41C Ford GT red hubs

[cOO7rgi]

But if they ran out of yellow wheels at some point and used red wheels to continue then surely the workers would not have received instructions that from now on the axle ends would have to be peened both on the same side?

I don't understand the reason for the opposing axle ends on this model. I can understand that with some models (usually lorries with chassis and separate cab) the axles were inserted at different times during assembly but this seems not the case here.

For me it seems that the red ones were made at a later time and not because Lesney ran out of yellow wheels and kept the assembly line running with red substitutes.
So I'll speculate: Maybe the axle-peening machine was designed for one axle only, and the model had to be switched in the hand to peen the second axle - fastest way would be to turn it 180° between thumb and index finger and then the second axle would be inserted and peened on the other side as on most yellow wheel examples. (But not on all as another worker may turn the model differently and insert both axles from the same side.) And the red wheel GT's were made later on a new machine that was designed to peen both axles simultaneously (probably adjustable for different wheelbases), thus halving the time for this step of production. Could this be the reason or am I wrong? I have to confess that I don't know much about the production techniques used by Lesney.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I'd go with them being made later (slightly later like at the end of the Day), by a different operater who does not normally use the equipment (The chargehand/foreman). The idea of the peening machine doing both axles together is interesting and certainly would have to be adjustable for the differnt wheelbases, but I don't think this is the case, more like as mentioned, a single machine with the model being turned between the fingers and I am sure we have some film with a similar operation taking place.

The production technics used at Lesney would be the same as those at Corgi and Dinky as representatives of these companies visited the same engineering shows to look at new machinary and the regular toy fairs (not toy fairs with old models on rickety tables!), like those held at Harrogate and Brighton.

Ghosthunter.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I happen to have a few late 1960's 'Yesteryear' Y-7 Rolls-Royce handy and they have the large boss on the same side of the car, but I still think even these were done on a single peening machine and the model was just moved from one axle to the other, but not flipped around.

I then have late 1960's regular wheel #24c Rolls-Royce handy and they can be found with oposed and matched axle-ends.

Ghosthunter.

[cOO7rgi]

Just moving two inches to the side and peen the other axle without turning or flipping the model would of course be the quickest way - but there must have been a reason why the axle ends are on the opposite sides. Maybe the model could only be inserted from one side (for safety reasons?) into the machine?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Just moving two inches to the side and peen the other axle without turning or flipping the model would of course be the quickest way - but there must have been a reason why the axle ends are on the opposite sides. Maybe the model could only be inserted from one side (for safety reasons?) into the machine?

Good point, there would have to be a safety gaurd fitted as well.

Ghosthunter.

[Idris]

Just moving two inches to the side and peen the other axle without turning or flipping the model would of course be the quickest way - but there must have been a reason why the axle ends are on the opposite sides. Maybe the model could only be inserted from one side (for safety reasons?) into the machine?

Good point, there would have to be a safety gaurd fitted as well.

Not in the 1960s! (The dead hand of the Nanny State was still a thing of the future.)

[Idris]

In terms of timelines, it is generally accepted that the red-hubbed 41c follows directly on from the red-hubbed 41b (c.f. metallic green 23b and 23c). This means that the red-hubbed Ford GTs represent the initial release, with all subsequent releases being fitted with yellow hubs.

[cOO7rgi]

But the box picture shows yellow wheels, not red? - I guess the GT was planned to be released with yellow wheels and the red just used up?
And maybe the axle-peening machine was designed with a pull lever for the left hand, so axle peening was only possible from the right.

[Taniwha]

In terms of timelines, it is generally accepted that the red-hubbed 41c follows directly on from the red-hubbed 41b (c.f. metallic green 23b and 23c). This means that the red-hubbed Ford GTs represent the initial release, with all subsequent releases being fitted with yellow hubs.

The red hubs are also only found on the earliest base casting of the 41c, and the last casting of the 41b.

Aside from these two models, the only other RW casting sporting red hubs was the 18e Field Car - which is most commonly found with red hubs, but note that these are a different size and shape to those on the 41b/c.

Cheers,
Gavin