29a Bedford Milk Float info needed (cont.)

[Idris]

Please note that is a repost of a comment made after the lefora downgrade:

I thought this variation might exist based on my discovery of a rogue wheel on one of my models, and it would seem that Harvey has checked his stock and found a 29a with small diameter GPW. (He measures them at 9 mm diameter, but my guess is that they may be 8.5 mm.) The advert can be found here.

[kwakers]

I love it Idris! Once we find an odd variation that is unrecorded, we see others that may have even been mis-coded in collections and spares showing up. We may have overlooked these smaller GPW for sale at shows and online for years now. I never have thought twice about these GPW once I had both the crimped and rounded axle versions listed years ago. Now I have to look for bottle colors and these small diameter GPW all over again. What Fun (LOL). As on the black grilled Grit Truck, how many may we have seen that we simply ignored? If you look at a piece and determine it has been railroad detailed, that grill would never even be given a chance by picking up the model to inspect it. The same is true if you simply note you have both the GPW Floats. Nice re-Post. It will be noted in my Catalog I carry with me now. What looks I get when I pull out those calipers to measure wheels at a Toy Show.
The Forum Posts at VBD have given me an opportunity to even find some new variations in our spares these last 4 years, so Thanks to everyone for sharing here. kwakers

[Idris]

Just before the Lefora downgrade, we were comparing notes on the variations everyone had.
One thing which came out of that was that all three(!) of my examples of the pale straw model (Nick's code 4) carry dome-headed rather than flat-headed axles. Can anyone confirm the existence of a Code 4 with FH axles?

[Idris]

I've now found a small GPW 29a, but it's not as I expected! It's actually a pale straw example, cream load, with 9 x 20 GPW, FH crimped.

[Idris]

Here's a (not very good) photograph of my small-wheeled GPW 29a (he wrote in an effort to promote some kind of reaction/discussion).
Given the mixed wheels on one of my other examples, I do wonder whether there might be an 8.5 mm diameter GPW tan variant out there as well.

[nearlymint]

Very nice addition, must check my ones but I do not think any have these small wheels. J

[Idris]

Either I've been extremely lucky or this variation is not at all rare, because I've just found a second, small GPW, pale straw 29a (thereby satisfying Martin's Maxim, so I claim a new variation!). It is identical to my first example apart from a minoir shade difference in the colour of the load. (Anyone want to trade for a first casting 66a?)

[Idris]

I recall having seen an illustration of a pre-production 29a with (I think) a roughly diamond-shaped Unigate logo in orange on the door. I thought this came from one of the first catalogues but, having looked online at both the 1955 flyer and the 1957 catalogue (there doesn't seem to be a 1956 issue), I cannot find it.
Can anyone please tell me where this illustration occurs and, if possible, post a copy of it here?

[Idris]

Anyone want to trade for a first casting 66a?

Apparently not!
I'm therefore open to other offers of interesting trades.

[Diecast]

Hi Hugh
thanks for the good tip. I have checked my spare models and found one model with smaller GPW. I think it should be the last code. It has GPW ø9,5x20 (exactly ø9,28mm), base plate type 2, cream crates and mask sprayed silver trim.
Antonin