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Benbros No.15 Vespa in TV Series box
 Benbros No.23 AEC Box Van in TV Series box Benbros No.48 Bedford Artculated Flat Lorry with Chains Benbros No.49 Karrier Coca-Cola Lorry
Above are some of the rarest Benbros miniatures.  Click on the thumbnail pictures to enlarge.


Updating the Benbros Booklet

My booklet 'Benbros T.V.Series & Mighty Midgets' is now out of print.  From publication in 2002 up to the last printing in 2010 there were eight different printings of the third edition booklet, each with new variations added, but due to lack of space in the booklet I stopped adding new variations.  The table below shows the new information added, so if you have an earlier printing, you can update your booklet with the amendments.  Latest updates are in blue.
Added in the second printing
21. Foden Open Lorry
 Metallic green with PMW
Added in the third printing
37. Police Car Plated version, UMW.
Added in the fourth printing
4. Stage Coach Metallic blue, red wheels, light grey horses, BENBROS MADE IN ENGLAND on shafts.
Added in the fifth printing
46. Petrol Tanker
 Amend table heading from 'Trailer colour' to 'Cab & Trailer'.
Added in the sixth printing
15. Vespa Scooter
 Rich yellow, bright red rider, PMW.
21. Foden Open Lorry Metallic blue with PMW; Light blue with UMW.
27. Rolls-Royce Metallic blue, black chassis, red wheels.
Added in the seventh printing
45. Bedford Low Loader with Log
 Amend trailer colour from cream to beige.
Added in the eighth printing
20. Foden Flat Lorry
 Beige version with red or silver trim, UMW or BPW.
31. Bedford Lorry with Tilt Light blue, BPW.
32. Bedford Compressor Lorry Rich yellow, BPW.


The following tables show further new variations found which are not in any printings of the booklet.  The most substantial amendment required is that the numbers for the Bedford articulated lorries are now clear.  No.47 was the lowside lorry (listed in the booklet as no.44) which fits with the box illustration and box description of  'Articulated Waggon'.  No.44 was the crane lorry (listed in the booklet as no.47), which started life as a low loader with hinged rear loading ramp (not listed in the booklet) - hence the box description 'Articulated Low Loader'.  Subsequently the ramp was deleted and the crane was added to the casting.  The listings for numbers 44 and 47 should therefore read as follows:-
Benbros No.44 boxBenbros No.44 early version with hinged rampBenbros No.44 without ramp or craneBenbros No.44 later version with craneBenbros No.44 later version with crane
44. Bedford Articulated Low Loader (later with Crane)
Length 64mm, no identification cast on trailer.  The box illustrates an articulated flat lorry with a load of planks.
Trailer colour
 Floor Casting Wheels
Beige Smooth With hinged ramp
 UMW
Light blue Ribbed Without ramp or crane
 UMW
Light blue
 Ribbed With crane UMW
Red Ribbed With crane BPW
Cream
 Ribbed With crane BPW
Rich yellow
 Ribbed With crane SPW push-fit on axles*

*Push-fit plastic wheels have only been seen on this model and on no.33 Bedford Crane Lorry (see below).

Benbros No.47 boxBenbros No.47 early version with separate tailboardBenbros No.47 later version with cast-in tailboardBenbros No.47 later version with cast-in tailboard
47. Bedford Articulated Lowside Lorry
Length 62mm, no identification cast on trailer.  The box description is 'Articulated Waggon' (sic).
Trailer colour Floor
 		Tailboard Wheels
Beige Smooth
 Separate UMW
Light blue Ribbed Cast-in UMW or BPW
Blue Ribbed Cast-in BPW
Red Ribbed Cast-in BPW

Additional variations of other models are:-
Benbros No.20 Foden Flat Lorry, orange and light greenBenbros No.20 Foden Flat Lorry, metallic blue and red (photo by Nicholas Martin)Benbros No.22 Tanker with painted wheelsBenbros No.30 Bedford Army Van with BPWBenbros No.33 Bedford Crane Lorry with push-fit BPW

Benbros No.43 Bedford Articulated Van - bright red trailerBenbros No.43 Bedford Articulated Van - beige trailerBenbros No.43 Bedford Articulated Van - green trailerBenbros No.45 Bedford Articulated Low Loader (photo by Nicholas Martin)Benbros No.45 Bedford Articulated Low Loader (photo by Nicholas Martin)

Benbros No.48 Bedford Articulated Chains Lorry (photo by Nicholas Martin)
16. Chevrolet Station Wagon 'Silver' plated, red roof and flash, red 2nd type base and PMW.
18. Hudson Tourer Blue, unpainted 2nd type base, probably UMW?
18. Hudson Tourer 'Silver' plated, blue roof, red probably 2nd? type base and PMW.
20. Foden Flat Lorry Orange cab & chassis, light green body, UMW (see photo above).
20. Foden Flat Lorry Metallic blue cab & chassis, red body, UMW (thanks to Nicholas Martin, see photo above).
21. Foden Open Lorry
 Orange cab & chassis, light green body, UMW (thanks to Patrick Talbot).
21. Foden Open Lorry Red cab & chassis, yellow body, UMW (thanks to Patrick Talbot).
22. ERF Petrol Tanker. Bright red, "Esso" transfer on one side, PMW (see photo above).
28. Foden Chains Lorry Beige with silver trim, UMW (thanks to Patrick Talbot).
30. Bedford Army Box Van
 Gloss dark green, red/yellow square on nearside, BPW (see photo above).
33. Bedford Crane Lorry Orange cab & chassis, light green body, yellow crane, UMW.
33. Bedford Crane Lorry
 Yellow, BPW push-fit on axles* (see photo above).
40. Ford Convertible 'Silver' plated, red seats, red 2nd type base and PMW.
40. Ford Convertible 'Silver' plated, blue seats, orange-red 2nd type base and PMW.
40. Ford Convertible Beige, unpainted 2nd type base, BPW.
43. Bedford Artic. Box Van Light blue version with UMW sometimes had the base painted a very dark blue.
43. Bedford Artic. Box Van Bright red trailer, DUNLOP transfer without logo, UMW (see photo above).
43. Bedford Artic. Box Van Beige trailer, DUNLOP transfer without logo, UMW (see photo above).
43. Bedford Artic. Box Van Green trailer, DUNLOP transfer without logo, BPW (thanks to Patrick Talbot, see photo above).
45. Bedford Artic. Low Loader with Log
 Light blue trailer with UMW also exists with a smooth floor and base painted very dark blue (thanks to Nicholas Martin, see photo above).
48. Bedford Artic. Flat Lorry with Chains Light blue trailer also exists with red trim and UMW (thanks to Nicholas Martin, see photo above).

*Push-fit plastic wheels have only been seen on this model and on no.47 Bedford Articulated Crane Lorry (see above).  They were presumably a late development to counter safety concerns about the sharp ends of crimped axles. 

If you have any other unlisted variations or can fill any gaps where I have put question marks, please e-mail me, preferably with photographic evidence.  All verified new finds will of course be attributed (unless you want to be anonymous) and included on this page.  Thank you in advance!

© Robert Newson