Questing the holy grail

[kilarae]

I don't know if this has happened to others. I am pretty sure it has.

I was rooting around one of the local antique malls here in Denver. This mall has been pretty good to me. I have found several very good pieces there. I have found a GPW Land Rover Fire Engine, A green superfast MG1100, and two Hairy Hustlers with purple windows. So there is the chance something good will happen here. I am looking through a case of regular wheels and in a group of Hatra Tractors I spy a yellow Hatra with Red Wheels. It looks to be in good shape. The price is listed at $35.00 plus I have a 20% off coupon.
I am now getting happy. I can hear the angels starting to sing. My heart rate is up. This is going to be a good day.
I call for the person to open the case. He hands me the red hubbed Hatra and....


The Axle ends have been filed off. The wheels still have glue on them from where they were glued in place to keep them on the axles. It is not real. I would guess this is from an person who wanted one in a collection.

I hand the Hatra back and go on my way without spending anything.

Guess I am still searching for that particular white whale.

Hans in Denver

[motorman]

You should be satisfied that you were knowlegable enough to be able to identify a tampered model although by the sounds of it, it was an obvious fake. At least you still have that $35 in your pocket to go towards the next HTF you stumble across.

Happy hunting

[zBret]

Ah the holy grail !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yjNbcKkNY

Well done on spotting the fake.

zBret

[durangokid]

Hey Hans!
I remember you talking about some of your finds in that particular antique mall. Too bad that the hatra model turned out to be "worked over" , oh well, keep up the hunt --- something will turn up!
Glad to see your posts on the forum. Certainly hope you can make it back to ABQ this year!!

Bill

[kilarae]

Still trying for New Mexico.

I am not even that unhappy about the fake. I find it interesting that it is out there. I am finding more interest in the hunt than the acquisition. It would have been nice to have though.

I do wonder how the fake ended up in a case at the mall. I would think someone would try to shill it at auction or something.

Hans in Denver

[numi]

Seriously,i do not believe that a genuine Lesney built/produced Yellow Hatra with Red Hubs ever exist.
I could be wrong but........
numi

[Idris]

Seriously,i do not believe that a genuine Lesney built/produced Yellow Hatra with Red Hubs ever exist.
I could be wrong but........
numi

I think I recall Joe (Tinman) saying once that he had one in his collection before he started dispersing it. If Joe did indeed have one as part of his collection, I think we can be at least 99.99% certain that it was genuine.