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I tend to agree with Hugh and also think it's probably and early preproduction model. Yellows were sometimes used on the first casting trials and this fits right in with everything else Hugh has noted. It is an exciting find.

Very interesting model Hugh!
I just checked the early catalogues as they sometimes show models in strange colours, which were never used. (or for prepro and trial only)
Matchbox catalogue from 1957 shows the model in green. That of course don't match your colour, but maybe give us a hint that Lesney not defined a colour for #38a at that time.
#40a is printed in the same colour.

Matchbox catalogue from 1958 shows the model in correct colour.

Here is a link showing the complete 1957 catalogue:
http://www.hgm-matchbox.de/Matchbox_Katalog_GB_1957.htm

There are many links at the left of the website, where you can choose between nearly all RW and SF catalogues!

Greetings,
Linus

Idris wrote:

mbox2000 wrote:What is the back story on this casting?

Now that I have it in the hand and cannot immediately fault it, I'm trying to get background information from the previous owner.

Finally heard back from the seller, who is based in Birmingham. It sounds like he is simply a bit of a dabbler, buying and selling all sorts and, as a result, there is unfortunately no history available.

Hi Hugh !

You outbid me in the very last second of the auction of this model
But I´m glad it was you, who got it

paelzermaen wrote:Hi Hugh !

You outbid me in the very last second of the auction of this model
But I´m glad it was you, who got it

I wondered who else it was who had spotted it!

Yep, spotted it half a hour before ending. Looked good for me, but was not 100 % sure, so my bid was not too high.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose.

paelzermaen wrote:Yep, spotted it half a hour before ending. Looked good for me, but was not 100 % sure, so my bid was not too high.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose.

Shouldn´t it mean "Sometimes you loose, sometimes the others win"?

Well, As an ex Hackney resident and ex hackney council worker I can tell you that when I first started working for them in 1980 a few of the councils older vehicles were painted a very similar yellow, the council changed the livery from all over yellow to white with a green roof, I spent 2 hours searching with google and found nothing but bing turned up this picture, is it a similar shade?.
the rim of the bin has LBHYC1189 marked on it, (london borough hackney council + bin number)

nickjones wrote:Well, As an ex Hackney resident and ex hackney council worker I can tell you that when I first started working for them in 1980 a few of the councils older vehicles were painted a very similar yellow, the council changed the livery from all over yellow to white with a green roof, I spent 2 hours searching with google and found nothing but bing turned up this picture, is it a similar shade?.

That does indeed look to be a similar colour (in as far as you can see the colour through the grime and filth!).

well done hugh!
a dream find
dave