today (Sunday 1st March) at the NEC Toy Fair in Birmingham.

It was amazing to see this guy in real life and to shake his hand.

He had some copies of his book 'The Great Book of Corgi 1956 - 1983' and would sign these copies if requested.

If only I knew he would be there then I would have taken my copy to be signed!

Never mind .... that's life!

Marcel was the Chief Designer at Mettoy and was responsible for all the Corgi Toy models during the period set out in his book.

Cheers Chris

Very cool, sounde like a good event. Is this Birmingham England or Birmingham Alabama USA?

Marcel was in Alabama and I missed it!!! :confused:

I would have bought a second copy of his book to get an autographed one!

I do believe that the NEC is in the UK, http://www.bpfairs.com/ (select NEC Birmingham), so not the Birmingham I was thinking of! So what was he buying or selling?

I only pick a vintage Corgi up once in a while, so I don't think I qualify to be a Corgi collector, but even so, I love "The Great Book of Corgi" it's such a wonderfull book!
Worth every penny of it :thumbsup:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j216/karl-e/kbhCorgitrans.jpg

Very cool, sounde like a good event. Is this Birmingham England or Birmingham Alabama USA?

Now then 69Stang do they have Toy Fairs in Alabama? :)

The fair was in England and it was a great event! :thumbsup:

Cheers Chris

Marcel was in Alabama and I missed it!!! :confused:

I would have bought a second copy of his book to get an autographed one!

I do believe that the NEC is in the UK, http://www.bpfairs.com/ (select NEC Birmingham), so not the Birmingham I was thinking of! So what was he buying or selling?

Hi Karl

Marcel was only selling copies of his book. No unusual 'Red Spots' for sale I am afraid!

Cheers Chris

I only pick a vintage Corgi up once in a while, so I don't think I qualify to be a Corgi collector, but even so, I love "The Great Book of Corgi" it's such a wonderfull book!
Worth every penny of it :thumbsup:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j216/karl-e/kbhCorgitrans.jpg

Hi Karl

This transporter was one of the finest toys ever made. Just compare this transporter with the versions made over the years by Dinky, Tekno etc...

I have had that book for many years now and it is just perfect. What other publication on toy cars gives you production amounts of every model made?

Cheers Chris

Hi Karl

This transporter was one of the finest toys ever made. Just compare this transporter with the versions made over the years by Dinky, Tekno etc...

I have had that book for many years now and it is just perfect. What other publication on toy cars gives you production amounts of every model made?

Cheers Chris

Well another great book is "Collecting Matchbox Diecast Toys - The First Forty Years". This, now long out of print, is a weld of information, and is ecually as good as "The Great book...."

IMHO to build a small library of books to educate ourselves is very important!
I got 15-20 diecast related books, and thats not nearly enough for a crazy guy with a wide taste in vintage toycars ;)

Karl-E. Denmark

Well another great book is "Collecting Matchbox Diecast Toys - The First Forty Years". This, now long out of print, is a weld of information, and is ecually as good as "The Great book...."

IMHO to build a small library of books to educate ourselves is very important!
I got 15-20 diecast related books, and thats not nearly enough for a crazy guy with a wide taste in vintage toycars ;)

Karl-E. Denmark
I have also owned Mr Van Cleemput´s masterpeice for over 9 nine years now -it is the by far the best of my 7 books on diecast.Its wonderful to read that Chris met him when he was signing books and meeting collectors - it must be an unforgetable landmark memory for any serious Corgi collector to meet the worlds greatest living toy designer.....I wish I had been there!


One day I hope to own a Matchbox 40 years book:hat: probably the only other diecast must have book IMHO!

That would have been very cool to meet him. I do really enjoy his book. Lots of great photos.

This and the 40 years MB book are my favorites.

Is there a similar great book for Dinky models that is as lavish as these?

I also enjoy all the Ed Force books just to have photos of so many models.

I have also owned Mr Van Cleemput´s masterpeice for over 9 nine years now -it is the by far the best of my 7 books on diecast.Its wonderful to read that Chris met him when he was signing books and meeting collectors - it must be an unforgetable landmark memory for any serious Corgi collector to meet the worlds greatest living toy designer.....I wish I had been there!


One day I hope to own a Matchbox 40 years book:hat: probably the only other diecast must have book IMHO!

Hi SMS88

It was amazing to see Marcel and talk to him. You are right it will be an unforgetable experience and it certaily made my day!

Cheers Chris

Is there a similar great book for Dinky models that is as lavish as these?

I also enjoy all the Ed Force books just to have photos of so many models.

Oh yea - Mike and Sue Richardson. Dinky Toys and Modelled Miniatures (1981), is a must have!

I have many Force books - a great resource. My favorite is the latest one in large format, on the Northern European toys... :thumbsup:

That would have been very cool to meet him. I do really enjoy his book. Lots of great photos.

This and the 40 years MB book are my favorites.

Is there a similar great book for Dinky models that is as lavish as these?

I also enjoy all the Ed Force books just to have photos of so many models.

Hi matchboxbotom

There is also 'The Great Book of Dinky' published by the same company as the Corgi book and written by Mike and Sue Richardson.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Chris

Hi matchboxbotom

There is also 'The Great Book of Dinky' published by the same company as the Corgi book and written by Mike and Sue Richardson.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Chris

I owned a copy of this book for a few months when it first came out and I was delighted to be able to quickly sell it on for only a £10 loss because while it is a good variations listing it lacks the backgound information that backs up the models and range in the Great Book of Corgi.
Aside from some black & white pix, there is very little useful info in the Richardsons book that isnt already in the very handy and cheap Ramseys catalog that many British collectors find indespensible. If only somebody was able to write a book about the Dinky diecast products with the same behind the scenes production information that Mr Van Cleemput has shared with us from Corgi.........but it hasnt been done yet and most who could do it with authority are probably dead by now.........

Very cool, sounde like a good event. Is this Birmingham England or Birmingham Alabama USA?


69stang - are you from B'ham AL.?

I owned a copy of this book for a few months when it first came out and I was delighted to be able to quickly sell it on for only a £10 loss because while it is a good variations listing it lacks the backgound information that backs up the models and range in the Great Book of Corgi.
Aside from some black & white pix, there is very little useful info in the Richardsons book that isnt already in the very handy and cheap Ramseys catalog that many British collectors find indespensible. If only somebody was able to write a book about the Dinky diecast products with the same behind the scenes production information that Mr Van Cleemput has shared with us from Corgi.........but it hasnt been done yet and most who could do it with authority are probably dead by now.........

Thanks for the feedback here SMS88 regarding 'The Great Book of Dinky'. It looks like the Richardson's earlier effort 'Dinky Toys and Modelled Miniatures' (1981) as listed by Karl is a better bet. However, this doesn't go into the depth as either 'The Great Book of Corgi' or 'Matchbox the First Forty Years'. These latter two books are must haves for anyone interested in the behind the scenes look at die-cast toys.

Cheers Chris