35c Merryweather Fire Engine

[SMS88]

Thanks Jason and Mick for the information. The wheel numbers are difficult to read in poor light, but they appear to be 52, 7, E43 and 03A. Does that make sense and could someone explain what the wheel numbers reveal? Thanks again

Mould numbers give an indication of how early or late in the timeline this could have been made although with axle clips these may not both be originals -front axle appears to have more worn tyres and clips are not the same way around which is unusual on factory fitted wheel sets.Certainly wheel numbers without letters are potentially 1969 production although this mould continued in use into 1970 as well.Regardless of whether or not one axle has been replaced its a very nice rare casting discovered just a few miles from Jack Odell´s last factory in Enfield, where so many former Lesney employees also worked,so the odds that this toy came from an ex factory worker´s family are good!

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Yes, pretty much all 'in-house' manufacture at the various Lesney plants. The wheel mould numbers do have referance to a date of use, or of a moulding date within Lesney, and generally speaking, the lower the number and alphabet letter, the earlier the period of manufacture. It is quite common to find two consecutive numbered wheels on the same axle, but then the other wheels may be several numbers higher or lower than the matched pair on one axle.

I am sure "chfalkensteiner" and "SMS88" will come in on this, as this subject has been covered in other posts, especially on my own 69c models.

Regards,
GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

There you go, just as I was replying to you, SMS88 has managed to get in front of me......................

Ghosty.

[fixer]

I was also at Potters Bar
I think that merryweather was in the box I went through and never looked at it properly, oh well, good find johnboy
The dealer usually has a good stock of sf and is often at Brentwood & Huntington
Found this in the same box

[johnboy]

Sorry I missed you Reg, you obviously weren't doing the silly walk Those beater boxes are just begging to be tipped out and checked properly sometimes but you can't do it. Nice Roller btw.

[tjlglass]

I was stalling at PB fixer, seems like we missed each other again. I was in the top room on the right. All I bought was some dodgy cap guns and a Chelsea rattle off some shady looking bloke lol.

[fixer]

Tim
I was talking to your mate with the beals van in that room was it you he told off for chatting in front of his wares

[numi]

This Merryweather casting is one rare find Johnboy.Some die-hard can only dream about it!!
Well done...enjoy.
numi

[tjlglass]

Yeah it was my mate Stuart with the Beales, we always wind each other up as it can get boring up the top room lol. Was you the one that enquirer about his gift sets ?

[fixer]

I did like them sets , the beales van is on my want list when funds allow as its my family name
till then the days gone set from the same room will do for £3
the 70b dodge dragster copies were intresting too