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.
A log was included in the illustration on the box so probably Benbros included one although the trailer had no supports for a load. However, surviving models which include logs are now almost unknown so Benbros may have discontinued including them at some point.
Benbros used three types of wheels for the Low Loader, all of them metal. The first wheels were a thin all-metal design without adornment apart from treaded 'tyres'. These were probably only used on one issue and were soon replaced by chunky all-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 matching.
There were several colour variations of the Low Loader as listed below. The first issue with plain all-metal wheels had a green cab and yelow trailer but after this Benbros added new colours. Cabs could be red, green or orange, with or without silver trim, and trailers dark-green, pale-green, red or metallic-green. All-metal wheels were black but the third type with rubber tyres had red, green or blue hubs.
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 may have been 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
2) RED cab GREEN smooth trailer BLACK 8-bolt pmw
3) GREEN cab RED smooth trailer BLACK 8-bolt pmw
4) RED cab METALLIC GREEN ribbed trailer BLACK 8-bolt pmw
5) RED cab PALE-GREEN ribbed trailer BLUE 6-bolt pmw
6) RED cab GREEN ribbed trailer GREEN 6-bolt pmw
7) ORANGE cab GREEN ribber trailer RED 6-bolt pmw
8) ORANGE cab GREEN ribber trailer GREEN 6-bolt pmw
Variation 2: Red cab, dark-green smooth trailer, black 8-bolt all-metal wheels, type 1 box
Variation 3: Green Cab, red smooth trailer, black 8-bolt all-metal wheels
photo Gary Galvin
Variation 4: Red cab, metallic green ribbed trailer, black 8-bolt metal wheels, type 2 box
Variation 5: Red cab, pale-green ribbed trailer, blue 6-bolt pmw/rubber tyres
Mixed variations: Orange cab with red pmw, green ribbed trailer with green pmw, log