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What a tease you are with that comparison shot! Aren't there any Forum rules to protect we Elderly collectors from such abuse? two very Nice models Taniwha.....kwakers

I didn't even know there was a turquoise version. I'd probably faint if I saw one at a garage sale.

Here an old picture :

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Both the standard Crane with no base brace and that turquois version are quite hard to find. I had to get my non-braced version from Jason in a trade just last year to avoid turning over another 2000 Cranes. Little did I realize that I would continue to turn them over at shows in order to make sure I don't ever pass another one up. Are we creatures of habit, or what? Aim cataloged the missing brace without picturing it in 1976, but NAMC had missed it in Bob's 1973 reprinting of his 1971 guide.
The rare turquois Crane was missed by we U.S. collectors because we never even knew of it's existence till it was noted by Mike Stannard in 1985. Mike states that it was found in the G-6 Lesney Gift Set from 1966-67, making it a very rare short run 'Special'. They seem to turn up occasionally now in some used Toy lots, but finding a Mint one seems next to impossible because of it's limited run in Gift sets that were bought and given to children as Christmas Gifts that were 'Well Used'. It is very nice to see several Forum members picture theirs, I am green with envy..... kwakers

as Dick mentioned...i found mine in a lot...out of all the cars in the lot it also came with yellow 41 ford gt...i thought for sure if the crane was overlooked no way will the yellow ford GT be over looked...i was lucky and got the lot for a very reasonable price



the crane is not mint...but its is in really nice condition considering how play worn some of the others are in the above picture

That's a nice lot Brad!

[quote="motorman"]That's a nice lot Brad![/quote]
Yes, a wonderful find...

thanks guys!

[quote="kwakers"]Both the standard Crane with no base brace and that turquoise version are quite hard to find.[/quote]

I still do not have a turquoise crane, but I now have three examples without the base brace in my collection (which I unscrupulously fitted with three different hooks to create different variations ), and in addition had another one to spare a while ago, so in my view the turquoise variation is much harder to get. However, this may just be the case because it is more obvious, hence better known and more popular, which results in its asking prices always being too high for me.

[quote="kwakers"]I had to get my non-braced version from Jason in a trade just last year to avoid turning over another 2000 Cranes. Little did I realize that I would continue to turn them over at shows in order to make sure I don't ever pass another one up. Are we creatures of habit, or what?[/quote]

I still turn around every one I see as well and probably will continue doing this until the end of my life. After all none of my three examples is perfectly mint, and I still look for upgrades, not to mention spares to trade...

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