: 1964-65


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: yes


Reels: light grey (repaired, distorted on the left)


Rear control panel: all silver


Hubs: plastic


Tyres: black block tread


Base plate: matt, Dinky Supertoys 955


Box type 4 (yellow illustrated lid box DINKY
SUPERTOYS)








Years: 1966-70


Ladder: silver


Plastic windows: yes


Reels: light grey (repaired, distorted on the left)


Rear control panel: all silver


Hubs: plastic


Tyres: grey block tread


Base plate: gloss, Dinky Supertoys 955


Box type 5 (lavishly illustrated sturdy end flaps box
DINKY TOYS)



There are several other details which may vary, for instance the fitting of the ladder, the washers, fittings of the bells etc.

Any suggestions, corrections and additions welcome!

I would love to see a visipac-boxed example!

Kind regards, Jan Werner

Jan--Most interesting study, at least for us diehard Dinky fans! It as very nice to see such good pictures of both the models and the boxes on so many variations. I only have one version of this, and am away for a week, so cannot pull it out and compare, but it is about 1956....for sure a striped box. That is amazing that Dinky made that model so long with so many variations....thanks so much for posting!

Excellent history on this iconic Dinky fire engine. I had one as a child but unfortunately that one is gone. I have has a few through my hands but only that as they were not in very good condition. I will find the one I want, eventually.

Thanks for the great list of variations on the engine.

A typical article from Jan with fabulous pictures, all the details, first class mint models. What else would one want ?

wow, these are awesome.

got a couple of wrecks both with repro ladders

Jan,
great pics and background info.
There is one word I cannot place: Base plate: brunofix

What is Brunofix?

I did a resto a while ago, but kept the original tyres

I am guessing that Jan is referring to the baseplates used from after the war until around 1959 or 1960, when they went to a smooth, gloss finish......but I will let Jan confirm that!

Thanks for the replies, and I still hope one of you might post a picture of the visipac box for the Fire Engine. Brunofix is that hard to imitate chemical blackening of Dinky Toys tin base plates and washers for spare wheels etc., different from true painting (like on the later glossy or matt base plates).
It is hardly ever referred to but on page 194 of the GBofDT you will find a very short note about that regarding the finish of the washer for the Foden Wagon's spare wheel.
We did not unveil every secret about this process, after some discussion on the talk model toys forum, subsequent to a posting of mine describing the no. 501 Foden Wagon.
An invitation to everyone to shed more light on this challenging topic!

Kind regards, Jan Werner

You need to write a book...that is if you haven't already.

Brunofix or what ever it is called in English is a thermal treatment of steel plates. This was also used on some French Dinky for a while. I think that the base plates were subcontracted out of the French factory and different suppliers may have used different treatments.
It is little known that the enamelled base plates were painted before being stamped and cut. If you look at their edges, they are not painted.

Thanks Jacques, as an additition the three methods of base plate finishing:





















Kind regards, Jan

Thanks again to both of you for so nicely clarifying the base plate finishes. When I was younger, I always loved the "mottled" appearance of those 1950's baseplates and often wondered how they did it........now we know!

wow, what an amzing line you have there jan, never thought that there would be that many different boxes through out the years of production of this model.

In fact the historical aspects of Dinky and Dinky production are my core interest in Dinky Toys. Models which - like the Fire Engine - cover two decades reflect so many changes as technique, economy, fashion, etc. is concerned! The Fire Engine is the only model for which I have been 'mad' enough to collect (almost) all. It just happened many years ago when I only had the very first and the very final versions in my collection and I decided to find out the intermediary steps for this reasonably affordable model and its box. Of course there are a few more Dinky Toys which may represent a similar development, but of course this is the most iconic and variable one of them all.

Kind regards, Jan

As a continuation a great set no. 957 including of course the Fire Engine with Extending Ladder:





The announcement in Meccano Magazine of December 1959.



And the play-value as explained in Meccano Magazine of April 1961, page 129.

Regards, Jan