Casting #51

[matchbox_n_molars]

I'm now realizing that the photo I posted from Rook's collection features the orange truck with the "DOUGLAS" label. But I know he has that model in orange with the "Pointer" label too. I"ll have to go and search through those photos again. Nonetheless, Antonin has provided lovely photographic evidence of a second example for now.

[Brad Pittiful]

here is the one i mentioned...this is a closed auction

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Matchbox-Lesney ... 7675.l2557

i never paid much attention to it as its out of my price range so i skip these auctions mostly...but i looked it over a bit and thinking it may be a label switch...plus only one pic...in an auction for an item starting at $800...i think they should supply more pictures...especially a left and right shot...sheesh

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thanks for the link Dan, you have to wonder how a model of this status stays in such good condition without a box and so where is the box?

GHOSTHUNTER.

[matchbox_n_molars]

The 51a has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. Don't ask me why but as an adult collector I've become somewhat irrational about trying to find examples of various models with the tiny 8x10 plastic wheels when they came equipped that way. I'm wondering if there is any other casting that came with the 8x10 wheels in all three plastic colors. The silver wheeled model is the real gem in this trio. It came my way from our very own VBD 'tjlglass'!

[matchboxtom]

I found this one with red hubs about 10 years ago. I have had a couple people look at it under a loop and it looks genuine.

[Tinman]

From when I had a large collection, I counted three different door decals for the Albion. How many different door decals have others found on this model?

[numi]

#51 Tipping Trailer with larger rear wheels.
numi

[tractorboy]

Selection of Albion Chieftains

IMG_6930.jpg (86.69 KiB) Viewed 2922 times

[kwakers]

Kwakers can personally verify that the 51C 8 wheel Tipper in orange with Pointer labels was shipped to our local upstate N.Y. U.S. stores. This was always considered a legitimate variation that was even recognized in our early NAMC Club Guide of 1971. Bob Brennen did not yet have one in his personal collection when he published his Guide's second printing in 1973, but we had ours right out of our local stores. Our examples of this one all had the later B style base WITH tow guide, but have the earlier style base block that is over the tipper guide. That block is wider on the left side of the model. These orange Pointers were much easier to find FOR US than any of the White grilled variations of this Dumper which were never seen in our area. I am sure these orange Pointers were mixed in with the yellow cabbed shipments in TINY numbers because we bought any orange Pointers that we could find in our local store's stockrooms and shelves. We hardly found any in lots of searches we did all over, so probably swapped some of these off to our early friends and penpals in the hobby. It's funny that Harold Colpitts never listed these in his 1976 or 1983 Guides, he perhaps never located any of these in his Eastern area of Connecticut. The orange color seems out of timeline with Pointer labels, so the theory of old painted bodies being used up and mixed in with later yellow stock Pointers seems most sensible. We did also discuss years ago that some Pointers could have been done as promotional advertising items directly for that U.K. materials transportation company. ....kwakers