Patrolmen and policemen
The second instalment of David Busfield’s mini-series detailing diecast accessories.
The second instalment of David Busfield's mini-series covering diecast figures and accessories.
Following on from the first instalment of Figuring It Out in the September 2020 issue, this article concerns two influential motoring organisations, with very different backgrounds and fascinating histories, followed by a look at law enforcement officers and some of their vehicles.
The Automobile Association (AA) was founded in 1905, originally with a membership of just 90 (now 15 million). It started with bicycles, then motorcycle combination patrols, followed by cars and now sophisticated vans. Initially, the business focused on breakdown cover, which continues to this day. However it has since diversified significantly and nowadays offers finance, driving lessons, motoring maps, insurance, leisure and lifestyle services.The AA employs over 7,400 people and is headquartered at Fanum House, Basingstoke.
The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) was founded in 1897 as a private social and athletic club. In the early 1900s, it was influential in working with the government to amend out-ofdate speed limits and advise on other issues. It organised the first British Grand Prix at Brooklands in 1926 also the first RAC Rally in 1932 and was influential in many more motorsport events. In 1901, an associate section (RAC Motoring Services) was formed and had uniformed mobile patrols using Matchless motorcycle combinations. The sidecars contained a tool kit, fan belts, hoses and cans of spare petrol. Initially they used to park up in laybys and alongside major road junctions, and from 1957 were supplied with two-way radios, which significantly helped getting to motorists with a problem. In 1978 the RAC Motoring Services was sold off and it is now RAC plc, with its headquarters in Walsall,West Midlands, employing 3,700 staff.
Both the AA and the RAC used to operate their own very distinctive roadside telephone boxes for use by members in the event of a breakdown or emergency.There was some co-operation between the two organisations with the access keys to all these boxes having a common pattern.
THE AA PATROLMEN
Two designs of AA guides were made by Dinky Toys - No 44c directing traffic and 44d saluting. They were introduced in the October 1935 edition of the Meccano Magazine, priced at 3 pence each, remaining in the range until 1940. Both figures are 36mm high, have a brown uniform with a black sash, brown peaked caps and black knee length boots. No 44c has white gloves whereas 44d has no gloves. Neither of these figures were released again by Meccano after the war.
Doug McHard was Editor of the Meccano Magazine, in the early 1970s, and later the Marketing Director of the Meccano and Dinky Toys ranges. When he left Meccano he was allowed to take a number of moulds of Hornby/Dinky figures with him. In 1978 he set up Somerville Models in Lincolnshire (see pages 26 to 31 of this issue) and specialised in producing low-volume, high-quality diecast model cars. He did some test casts of the figures with a view to possibly selling them but these plans never materialised.Two of the castings he acquired were of the pre-war AA patrolmen and two examples which were recently sold at auction are shown here. For some reason these never went into production and the two figures shown here are test castings.
The AA roadside telephone box was introduced in October 1935 and remained available until 1940 - it was never reissued after the war. It is a lovely model made from tinplate.The design is exquisite and comprises a beige, chamfered base, the box body is coloured yellow, black and white, and the roof is white.A wire flagpole is on the top and supports three tinplate direction signs - for London, Glasgow and Liverpool. Being tinplate it is prone to rust and these are hard to find in any condition.
When the AA was formed in 1905, the patrolmen used bicycles but everything changed in the 1920s when motorcycle and sidecar combinations were introduced.This meant a more rapid response and enabled tools and spares to be carried in the sidecar. The AA motorcycle was a 2.5hp Chater Lea.These were later superseded by Triumph and BSA models.
The Dinky Toys AA Motorcycle Patrol was introduced in 1935 as No 44b, but the advent of war caused this to be discontinued in 1940.The first versions were fitted with solid white rubber tyres and the motorcycle is 45mm long.This was reintroduced in 1946 with black rubber tyres until 1950.All the Dinky motorcycles are made to a generic design and the AA version incorporates a rider in a tan uniform, the motorcycle is black and the sidecar is yellow, with an AA sign on the front.The combination was reintroduced in 1959 as No 270 and remained in the range until 1962, some with black rubber wheels and later with grey plastic wheels.
The AA updated its logo on a number of occasions and the Motorcycle Patrol can be found with four different versions between 1935 and the 1960s.This model was available individually, sold out of a dealer trade box that would have initially contained six models. In addition to the AA version, there were two other variants available in export markets only.They were the No 271 TS (Touring Secours) for the Belgian market and 272 ANWB (Algemene Nederlandse Wielrijdersbond) for the Netherlands market.These are quite rare in the UK.
Before the war, all the AA models were available in No 44 AA Box, Motor Cycle Patrol and Guides Gift Set, which was available from 1935 to 1941. This comprised No 44a AA Box, 44b Motor Cycle Patrol, 44c and 44d AA Guides.These were set against a very attractive pictorial box insert.
In 1962 Mini Vans began to replace the motorcycle combinations and were soon seen throughout England - Scotland had a fleet of Land Rovers. I am sure that these would have been very well received by the patrolmen, especially during the winter months.
The Austin and Morris MiniVans were introduced in 1960 and these very popular vehicles remained available until 1983.The van was renamed to just MiniVan in 1978. During the 23 years of production, over 520,000 were made. It had a 4-cylinder 848cc engine, independent suspension and front wheel drive. It was built on the longer