Vintage Budgie 232 Low Loader with Cable Drums diecast toy

Guide to Budgie Boxes

Variation 1: BRS cab decals, large pmw/treaded tyres, Standard' drums, A1 box

Budgie No.232 Low Loader with Cable Drums

Variation 7: 'Aluminium' drums, ridged spw, A8 box

Variation 7: type 2 trailer, 'Aluminium' drums, ridged spw, C2 window pack

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BUDGIE INDEX

Low Loader with Cable Drums

Budgie No.232 Low Loader with Cable Drums

Issued 1959-66 Length 167mm

The third appearance of the Seddon cab was as part of the Heavy Duty Articulated Low Loader with Cable Drums, to give it its full title. This time the cab was red with painted metal wheels. At first it carried the British Road Services (BRS) decals on each side and had the little-used heavy-treaded tyres on the larger diameter painted metal wheels. Later the BRS decals were changed to a blue and white Shield logo and the wheels were altered to the smaller diameter type to which were fitted knobbly tyres.

The Low Loader was an all new casting with a winch at the front near the coupling and spare type. The winch however did not work; it was just a replica. The floor of the trailer had a detailed criss-cross pattern representing the tough metal of the real vehicle. It was always a bright orange or orange-yellow colour. On the flat bed sat three wooden Drums with 'Standard' paper labels attached to each side. The wheels were a similar diameter to those on the cab and were painted orange-yellow with the trailer with heavy-treaded tyres. Later these were changed to smaller diameter wheels when knobbly tyres were introduced.

Budgie must have received feedback from customers about the difficulties of balancing the Drums on the Low Loader in an upright position because after a couple of years a new casting was developed with longitudinal ribs to hold the Cable Drums vertically. This second type trailer also brought a change in the Drum labels from the black 'Standard' ones to new yellow 'Aluminim Wire & Cable Company Ltd' labels, though the black ones continued for a while. The wooden part of the Drums remained unchanged. The wheels were smooth push-fit silver plastic wheels for both cab and trailer.

The next improvement was the fitting of windows to the cab and the ending of decals on the doors (although some of the cabs without windows had already appeared without decals by this time). Unlike the Timber Transporter which also had windows added, the Cable Drum Low Loader kept its red cab. Finally, the push-fit silver wheels were replaced by more secure silver plastic ridged wheels on rounded (riveted) axles.

The Low Loader with Cable Drums had four box types. First was the early box without numbers (A1) which after a while was upgraded to the second type with small numbers on the picture faces (A2). The third box had large end-flap numbers added and included the Guiterman name (A8). The final appearance of the Low Loader was in the new style blue & white shrink-wrapped window pack (C2).

The Low Loader had several variations and can be difficult to find in good condition but it was produced for six years so there are quite a few around.

Budgie No.232 Low Loader with Cable Drums

Variations

All variations had red cabs and yellow trailers

1) 'BRS' decals no windows type 1 trailer 'Standard' drums large pmw/treaded tyres A1 box

2) Shield decals no windows type 1 trailer 'Standard' drums small pmw/knobbly tyres A1/A2 box

3) Shield decals no windows type 1 trailer 'Standard' drums spw/knobbly tyres A2 box

4) No decals no windows type 1 trailer 'Standard' drums spw/knobbly tyres A2 box

5) No decals windows type 2 trailer 'Standard' drums spw/knobbly tyres A8box

6) No decals windows type 2 trailer 'Aluminium' drums spw/knobbly tyres A8 box

7) No decals windows type 2 trailer 'Aluminium' drums ridged spw/knobbly tyres A8/C2 pack