Victor Bailey
Designer
One of the key figures in the early days of the use of white metal for replicas was Victor Bailey. Victor has been a collector since he was 5 years old, but it wasn’t until 1969 that he decided that he had too many model cars, and wanted to part with some of them.
His mother had shop premises in Portslade, used mainly for storage, and so Victor agreed with her that he could use the window to sell some of his collection of 3000+ Dinky Toys and other diecast models.
Subject ID: 81377
MoreOne of the key figures in the early days of the use of white metal for replicas was Victor Bailey. Victor has been a collector since he was 5 years old, but it wasn’t until 1969 that he decided that he had too many model cars, and wanted to part with some of them.
His mother had shop premises in Portslade, used mainly for storage, and so Victor agreed with her that he could use the window to sell some of his collection of 3000+ Dinky Toys and other diecast models.
Without any advertising until 1972, Veteran & Vintage was borne, but the response was not as Victor had planned. The shop was popular, but many customers brought more models in to sell, and soon Victor had more stock than he had started with!
By 1972, customers were finding that good condition Dinky Toys were expensive, and there were no good restorations or copies available. Victor then embarked on a small range of replicas of models that both he and his customers wanted. This began with the Taylor & Barrett fire engine and AFS Tender, which were followed by Dinky toys 34a Royal Air Mail Service car, 60y Thompson Refueller, 33 series mechanical horse range in various liveries, 31 Holland Coachcraft van, the 22h streamlined saloon, and 22g tourer. These replicas were limited to 100 items each, and were sold through the shop and at the Windsor and Sandown Park swapmeets. Victor also had a list of enthusiastic collectors who would be informed of the next release.
Victor’s friend John Alcott assisted with the assembly and finishing of these models, and their joint interest in model aeroplanes led to Victor proposing a Veteran & Vintage range of white metal Dinky style aeroplanes. John had previously made modifications to Dinky Comets with added white metal components to create the Nimrod, MR2 and AEW3 early warning versions. Together they launched a short Constellation and a Britannia, but the inherent weakness of white metal made it unsuitable for this type of models and very few were made. They turned to aluminium, made further models of a B36 Peacemaker and very few of the Liberator, until this medium was found to be too expensive. They had satisfied their own interest, but it was no longer a viable proposition to make more.
As the market for white metal replicas waned, Victor turned to restoration of Dinky Toy Guy vans, mostly Weetabix and Lyons Swiss Rolls liveries. He was most insistent that every one of his restorations should have ‘V&V r’ engraved on the base, but he recalls one French trader acquiring one and filling this in!
By 1985 Victor had become more interested in collecting and restoring tinplate, so majored on these areas at the shop, and also had a regular table at Sandown Park toy fair.
He closed the shop in 2003 and has now retired.
Subject ID: 81377
Subject ID: 81377
