70b Ford Grit Spreader

[Idris]

The NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (first edition) and the AIM “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983) take a very simplistic view of this model, with each listing only two variations, although AIM does point out that the baseplate text variation is merely the result of twinned moulds.
Stannard and Houghton are both a little confusing since they do not differential between the red and the bright red cabs. If that is ignored, then each throws up one variation not listed by Nick:
- Stannard's variation 5 is red cab, yellow hopper, grey pull, thick braces and high text (i.e. as Nick's code 10 but with a lemon yellow hopper).
- Houghton has variation 70b-8 which is red cab, yellow hopper, black pull, thick braces, high text, and without the ejectorring, which fits neatly between Nick's variations 7 and 8.
U.K. Matchbox examined the model in December 1979 (Vol. 3, p 197) with a follow-up in January 1980 (Vol. 3, p 210). As with NAMC and AIM, a very simplistic view was taken highlighting pull colours, axle braces and the baseplate text and basically saying that any combination was possible! (In hindsight, probably not Rob Newson's finest hour!)

It should be noted that Nick has highlighted the fact that the rear face of inlet side of the hopper chute can have either an angled or a square edge, but details of how this variation ties in with the catalogued variations is unknown.

[nickjones]

This page has been updated.
I have added the missing stannard variation which is the new code 10
The missing Houghton variation I already had as code 8 but because code 7 and 8 were the same it did not appear on the page, code 8 has been corrected,