The Charbens Muir Hill Dumper . available in orange & green finish. Charbens in detail...

The Corgi Junior Skip Dumper . available in yellow & red finish. Corgi Junior in detail...

The Dinky Site Builder Set The set consited of:

• No.961 Blaw Knox Bulldozer
• No.963 Euclid Rear Dump Truck
• No.962 Muir Hill Dumper
• No.960 Albion Concrete Mixer
• No.437 Muir Hill Loader

The French Dinky Muir Hill Dumper In September 1948, Dinky Toys introduced the Muir-Hill dumper truck in Britain, as model number 562. However, it was not until 1959 that French Dinky brought the same dumper truck into their catalogue, as model 887, later to become identified as 887/1.

The Muir Hill dumper (562) went on sale for 9/-. The 4 3/16 inch (106mm) model had adjustable front wheels, a tipping bucket and reversible driver’s seat. The front axle, beneath the engine could be adjusted to give curved movement. By December 1948, Dinky reduced the price to 7/6 and by December 1949, to 6/-. A year later, the model cost 7/- and by January 1952, the cost increased to 8/8. Between 1948 and 1954, the model appeared in primrose yellow. From 1954-1962, the paintwork changed to cream and the wheels changed from metal to red plastic hubs and rubber tyres. The driver also changed from a metal figure in a brown overall to a blue plastic figure. From 1948-1966, the casting retained the number 562, even though the model number changed to 962. The original number, 562, even appeared on the French version of the model, 887/1, which French Dinky introduced in 1959.

The French version of the model relied upon the English casting with its 562 numbering, but had a French baseplate stamped with the model number 887 next to the slot for the rear axle. The 106mm long model cost 950 old francs, almost 17/6. The main features of the model were those of the English version, but the baseplate recognised that the model was assembled in France. In 1959, soon after its introduction, the dumper truck was renumbered 962 and continued in production until its withdrawal in 1961.

The actual dumper truck was the Muir-Hill Hiway 10B, which had a 2.5-3.0 cubic yard bucket. Produced in Manchester, Muir-Hill began to manufacturer heavy plant and off-road vehicles in the 1920s. In 1959, the company was sold to the Winget Group, from Rochester, Kent. Currently, the firm belongs to Lloyd Loaders (MH) Ltd, Halifax, Yorkshire.

French Dinky introduced the model in 1959 and it was deleted in 1961.Cost 9/- available in yellow, cream finish. French Dinky in detail...

The Matchbox Superfast Site Dumper . available in yellow finish. Matchbox Superfast in detail...