23B Cresta - light gold - BPW

[tractorboy]

Recently purchased this and it doesn't appear to fit into the timeline - checked NIck's listing

Screen Shot 2019-10-31 at 5.03.38 PM.png (116.16 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

Also checked my copies of John Houton, Leake's and "Collecting Matchbox Diecast Toys First Forty Years" (states: "....black plastic wheels occurred only on the copper version" page 69)

Have photographed with others to compare colour and included axle shots.

P6210008_Fotor.jpg (228.81 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

BPW 1st on left

P6210002_Fotor.jpg (399.85 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

P6210010_Fotor.jpg (219.69 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

P6210011_Fotor.jpg (322.95 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

P6210012_Fotor.jpg (362.55 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

The first thing to strike me was the 2 different axle lengths (front longer than usual), also the cracks in the rivets (though under a lens no sign of stress markings to indicate tampering e.g. being forced up then down)

axle ends (taken with digital viewer - bit bright as backlit by viewer tool):
Rear

S20191031_001.jpg (69.52 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

S20191031_002.jpg (63.76 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

Front

S20191031_003.jpg (70.44 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

S20191031_004.jpg (61.34 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

Welcome any comments and happy to provide further photographs for clarification.

P6210007_Fotor.jpg (95.48 KiB) Viewed 3269 times

[Idris]

If genuine, this does indeed appear to be an unrecorded variation).
Having said that, I'm not sure about the peened axle ends. Would it be possible to have an 'end-on' view of at least one of them please?

[tractorboy]

If genuine, this does indeed appear to be an unrecorded variation).
Having said that, I'm not sure about the peened axle ends. Would it be possible to have an 'end-on' view of at least one of them please?

Thanks Idris, wasn't quite sure where best to post so please feel happy to move to "unrecorded variation" forum.
Will take some more photos with camera & digital viewer when I get home.

[tractorboy]

Found it quite tricky to get close up shots, especially with rear shiny axle end but hope these help

Both

both.jpg (51.67 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

Front

front1.jpg (27.75 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

front2.jpg (20.16 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

front3.jpg (43.09 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

front4.jpg (14.89 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

front5.jpg (35.01 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

Rear

rear1.jpg (31.13 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

rear2.jpg (25.8 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

rear3.jpg (21.73 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

rear4.jpg (29.31 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

rear5.jpg (21.62 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

rear6.jpg (22.16 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

rear7.jpg (13.78 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

rear8.jpg (33.41 KiB) Viewed 3205 times

[Idris]

What I'm missing on those axle ends (and it might just be the angle that the photographs have been taken from, or the lighting) are the radial lines from the centre to the edge. In addition, there seems to be a lot of circular scoring instead.
What do other Members think? Do these ends align with standard factory practice?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

At leat two pictures of the axle-ends showing the small 'Peen' I do not like. One does look like a home machined end and the other looks barely capable of stopping the wheel from leaving the axle.

Ghosthunter.

[tractorboy]

Took some more shots with digital viewer and you're correct Idris, the light from the viewer highlights circular grooves on rear axles end and what looks like grooves on in the inner wheel hub

S20191102_002.jpg (46.85 KiB) Viewed 3162 times

S20191102_003.jpg (51.63 KiB) Viewed 3162 times

S20191102_004.jpg (55.96 KiB) Viewed 3162 times

Ghosty, the small peen on the front axle is similar to what I've seen on other models, especially the uneven strike and end overlap but the rust hides any detail

S20191102_005.jpg (45.81 KiB) Viewed 3162 times

I think too many inconsistencies for this to be genuine, timeline, different axle lengths, irregular peening and circular marks. It was bought from a large box of toys for only a few dollars so no attempt to pass off as anything rare. Judging by rust on axles any changes must have been done a while ago but strange how it has different axle ends & lengths, you'd have thought the person would have been consistent. Thanks for your comments.

[Idris]

Given the circular grooves, can we classify this as a home-spun variation?

[Tinman]

Looks like two different colors of paint inside the wheel arch.

[tractorboy]

Looks like two different colors of paint inside the wheel arch.

It is the light from the digital viewer. I get a similar effect when I rotate model body and parts catch the light and other parts are shaded.