48a Meteor Sports Boat & Trailer

[Tinman]

You can lead a cave man to a camera, but you can't force him to ...

[johnboy]

You can lead a cave man to a camera, but you can't force him to ...

https://planetbell.me/2014/03/17/a-dist ... evolution/

[kwakers]

I am afraid after reading over two pages of spoofing on me (Some just posted this past week!!!) about lack of effort or skill at taking pictures, to make the following admissions: I now own an example of the Boat Trailer that was described and listed in the 1971 NAMC Catalogue that is WITHOUT Locating PIN. Unexpectedly, my example HAS the later triangular axle braces on it, but still has the early Metal Wheels with crimped axle on it. This means Bob was wrong about this variation being a first casting or a pre-production model, but without later plastic wheels and riveted axles it cannot be a LAST casting either! It is a historical Lesney mid-production oddity with no logical explanation for it. The Boat that came with it still has a locating hole in its hull, but no way to secure it to this FLAT TOP trailer. I have shown it in person to our local Northland Toy Club members, but did not have it at the September Hershey Matchbox Show to show some of our veteran Yank detailists (AND HARDY) who attended this year. This odd casting has a much larger tapered round boss under where the pin would have been, but is PERFECTLY flat on top without any signs of ever being modified, poorly cast, or broken. It is Mint, and has never been shown in pictures anywhere...LOL
At that Hershey Matchbox Show in September I also was able to find and purchase at retail price an unlisted early casting green 43A Hillman Minx WITHOUT ANY ANGLED BRACE under either side of the rear rivet post. Months ago I had introduced this variation to the Forum in a discussion about it, and no one was able to find one like it in their collections. Both Antonin and I had missed one out of our good friend's collection in Virginia, so this was an exciting unknown variation to get a second chance at buying for our own collection. It is Mint and was sold to me in it's original black numbered endflap box. Hardy was able to confirm this earliest casting in Green, but mentioned finding one like it in the later 2 tone colours would be a much rarer "Holy Grail" for a collector to find.
Pictures?? Maybe one day my Forum friend from Troy New York may be able to take a few for you guys, or on a trip down to Joe's you never know what I may bring along....... kwakers, the secretive Stannard Guide clutching elder in a cave somewhere in the Adirondacks

[zBret]

I noticed on my example that it has the triangular infill on one side but not the other.

zBret

[kwakers]

Your example may indicate a flow problem with a die on this Trailer casting zBret that led to the later lengthening of both infills as George has pictured in this thread. What a spectacular find you have shown us on this one, not a "Crossover variation", but possibly the reason for having to lengthen that infill! Those wheels look like the 'narrow' metal wheel style on a crimped axle, but with the later axle braces on it. What a find!!! kwakers

[MatchboxFreak]

Hello Dick
I would be happy to help take photos if you'd like.
No pressure, no rush.
If you bring a few to PAC, we could do a few test samples.
enjoy!
Kurt