69B Hatra: Yellow with Red Wheels

[GHOSTHUNTER]

"NO CENSORSHIP OF ANY KIND"

...When Hugh is not looking of course...

Ghosty.

[kwakers]

Jokes aside Ghosty, some comments are in need of both censorship and also serious discussion with clear heads. Thanks go out to all our moderators for the tough decisions they sometimes have to make in order to keep our Forum a fun place to visit, view and enjoy for both veteran and new collectors and Forum members worldwide.
This tough Hatra variation is a nice one Greg, congratulations. I still need one of these for our collection, is it now my turn to locate an original as nice as yours??
We have some rusty axles from collection display in our cellar years ago, as well as from other collector's displays in humid climates as Tinman points out. Surface rust is not only acceptable in my opinion, but proof of provenance and originality on some of the rare models being sold today out of displayed collections. If Greg's Hatra axles were cleaned and polished in any way, or even done perfectly, it might be harder for us to determine the model's originality, maybe not. Super clean absolutely rust free polished axles have actually scared me away from a rare wheel variation or two. I personally would leave your axles alone Johnboy, but that is just an opinion from my experiences in 52 years of collecting. You hesitated for a good reason John.
No one had any comment on Dan's rare early casting braceless 30C Crane he showed us with axle rust. Nice picture of a rare casting Dan! That is a tough casting variation to find here in the U.S. in my opinion. It took me years to get my first example with the help of nearlymint Jason, but I still check the base on hundreds of these 30Cs on E Bay and also at shows every year. Is that force of habit or pure GREED?? (Sent from our ancient Dell in the Cave) kwakers

[fixer]

I wouldn't call it greed Kwakers just an annoying habit just like the one Ghosty has got me into looking for his long seat 69c

[johnboy]

I wouldn't call it greed Kwakers just an annoying habit just like the one Ghosty has got me into looking for his long seat 69c

It's a good job we do turn up the odd gem sometimes otherwise it would fall into Einstein territory (Insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results)

[durangokid]

Greg, Congratulations on your find!
I also agree with the comments about the forum as they point to why this forum is so great as well as informational and useful -- I view it almost every day! (eye strain!)
Here are a few photos of my Hatras along with a well played dozer (RED driver)
Bill

[Squid]

The Hatra is a neat casting. I will probably put it on my high-priority list. Very nice find, Greg!

[jimgallegos]

Greg, Congratulations on your find!
I also agree with the comments about the forum as they point to why this forum is so great as well as informational and useful -- I view it almost every day! (eye strain!)
Here are a few photos of my Hatras along with a well played dozer (RED driver)
Bill

Nice group photo.

[Tinman]

My old "group" before they were disbanded and sent to the four corners of the earth. Hardest to find was the two color model, second hardest to find was the red hub on yellow Hatra and third hardest was the orange hub model with GPT.

Two tone and red hub on yellow body were both in group lot (different) purchases. The two tone came in a group lot that was in an inexpensive lot full of play worn beaters.

[durangokid]

My old "group" before they were disbanded and sent to the four corners of the earth. Hardest to find was the two color model, second hardest to find was the red hub on yellow Hatra and third hardest was the orange hub model with GPT.

Two tone and red hub on yellow body were both in group lot (different) purchases. The two tone came in a group lot that was in an inexpensive lot full of play worn beaters.
]

Joe,
Great group shot and I agree with your order of difficulty in finding these models. What a fun day that must have been when you "found" the two-tone model in a group of beaters--- one of the things that makes this great hobby so fun!

Bill

[motorman]

I wouldn't call it greed Kwakers just an annoying habit just like the one Ghosty has got me into looking for his long seat 69c

Did i ever tell you that i have a minty SF#69 with 'long seat' Reg?