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kwakers wrote:I believe the base without hole is actually a pre-production casting. I passed a Mint one up out of a large collection of a great friend of mine's for $125 in 1978(?). Because the hole was not visible on a display shelf, I didn't think much of it. Were I to have seen the open step (I don't remember knowing about Harold Colpitts publishing that open step in his 1976 Guide, so I may not even have noticed), I would have eagerly bought this ultra rare one from him to display.
In my opinion Antonin, you may have to check 2 million plus more Combines to find one without the base hole. OR, you could ask Jason or Numi to sell you either their 'spare', or the one they will find next week with their eagle eyes.......(Of course I am joking, but Brad may also have one by next month....LOL So many talented 'Matchbox hunter' friends to joke with) kwakers

i worked with a girl a few years ago who was a big record and cd collector...she learned as a kid...buy it when you see it...cause you may never get a second chance..so depending on my money situation...i dont let them slip by anymore...unless i make a mistake and forget about an auction which ive done too many times for my liking...its a shame you let that slip by...we all have done that either by mistake or on purpose

Diecast wrote:

kwakers wrote: In my opinion Antonin, you may have to check 2 million plus more Combines to find one without the base hole kwakers

Thank you very much for a piece of good advice Dick, I have started just now, 1 000 001, 1 000 002, 1 000 003,...
Antonin

ufff 1 500 000, 1 500 001, 1 500 002, ... ufff, ufff

I don't believe it was a prepro

I think I just bought it when it came out - probably when I was still in South Africa

I base my pre-pro theory strictly on the fact that only tiny numbers of this non hole base are known to exist today Wolfie. (Just like your Cream Cougar you lucky man!) I see yours has the closed bottom step on it, and I admit to not being an authority on these early Combine variants. But.......If they are not a pre-production in your eyes, perhaps you might sell your version to an old half blind collector such as Antonin or myself at a fair price???........LOL
Were you buying your 'new releases' from a very large toy distributor in town Wolfie, or just a small store? Between this and your cream Cougar, you were a very Lucky collector in the right places at the right time. I was able to buy from a a friend named Emerich who owned a very tiny Train store in our area, but he picked up his stock of Lesneys right from Bronner's warehouse (And sometimes a couple for us out of one of his sales displays some would argue Fred did not have) kwakers

Hi Dick
Perhaps all Pre Pro were sent and then sold in South Africa. I see it as a typ of apartheid, it is a system of segregation, because we in the rest of the world had no access to so nice models.
Antonin

Diecast wrote:

Diecast wrote:

kwakers wrote: In my opinion Antonin, you may have to check 2 million plus more Combines to find one without the base hole kwakers

Thank you very much for a piece of good advice Dick, I have started just now, 1 000 001, 1 000 002, 1 000 003,...
Antonin

ufff 1 500 000, 1 500 001, 1 500 002, ... ufff, ufff

I continue, 1 999 000, 1 999 001, 1 999 002,.... Somewhere near here it might be....

Diecast wrote:I continue, 1 999 000, 1 999 001, 1 999 002,.... Somewhere near here it might be....

HAH, you beginner 4,746,153.........4,746,154..........4,746,155........4,746,156...............

No wonder Numi finds all our rare models Antonin! She gets to find some that Wolfie may have left behind.......I love your counts guys. No answer from Wolfie to sell we old men his non-hole, non-pre pro Harveser yet Antonin. I have been waiting by my computer for two days now for his answer.... kwakers

kwakers wrote:No wonder Numi finds all our rare models Antonin! She gets to find some that Wolfie may have left behind.......I love your counts guys. No answer from Wolfie to sell we old men his non-hole, non-pre pro Harveser yet Antonin. I have been waiting by my computer for two days now for his answer.... kwakers

Hi Dick
I am very sorry that it took me longer then two days. First were my dwarfs lazy and then they were on holiday (me also). However, after 5 000 001 attemts they digged out a true Koh-i-Noor, 65c Combine with 5 line text + open step.
Antonin

Very nice indeed Antonin