Model Bradford

TedAllen · Post by **TedAllen** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:01 pm

Hi Bradfordeers,
Just got my June issue of Railway Modeller..( Yes, I know, how sad am I ? )...There is a model Bradford kit being offered by John Day models, 8 St Aiden's Road, London SE22 0RP. Send sae for catalogue. No Phone or Email details given,
Over 100 metal kits in OO scale are offered. Thats all the info I have.
Hope it may be of use to someone.
Ted

PAUL BEAUMONT · Post by **PAUL BEAUMONT** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:27 pm

Before anyone parts with too much Â£Â£Â£ check out what you are getting. Unlike Javelins and Jupiters, for which several fairly faithful models exist, most of the Bradford ones that I have seen are grotesque. One even has suicide doors! Most have the head lamps higher than the Bonnet. (or is my van wrong!!!)

PAUL BEAUMONT · Post by **PAUL BEAUMONT** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:34 pm

Some berk must have copied one of them - hey wait a minute, you aren't talking about mine are you?????

PAUL BEAUMONT · Post by **PAUL BEAUMONT** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:49 pm

Yes Pat, and isn't it embarassing when the owner asks you "what do you think?"

Alan Stanley · Post by **Alan Stanley** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:23 pm

I am a collector of Jowett models and haven't seen "many" of Bradfords so are interested in pursuing any of the "most that I have seen" variety to see if there are any out there that I need to get a hold of.

The ones I know of are the

Odgie,which is a Bradford but is not a great likeness and maybe what the previous posts are referring to.

There are the SMS (the late Dave Samson) models which I think are quite good. And if anyone knows where I can acquire an ice cream truck or a six light I'd like to hear. Just leave me a message or email me.

The John Day is unlike the above not a 1/43 scale, it is "OO" scale which I think is 1/76. They make a lorry, van and a six light and are about 35mm long. Mine look Ok and certainly not worthy of the comments in the posts above, they are certainly not expensive compared to some others but they are a simple kit, not a classy model like the Pathfinder Javelins or Jupiters at 200 quid, or the Lansdowne Javelins at 50 quid.

The only other Bradfords I know are a tiny version about 25mm long and they too look OK, although detail is noy great at this size.

If anyone wishes to continue discussions on models or knows of any other Bradfords , I'd be keen to correspond.

Alan Stanley · Post by **Alan Stanley** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:45 pm

I have done a bit more research and believe I now know the model that the previous posts have lambasted. It is probably a Dinky No 280, which is a very simple model (actually a toy) and has the overall square shape. of a Bradford. It does have suicide doors and no headlights, also it has spats on the back wheels, although these are thought to just be there so the makers run the back axle through these. There is much debate on the Dinky website as to whether this was intended to be a Jowett or a Bedford, the jury is still out , but maybe Dinky just made a generic toy of vans of that era.
With this in mind , someone thinking this was a Bradford would definitely say it was a shocker. The Odgi I mentioned in the previuos post has some proportions a bit wrong , but is much better than the Dinky. The John Day is smaller and certainly better proportioned again. For the money, I would think anyone getting a John Day would not be majorly disapoiointed other than if they didn't know they are smaller than most models, more the Matchbox size. They are made as model to go with OO guage railway scenery layouts.

Tony Fearn · Post by **Tony Fearn** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:40 pm

Hi all.

There's a rather battered Dinky Jowett Van for sale on eBay at the moment.

Alan mentioned a similar 'toy' in the post above, so I thought it might be relevant.

Item no - 270129577917

Tony.

Alan Stanley · Post by **Alan Stanley** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:37 pm

Indeed this is the Dinky I mentioned and possibly the model critciized by previous posts. It has spats on the rear, suicide doors and no headlights.
Dinky did not say what it was, it is only conjecture over the years that a Jowett was in mind when they made it, putting spats on for easier axle attachment and no lights etc to keep the price down. However when this toy was first made,the Bradford probably wasn't around, so maybe it's just a "toy delivery van"

The Odgie and John Day are both recognisably Bradford.

PAUL BEAUMONT · Post by **PAUL BEAUMONT** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:21 pm

Not really being critical Alan, just concerned that buyers should see what they are buying before handing over too much Â£Â£ or $$AU!. There are some superb Javelin and Jupiter models around, yet personally I have never seen a Bradford that I recognised with confidence before turning it over!

Alan Stanley · Post by **Alan Stanley** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:42 am

The superb Javelins you probably have seen are the Lansdowne at 50 pounds or the Pathfinder in excess of two hundred quid. The John Day Bradford in kit form was (when I brought direct) was 8.50 pounds and does look like a Bradford, albeit small as I mentioned. John Day recently died, he was along with the likes of Mike and Sue Richardson (Mikansue brand) one of the pioneers of whitemetal "model" kits as opposed to say Dinky Toys. The new catalogue that started this thread is a different address and presumedly new owners, so need to be aware of posible new prices. I have a catalogue coming and will sdvise the price when confirmed. Ten quid or NZ$30 wont break the bank if you are a Braddy fan.
If anyone was actually thinking of purchasing I can email photos of these models. Just contact me via the email connection.

george garside · Post by **george garside** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:12 pm

the 'generic' dinky van refered to by Tony & others is quite definately a Bedford of the type introduced in , I think, 1946 with capacities of 7 - 10 cwt and based on a chassised version of the current vauxhaul 10 or 12. (Open top versions of the Vauxhaul for the Australian market also used this chassis as the 'normal' saloons were of unitary construction.

Dinky did this in various liveries including a very popular loudspeaker van.I had 2 as a kid & keen dinky collector & am sure they were sold as Bedfords. If there had been a Bradford (or other Jowett van) model I would have known about it and had one. It is a reasonably accurate replica of the BEDFOrD. I think it is either ignorant dealer/collectors or even worse gready ones that think they can bamboozle people into thinking the bedfords are in fact very rare ( as rocking horse SHoneT) Bradford models.
george

Alan Stanley · Post by **Alan Stanley** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:23 pm

Hi George, I am a Jowett collector and have no knowledge of Dinky's other than I understood they never made Jowetts. So when the one came up on eBay advertised as a Jowett I went to the Dinky website, where they (Dinky enthusiasts) are split between a Bedford and a Bradford or really early Jowett Van, or maybe as I mentioned "just a toy van" as Dinky did make just toys at that time.
If you were interested go to
Dinkyclub.co.uk
click on "search"
then search for "280"
There are all the arguements along with pictures of the model, Bedfords and Bradfords

Alan Stanley · Post by **Alan Stanley** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:41 am

I now have the 2006/2007 catalogue from this company (see opening post). The prices are 9.25 pounds for the Bradfords and the Javelin and for another 5.50 you can have them painted.