Benbros Qualitoys

221 Articulated Low Loader

In the Qualitoys range Benbros produced several articulated models based on old Timpo dies. They were simple, chunky toys and all used a common cab with each model having a different type of trailer. 

The casting of the cab was a single hollow type without a base and included supports for the axles and a bullet-shaped coupling knob at the rear. There was no identification or maker's name or model number.

Using the simple Timpo design, the trailer had a low flat-bed and a hole at the front for the coupling. At the rear the axle was held in place by a metal clamp. It is possible that a log was included held on  On the underside Benbros blocked out the Timpo name with a panel on which 'Made in England' was added but no maker's name or number. Early trailers had a smooth load-bed but Benbros changed this later to a ribbed style.

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A log was included in the illustration on the box and Benbros included one although the trailer had no supports for a load. However, surviving models which include logs are now scarce so it is not known if Benbros continued including them throughout the life of the model.

Benbros used three types of wheels for the Low Loader, all of them metal. The first wheels were all metal in a thin plain design without adornment apart from treaded 'tyres'. These were replaced by chunky metal wheels with 8-bolt decoration and smooth 'tyres'. The last type of wheels were 6-bolt metal hubs painted on the outside in various colours and fitted with black rubber tyres. Cab and trailer wheels were usually matching.

There were several colour variations of the Low Loader. The first issues with plain metal wheels had green cabs and either yellow or red trailers. With the change to 8-bolt wheels, Benbros added new colours, red, green or orange for the cabs (with or without silver trim) and dark-green, pale-green, red or metallic-green for the trailers. The all-metal wheels were painted gloss-black but the 6-bolt type with rubber tyres were either red, green or blue.

Benbros frequently used multi-model boxes and the Low Loader shared two versions of joint boxes, the main one having a detailed picture of the model on one face carrying a large log. On this box there was no number but the second box, a yellow one with model illustrations carried the number 221 which is the only reference there is. Interestingly the name which Benbros used for the model was 'Articulator Low Loader'. On both types of boxes a panel on one of the end-flaps carried a stamped or written indicaton of the model inside.

As with the other Qualitoy articulated models, the Low Loader is not easy to find.

photos David Elliott

Variation 1: Green cab, yellow smooth trailer, black plain metal wheels

Benbros Qualitoys 221 Articulated Low Loader

Variations & known combinations

A log was included with most variations

All had Multi-model boxes with id. panel on one end-flap

1)  GREEN cab        YELLOW smooth trailer                  BLACK plain pmw

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2)  GREEN cab        RED smooth trailer                         BLACK plain pmw

3)  RED cab             GREEN smooth trailer                    BLACK 8-bolt pmw

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4)  GREEN cab        RED smooth trailer                         BLACK 8-bolt pmw

5)  RED cab             METALLIC GREEN ribbed trailer    BLACK 8-bolt pmw

6)  RED cab             PALE-GREEN ribbed trailer             BLUE 6-bolt pmw

7)  RED cab             GREEN ribbed trailer                       GREEN 6-bolt pmw

8)  ORANGE cab    GREEN ribber trailer                         RED 6-bolt pmw  

9)  ORANGE cab    GREEN ribber trailer                         GREEN 6-bolt pmw

Variation 2: Green cab, red smooth trailer, black plain pmw, log, type 1 box

Variation 3: Red cab, green smooth trailer, black 8-bolt metal wheels, type 1 box

Variation 4: Green Cab, red smooth trailer, black 8-bolt metal wheels

photo Gary Galvin

Variation 5: Red cab, metallic green ribbed trailer, black 8-bolt metal wheels, type 2 box

Variation 6: Red cab, pale-green ribbed trailer, blue 6-bolt pmw/rubber tyres

Mixed variations: Orange cab (red 6-bolt pmw), green ribbed trailer (green 6-bolt pmw)