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Benbros Qualitoys

220 AEC Flat Truck with Chains

From the old Timpo dies Benbros created a group of models based on an AEC  truck. The first was an Army version (A106) but it was soon followed by four more including No.220 Flat Truck with Chains.

 

The 'Sunderland' casting on each side of the cab related to the original Timpo model which promoted Vaux Breweries which were based in the town of Sunderland. Benbros re-issued the AEC cab & chassis largely unchanged although 'Benbros', 'Qualitoy' and 'Made in England' were added to the underside of the chassis to eliminate the former Timpo name.

 

For some reason Benbros did not make use of the ex-Timpo flat-bed die but instead created a new multi-model body casting which was used on all their AEC models. For the Chain Lorry, four chain stantions were separately cast and fitted onto the flat-bed. The whole body section was then slotted into the back of the cab with a bullet-shaped tab and rivetted in place at the rear. The chain was secured on each side at the front but was otherwise loose fitting.

 

No.220 was issued in three different colour combinations but the cab, chassis and base were always red, usually with silver trim on the grille, lights and number-plate. The body was bright blue at first, then beige for a time, followed by pale-green, and finally blue again, sometimes in a slightly darker shade. The '6-bolt' metal wheels were painted red, blue or yellow on the outside only.

 

When Benbros was launching the Zebra Toys range, a new style of metal wheel with a large hub-cover was created for them, and some of this design were fitted to models in the Qualitoys range for a time, with the Chain Lorry being one of them.

 

Finally, plastic wheels were introduced using the '6-bolt' design and these were coloured red or yellow on the Chain Lorry models. All wheel types were fitted with black treaded rubber tyres.

 

The number 220 given to The Flat Truck with Chains was not part of a general numbering system but indicated that it was in a group of eight other commercial-style models designated numbers 220-228. The numbers were not cast on the models but they were included on one of the multi-model boxes next to the model names. This is the only number reference we have.

 

The Chain Lorry had two generic boxes. The first was a fully illustrated end-flap box with diorama pictures of five ex-Timpo models but not the Flat Truck with Chains. Model names were added but no numbers. The Benbros Qualitoy logo was printed on both end-flaps with one flap having a blank panel for the name of the model to be stamped, in this case 'Flat Truck/Chains'.

 

The second multi-model box was probably created to cover more of the ex-Timpo range and included the Sunderland lorries. It was a bright yellow end-flap one with eight models pictured on the four sides, including the Flat Truck with Chains, and with each model being given a name and number. As before, the Qualitoy logo was printed at each end and a blank panel left for the model name to be added.

 

Although the two types of boxes were probably issued at different times, it does seem that Benbros used them together and in a fairly random way so that models can be found in either type of box.

 

No.220 is not a common model and good examples are scarce. The beige variation is rare.

Benbros Qualitoys Flat Truck with Chains - red & blue model with blue wheels

Variation 2: Red & blue with blue painted metal wheels

Benbros Qualitoy Flat Truck with Chains

Variation 4: Red & blue with unpainted metal wheels, yellow multi-model box

Benbros Qualitoys 220 AEC Flat Truck with Chains

 

Variations

All variations had red cab, chassis, and base, with metal chains

and were sold in Multi-model boxes

1)  BLUE flat-bed & stanchions,  RED painted metal wheels

2)  BLUE flat-bed & stanchions,  BLUE painted metal wheels

 

3)  BLUE flat-bed & stanchions,  YELLOW painted metal wheels

4)  BLUE flat-bed & stanchions,  UNPAINTED metal wheels

5)  BEIGE flat-bed & stanchions,  BLUE painted metal wheels

6)  GREEN flat-bed & stanchions,  RED painted metal wheels

7)  BLUE flat-bed & stanchions,  RED plastic wheels

8)  BLUE flat-bed & stanchions,  YELLOW plastic wheels

Variation 3: Red & blue with yellow pmw (missing chains)

photo Vectis Auctions

Variation 5: Red & beige, blue pmw (missing chains)

Benbros Qualitoy Flat Truck with Chains - red & green variation

Variation 6: Red & green, red pmw, diorama-style box

Benbros Qualitoys Flat Truck with Chains
Benbros Qualitoys Flat Truck with Chains

Variation 7: Red & blue, red plastic wheels, yellow multi-model box

Multi-model box with end-flap id.

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