#4 Triumph & Sidecar in Metallic Gold

[tractorboy]

Good Day,

Just to clarify - I was not the purchaser of this model. I was contacted by a collector via my website.
I told him some of my initial concerns and that I would like to share with the VBD forum to get their views as, if genuine, it's a great find.

This is the latest e-mail from Eric plus 3 additional photos that I requested.

Hi Rodger,

Regarding bullet 3 I checked how the wheels turned. There is indeed a difference, see comment on picture, they do not run as smoothly as the blue Triumph. But you do not need to use force.

I agree with you that if somebody is selling a fake model why asking a price that is so low. For me that was the reason to take the risk in buying this model.

The name of the seller was Henk. I transferred the money to Henk Jonk.

Below is the email conversation in Dutch.

Hi Eric,
The model is from an old collection of which the rest is on eBay. I removed the MG (a Matchbox 19b MG MGA Sports Car , good condition) from Marktplaats because nobody was bidding and will list this one later on eBay.
If all goes well you will receive the model today.
Thanks and kind regards, Henk

Hallo Eric,
Het model komt uit een oude verzameling waarvan de rest op eBay staat. De MG heb ik al van Marktplaats gehaald, want er werd niets opgeboden en zet deze later ook op eBay.
Als het goed is, ontvang je vandaag het model al.
Bedankt en groet, Henk

Op 20 april 2017 om 19:10 schreef e.slager via Marktplaats <a-zlbm46gk4j7b3@mail.marktplaats.nl>:
Hallo Henk,
Zie dat model al onderweg is.
Nog een vraagje, waar komt het model vandaan en heb je hem al lang in je bezit? One more question, where does the model come from and how long is it in your pocession?

So Rodger, what do you think?

Kind regards, Eric

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The seller name Henk Jonk, did give some concern but I don't know that much about Dutch names so did a Google search and a few hits for Jonk. So perhaps a coincidence.

For me there are many features that point to it being genuine:

The latest photos of the front wheel axle show a finish that I would expect to see.
The rear axle ends are no problem as I've seen similar on my #7 Triumphs & Harleys having the exact axle ends.
In the book, : "Collecting The Matchbox Diecast Toys - The First Forty Years" (page 77) it mention how this version came about by the Triumph casting being placed on the wrong assembly line, hence the larger Harley wheels & presumedly longer rear axle being fitted.
The colour is consistent with the Harley (though a direct in the hand comparison would always be best).
I seem to remember on one forum post discussion about a scientific test that could be done to test the paint - can anyone recall that?

We know that the fakers are getting more sophisticated and we have to be on our guard.
33 Euros! If I saw it I would buy it.

Happy to hear your views.

[Idris]

It would be interesting to know where Henk Jonk lives/claims to live. (Eric Jonkers is in Barendrecht.)
We could also do with Henk's Maarktplaats seller alias so that his other offerings can be assessed.

[tractorboy]

It would be interesting to know where Henk Jonk lives/claims to live. (Eric Jonkers is in Barendrecht.)
We could also do with Henk's Maarktplaats seller alias so that his other offerings can be assessed.

Have made request to Eric for this information.

[Idris]

It would be interesting to know where Henk Jonk lives/claims to live. (Eric Jonkers is in Barendrecht.)
We could also do with Henk's Maarktplaats seller alias so that his other offerings can be assessed.

Have made request to Eric for this information.

I have been chatting by e-mail with Dutch VBD Member Henk (the only collector, apart from myself, to have seen my collection this century!) who keeps a beady eye on Marktplaats and has had some interesting finds there (and which I very much hope he will show the wider VBD community in due course).
His is of the opinion that Henk Jonk is an Eric Jonkers alias. He also says that he remembers this group of Marktplaats listings and that there were simply too many htf and rare variations being offered by the seller that it simply wasn't credible that they were genuine.

[Idris]

I removed the MG (a Matchbox 19b MG MGA Sports Car , good condition) from Marktplaats because nobody was bidding and will list this one later on eBay.

Forgot to add that, according to Henk, the 19a in question was a reproduction without the spare wheel....

[tractorboy]

Received reply from Eric
Hello Rodger,

Regarding your questions:
- I have no email address, as long as the item is listed on Marktplaats you communicate with the seller. Once the item is no longer available you cannot communicate unless the seller has other items.
- He used the alias Henk, and as far as I can see he has no other item for sale at this moment.

Unfortunately doesn't help much.
Thank you Idris for your findings - if we can find the seller ID I will list on post of sellers to watch out for.

[Idris]

How did Eric pay? If it was by PayPal, he can go into his account and find the e-mail address the money was transferred to.

[Tinman]

This whole thing is starting to sound dodgy. A mystery buyer contacts a board member via a web site and starts a dialog about a bargain priced super rare model. To what end, to solicit the item for sale at some point? To build up interest and offer the item for sale to a third party? Or, perhaps to build up confidence in the model and offer it for sale on a more popular venue? Who knows, but the disconnect between the alleged buyer, and seller seems to have become awkward (how are returns handled, money transferred etc.). Perhaps I'm too suspicious, but something does not seem right here.

I fall back on my original advice, if the owner wants to know if the model is real or not, he/she needs to send it to a lab for spectroscopic analyses of the paint.

[tractorboy]

Have emailed Eric re PayPal check - will post any further details if sent through.

Thank you Idris for the follow up with your Dutch friend - does raise concerns.
It was the 19B MGA Sports Car that was removed not the 19A.

I agree with Tinman - I will express our reservations about authenticity and suggest to Eric that should get a professional analysis of the paintwork if so inclined.

[Tinman]

One thing we do know is that some fakers and dishonest people love to play games. We've seen that right here on the forum with several infamous fakers and even Hardy.