Graham Bridges

For many years a staunch member of the Maidenhead Static Model Club, Graham Bridges recalls that even as early as 9 years of age, in 1955, he was familiar with the pre-war and immediately post war Dinky Toy ranges such as the American 39 series. 

So it was not surprising that when he spotted another pupil with a Lincoln Zephyr, he promptly offered to swap it for a current issue Austin Somerset – Graham knew that the Lincolns were hard to find then!

Subject ID: 82794

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For many years a staunch member of the Maidenhead Static Model Club, Graham Bridges recalls that even as early as 9 years of age, in 1955, he was familiar with the pre-war and immediately post war Dinky Toy ranges such as the American 39 series. 

So it was not surprising that when he spotted another pupil with a Lincoln Zephyr, he promptly offered to swap it for a current issue Austin Somerset – Graham knew that the Lincolns were hard to find then!

By 13 years he had progressed into Airfix and Revell kits, model railways, and by 24 slot car racing. But in 1970, after returning from 3 years in Canada, his world was about to change, when through a friend he met Len Nash, a fellow enthusiast.

Len introduced Graham to the MSMC monthly meet at The Rose Pub in Maidenhead where he found tables full of old Dinky Toys and met Mike and Sue Richardson. Graham immediately joined the club and became an active committee member. The club was planning its second swapmeet at Monkey Island Hotel, Bray (the first swapmeet had been held in the Jack of Both Sides pub in Queen Street during 1969).

The “MSMC Group” went on to form the hobby’s first glossy magazine, a quarterly journal named Modellers’ World (frequently referred to as Meddler’s World by Jim Varney!). 8 committee members each stumped up £30 to total £240 which was the cost of producing 250 copies of the first issue. Mike and Sue Richardson had come up with the original idea and roped in Graham, Len and 4 other members, Tony Gleave, Alan Millington, Ted Manzocci and Barry Blight.

At this time Graham had been working in Canada, for the Dupont Corporation, operating computers for them when computers would fill a room. On his return to the UK, Graham sought out a different career path, entered the field of work study and factory planning, and finally a long career in marketing consultancy.

All along he had continued his childhood hobby of collecting Dinky Toys of the 1950s, but had added to his collection the 1:60 scale models made by France Jouets. These sat alongside the Dinky military vehicles well. He recalls that he and his big brother had an army of around 120 military vehicles, known as “army dinks” and these would be subjected to fierce battles in the garden, regularly being hit by dirt bombs.  

From this position, it was a logical step to realise that there were some military vehicles not made by the mass producers, and perhaps Graham could make his own. He particularly wanted to see models of the Dodge ¾ ton ambulance and the Ford WOA2 utility vehicles. The range was to be called Milikits. He had become friendly with Mike and Sue Richardson, who were already selling models made by John Day, as well as their own Mikansue range. Graham had funds to invest in a model venture, and they introduced him to Dave Gilbert.  He supplied Dave with pictures and line drawings, and the masters were completed. Graham commissioned a first run, and Dave cast 110 of the ambulance and 85 of the Ford Utility, both with solid metal wheels to achieve accuracy.

Graham launched the models through Modellers World magazine, and also advertised for 3 consecutive months in the military modelling magazines. Overall, the results were not good. About 60% were sold via mail order and by attending a few shows, and then Graham decided to finance the new proposed Americana range by Mikansue. However, Graham expected a swifter turnover of stock than actually occurred with the Milikits, and soon realised that the Americana range, along with many other white metal ranges, would require stocks to be held for some time. After the 6^th model in the Americana range had been released, Graham agreed with Mike and Sue that they would buy the remaining stock of Milikits, and take over the Americana range as well.

Graham had pulled out of producing white metal models 18 months later, and resumed his long term collecting passion, which to this day still embraces both 1:60 scale military models by both the mass producers, France Jouets and Buller & Barnes, and more recently Vintage propeller airliner models which include 1:200 scale die cast and white metal aircraft and period travel agency models in any scale.

Subject ID: 82794

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