The Dinky Ruston Bucyrus Excavator. 1963 was the year of the giant excavator. In the Meccano magazine, June 1963, Bruce Mayne reported on the production and deployment of, at the time, the world’s largest excavator; a walking dragline, manufactured by Ransome-Rapier (Sheffield) later to become NCK-Rapier.

In the September edition, an advertisement focused on the October release of Dinky Toy’s Ruston Bucyrus (975) excavator.

The Ruston Bucyrus released in October,1963, had a length of 190mm (7.5”) and cost 27/6 (£1,7 shillings and 6 pence), rising to 28/- in 1966. The model had a primrose yellow plastic cab sat on a red platform and tracked base, with its black rubber tracks. The four control mechanisms are painted green. Additionally, a toggle pull at the rear allows the bucket to be emptied. The Ruston Bucyrus was withdrawn in 1966.

The actual excavator was manufactured in Lincoln by Ruston and Hornsby in collaboration with Bucyrus-Erie, from Milwarkee, hence Ruston Bucyrus. The excavator was powered by a Ruston-Paxman engine. The machine weighed 46.5 tons.The cables enabled a lifting capacity of over 33 tons.

The original price was 27/6 . It was available in yellow & red & green finish. Released as Dinky 975 in 1963 withdrawn as Dinky 975 in 1967.