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Benbros Mighty Midgets

No.39 Milk Delivery Van

Benbros Mighty Midget No.39 Milk Delivery Van

Benbros Mighty Midget No.39 Milk Delivery Van was based on a Bedford CA milk float. The model followed quite closely the Lesney version (29a) even replicating the little vertical bars on each front mudguard.

 

The Benbros Milk Float was cast in two parts, the main body (painted either red or orange), and the white base section which included the milk-bottle crates and held the axles. There was silver trim on the front grille, headlights and bumper but there were no decals or much variation given to the model which made it a bit unexciting. 

 

The first issue had a red body, white base and crates, and small white-painted metal wheels without treads on nail-head and crimped axles. The body and base were fixed together by a rear slot-in tab and a front rivet. On the base 'Benbros Qualitoy Made in England' was cast. Overall No.39 Milk Delivery Van measured 61mm long and it had a slightly larger MM box to hold it.

 

The first two changes seem to have occurred at about the same time. The initial one was a switch to painting the model a bright orange colour. The red models were prone to variable colour tones, so perhaps it was thought that orange would be better, but in fact the early orange models also varied in tone. They continued to be fitted with small and smooth white painted metal wheels on nail-head axles.

 

The second change was to give the Van larger wheels which this time had treads. They made the model look more realistic but continued to be painted white. At first they were fitted to red models, perhaps to use up stock of pre-painted bodies, but before long the full switch to orange models with large white pmw was completed.

 

Finally, the orange version was given small black plastic wheels with flat-head and crimped axles. These axles had particularly large heads and it was the first time that Benbros used them. They did appear again (for example on No.42 Army Despatch Motorcycle) but Benbros did not use them often.

 

Benbros No.39 Milk Delivery Van was possibly not very popular as some variations are scarce. Both the versions with small painted wheels are hardest to track down but because the white paint on the crates is often aged, all the variations in boxed mint condition can be difficult to find..

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Variation 1 : red, small pmw

Benbros No.39 Milk Delivery Van

Variations

 

All models had Mighty Midget boxes

 

(1) RED, white crates, small white smooth pmw

(2) ORANGE, white crates, small white smooth pmw

(3) RED, white crates, large white treaded pmw

(4) ORANGE, white crates, large white treaded pmw

 

(5) ORANGE, white crates, BLACK treaded pw

Benbros Mighty Midget No.39 Milk Delivery Van

Variation 2: Orange, small white pmw

Benbros Mighty Midget No.39 Milk Delivery Van

Variation 3 : red, large pmw

Variation 4 : orange, large pmw

Benbros Mighty Midget No.39 Milk Delivery Van

Variation 5 : orange, bpw

Benbros No.39 Milk Delivery Van

Benbros No.39 : Wheels and colours

Benbros No.39 Milk Delivery Van Mighty Midget box

Nicholas Martin Diecast
Benbros, Morestone & Budgie Vintage Toys
Britains Lilliput Vehicles   Kemlows Sentry Box   Dublo Dinky Toys

Abbreviations used on Nicholas Martin Diecast

   

  • umw - unpainted metal wheels

  • pmw - painted metal wheels

  • pw    - plastic wheels

  • gpw  - grey plastic wheels

  • spw  - silver plastic wheels

  • bpw  - black plastic wheels

  • sp     - silver plastic

  • um    - unpainted metal

  • id.     - maker's identification

  • w/wo - with or without

 

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