Brian Howes discovers a host of diecasts within the pages of the Commercial Motor Magazine.

Commercial success

Brian Howes discovers a host of familiar diecasts within the pages of the Commercial Motor Magazine.

It was a chance discovery of several loose volumes of the Commercial Motor magazine at a car boot sale a few years ago that prompted me to write this piece. They dated from the late 1950s through to the early 1960s… considered by many collectors’ as the golden age of diecast toy manufacture. When I finally got around to thumbing through the pages of these magazines I was amazed at the high number of vehicles illustrated in them that went on to become iconic diecast toys. I was equally enthralled by the number of photographs of trucks and vans that might have been issued as models but sadly never were.

These magazines certainly serve to inspire modeller’s to create code 3 models, or even better to embark on a bit of clever scratch building. One challenge I have set myself as a result of an article in the November 1989 issue is to build an Atkinson 6x6 gritting vehicle extensively modified by Douglas to be used on the roads of Britain. These mighty powerful vehicles certainly came into their own during that terrible winter of 1963, which I remember so well.

It proved interesting to read other editorial features linked to the launch of many of the vehicles that we grew up to love as toys, but in most cases it was the adverts representing all those great British truck and van builders that shone out. It was an era when Britain was producing some the finest commercial vehicles in the world and exporting them to countries in all corners of the globe. I wouldn’t mind betting that Commercial Motor subscriptions were taken up by the Development Team’s at the likes of Lesney and Dinky in order to pick out perspective new models. Morestone/Budgie, who in my opinion were a little more adventurous in their subjects than others, might also have taken inspiration from Commercial Motor. This is highlighted by a nice illustration of the Scammell Highwayman articulated tanker Morestone issued as part of the International Trucks of the World range. The vehicle shown belongs to Lever Brothers and is being loaded with chemicals at the Port Sunlight Soap Works on Merseyside. Scammell, who were based in Watford, Hertfordshire, feature prominently in Commercial Motor and many of its vehicles have appeared as toys.

Not surprisingly there are many vehicles pictured that found their way into the Lesney catalogues as Matchbox Toys. The rapid expansion of the Matchbox series in the 1950s and the development of the Major Pack and King-Size ranges required the prolific release of new toys. An issue devoted to tippers proved particularly interesting, showing a number of diecast issues including the Lesney Big Bedford tipper.

It also showed a nice photograph of the popular Austin loadstar which appeared in the DubloDinky series. The loadstar was a hugely popular vehicle of the era.

One of the most interesting editorial features focussed on the Foden eight-wheeler Tate & Lyle sugar container which was issued by Lesney. It described how the tanks for these huge vehicles were specially built by Homalloy from a light alloy at its factory in Preston, Lancashire. The article served as a reminder that this classic Matchbox toy was in real life a tipper! This issue also illustrated a number of vehicles that might have been issued as toys such as a Thames Trader tipper. Built by Ford at Dagenham the Trader was an eye-catching ultra-modern looking truck when it was released in 1957. It sported a host of up-todate features as well as being fast, powerful and economical. Tri-ang

It was an era when Britain was producing some the finest commercial vehicles in the world and exporting them to countries in all corners of the globe.

were quick to capitalise on the new look Ford Thames with several offerings in its large metal push along range including a couple of articulated trucks.

Another example of what might have been shows a smart short-wheelbase Mickey Mouse Foden in Hoveringham Gravels livery. It is interesting to know that Hoveringham operated these short wheelbase tipper trucks alongside those ubiquitous eightwheelers. Many of the motors and pumps that powered the tipping mechanisms of these trucks were made by Smith’s Motor Accessory