What is this?

[Sir_Matchbox_96]

Hi all,
Yesterday I bought a SF #29 Fire Pumper Truck at a fleamarked. You may already saw it in my "look at what I just got"-thread.
After considering it I noticed some strange blobs or smudges on the base. (don't know the right translation now)
It looks like soldering tin. I remember that I have a second matchbox with this kind of blob/smudge.
The second model is a RW #25 Ford. I bought these from different sellers.
Is it just soldering tin and fortuity that it appears on two different of my models?

Don't know where I have to post this thread. If this is the wrong place, please remove it.

Greetings,
Linus

[kerbside]

Maybe the models belonged to the same person originally and that was his way he marked them as his own.

George T.

[Taniwha]

Drops of solder perhaps?

Cheers,
Gavin

[Lummox]

This is very interesting Sir M.

Firstly, I recently acquired a transitional with this very same silver dot.
Now if I could only recall which casting it was! I'll try to find it.

And secondly, solder can not adhere to to die cast metal.

I'd say this is one for the "Unlisted Variations" department!

[Lummox]

Had a thought.
It probably would have to be from the plating process.
Most base plates that aren't painted get plated to cover the bare diecast with zinc (I believe).

[SMS88]

Plastic axle covers fitted as part of final assembly - silver partly over plastic on SF#29 so whatever it is must be post factory toy owner´s mark

[Sir_Matchbox_96]

Thank you all for your helpful posts and your interesting ideas.
A strange fact is that the axle clip of the SF #29 is not melted. So it can not be a drop of something hot, like soldering tin or just solder.
And I'am with SMS88 that the attachment of axle clips was (one of) the last production process(es), so what I find on my two models certainly was added outside Lesney's.
I took both models again, examine them and noticed that these blobs (or smudges) are a bit moveable. So it seems that they were fixed with glue.
I also noticed that these three blubs has nearly the same shape.
I was thinking of why would someone make work with fixing these little blobs with glue to the baseplate.
And than I got an obvious Idea.
My thesis is,
that these blobs are residues of fixing the pins for the Matchbox Motorway.
Lesney's system of fixing the pins consists of adhesive stickers. Each of these stickers has three holes (blanked out at Lesneys) which allow to ease a plastic pin (or two more) into the sticker.
Finally you fix this sticker easily (because it is adhesive) under your favorite Matchbox model.
Maybe Lesney's machine for blanking out the holes was not to 100% correct and some of the blanked out pieces hang loosely on the stickers. (Same result when you perforate a piece of paper)
After you played with your matchbox motorway and remove the stickers, the blanked out pieces stuck to the baseplate.
The material what was used for the stickers seems similar to aluminum foil (a bit thicker). That would explain the look of the blobs. I think Lesney used this material because it is flexible and fits to all baseplates.
I tried to show you the shape of the blobs in a picture below. There is a flat circle in the middle, resulting under pressure from lesneys blanking out machine, and a bit irregular surronding.
This thesis would also explain that these blobs were found on a late RW and an early SF model:
I think the the Motorway (in Germany also Arnold minimobil: same system, same plastic parts, also sold with two matchbox models but with "Arnold minimobil" instead of "Matchbox Motorway" inscription) was introduced in 1968/1969, a short time before Lesney converted from regular wheels to superfast models.
What would you say regarding my thesis?
Lummox, it would be great to see a picture of your model! And welcome to the forum!

Greetings,
Linus

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Linus, you have hit the nail on the head...those are the little 'Hole-Punched' circles from the Motorway Pin-Holders and were very useful for polishing and sticking them elsewhere on models as bright trim. I have seen three of the circles stuck in a row, on to the side of the front wing of a Corgi Ford Consul to represent air-vents, a customising trick done on real cars towards the end of the 1950's. I myself used them to brighten-up some of the smaller headlamps on "Matchbox" cars because as you say they are made from a type of Alloy-Foil and do polish easily.

I would be inclined to keep them as they are on your models, as they make a good talking point for your friends and other collectors.

Ghosty.

[Lummox]

Howdy Linus,

Thank you for the nice welcome (back)!

Great detective work on the guide pin deal. I neglected to notice the 2nd blob on the #29's axle clip.
I thought I was being mighty clever with my zinc plating theory.

Dave

[johnboy]

I thought I'd put this in your thread Linus. There's a nice round hole which goes completely through the baseplate, it seems a bit extreme as a marker. Any ideas?