This Van has a red cab and chassis and matching ST wheels. The box section is mainly cream with red in the lower section ‘Spratt’s advertising is on each box side. A spare tyre is held secure under the Dinky Supertoys chassis with large commercial smooth tyres all round.
These vans created extra play appeal with their rear opening doors. This was the fourth Guy advertising Van issue following the Slumberland, Lyons and Weetabix under its early coding 514. In 1954 through a major Dinky renumbering program the Spratts van was recoded to 917 until its end in 1956.
As with all these vans they are hard to find in any reasonable condition and are one of the most popular areas for Dinky Toy collectors. Spratt’s was the world’s first large-scale manufacturer of dog biscuits. Established by James Spratt he launched a UK operation around 1860. Interestingly this was the first company to erect a billboard in London.
