4c Triumph T110 Motorcycle and Sidecar

[Idris]

None of the NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (second edition), AIM's “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983), Stannard, Houghton, or Leake ("Concise Catalogue of 75 Series Matchbox Toys by Lesney" (4th edition, reprinted 2006)) lists any variation not already catalogued by Nick.
U.K. Matchbox examined the model in vol. 2 no. 1 ((Mar. '78) p12 but did not list any new variations.

Please note the front axle discussion here.

[yellowfoden]

In addition to the spring pin variation, we have another unlisted 4c.

The early castings of the 4c Triumph T110 are a nice crisp casting with plenty of fine detail. Detail like the area under the seat being open and the area just forward of the rear mudguard also being open.
Towards the end of its production life however these two areas were filled in with solid sections.
I do not recall this being mentioned in the catalogues as the variation differences seem to concentrate on the tyre tread count, the sidecar mudguard brace, the braces or ribs on base and axles types.

At the point when under the seat was filled coincides with the fine tread tyres and short mudguard however I suspect this is just a fluke.
Because each of these two areas was mould alterations at different times it creates a new variation.

The next variation is seat area filled (full mudguard brace and thin braces model ) but open forward of rear mudguard

But there is another variation where the seat area is filled as well as the area forward of the rear mudguard filled on the model with thin braces or ribs on the base.

It is quite possible that if collectors only looked at features covered by Stannard they could have either one (or both) of these second last castings.

The final casting that is recorded has both these features but now with wide braces on base.

Bert

[Diecast]

I am enclosing a proposal of a new 4c list. I have added the variations of the front axis and the variation with infill (which has Bert showed us)
Please comments.
Antonin

[Diecast]

a small colour variation
a) steel blue
b) darker steel blue

[yellowfoden]

Hello Antonin,

I see you show codes for Stannard and Nick as being the same although Nick has 7 codes in case you had not noticed.
Here is my table which I finished a couple of weeks ago but some family time has delayed my posting this. There are a couple of differences.

I do not have your code 4, the 36 tread with infill under seat, your B type body, could you please check yours. This would be new to me if it is correct.

Your table is missing one more B base and C body. If you look at my code 5 and 5a, where I have circled on the variation table is the difference to the casting is the important bit.
I have added the detail in as two new columns for the under seat and area in front of rear mudguard. I think the two new columns will make it easier for new collectors especially to follow given it has not been discussed before.

The details in red are my 2017 alterations.

Bert

[Diecast]

Thanks Bert for your comments. Sorry I have overlooked the infill near mudguard. I have to upgrade the list. But I am not sure about the copper metallic variation. This variation has been mentioned several times, but I do not know if it was a fake or just one single model.
Antonin

[Idris]

But I am not sure about the copper metallic variation. This variation has been mentioned several times, but I do not know if it was a fake or just one single model.

Have you tried PM-ing Eric? He might be able to source you one!.

[Diecast]

I am enclosing an upgrade of a new 4c list. I have added the variations according Bert´s comments
Please comments.
Antonin

[yellowfoden]

Thanks Bert for your comments. Sorry I have overlooked the infill near mudguard. I have to upgrade the list. But I am not sure about the copper metallic variation. This variation has been mentioned several times, but I do not know if it was a fake or just one single model.
Antonin

Hello Antonin,

Thanks for noting the new infill variation.
With respect to the 4c in Copper, I have these on my listing based on Nick’s listing and Christian’s listing but they are merely there for information.
What is not shown in photo is rest of spreadsheet with my personal notes in other columns where I have noted these have never been seen by me plus other critical detail.
Apologies for not cropping the copper ones off my post, that is why they are at bottom of my list.

My main reasons for my table was to clarify the infill variation.

Thanks for your work on this, I am waiting on another model so will go back over the new detail after it arrives.

Have a safe and happy Christmas

Bert

[ChFalkensteiner]

Having just digested the information provided in this thread and applied it to the examples in my own collection, I have found one combination which seems to be missing in the listings above: a model with the earlier, shorter left mudguard brace and with the infill in front of the right mudguard present (72 tread tyres, narrow base ribs and infill under seat as expected).

It would fit between codes 4 and 5 in Bert's list and between codes 6 and 7 in Antonin's list.

As the motorcycle body including the right mudguard and the sidecar body including the left mudguard are two separate castings, this just constitutes a combination of a later motorcycle body with an earlier sidecar body.