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These two clips are the only ones I can find now Tractorboy. The areas you point out are the ones that we may need to see in better detail to show 'spinning', but they are what they are. These clips seem to indicate the machines in use are all pre-set with the operator simply inserting the model into a holder. Production is so fast and photography is so bad that we cannot make out what is happening here on these newer videos. The arbor press used to insert the rear spare tires on the Y Series Mercedes can be seen as much simpler than the motorized machine at 1:47 that she regrettably is not shown using. The 13Cs are so blurry in this video they cannot be distinguished, so I wonder whether more details were available in the same video that was downloaded years ago that I viewed earlier this week? kwakers

http://www.vectis.co.uk/Page/ViewLot.aspx?LotId=509217

And

http://www.vectis.co.uk/Page/ViewLot.aspx?LotId=475037

tractorboy wrote:the woman appears to be taking models off the line and uses a press but hard to see

numi wrote: please post those pics so that we can all view and make assessments to ascertain/determine whether some/most/all rounded axle-ends were actually electrically spun(via a spinning motor/spindle) or whether manually or pneumatically peened.Pics or vids of the actual peening/rivetting procedures are also welcome.
Thanks in advance.
numi

kwakers wrote: These clips seem to indicate the machines in use are all pre-set with the operator simply inserting the model into a holder. Production is so fast and photography is so bad that we cannot make out what is happening here on these newer videos kwakers

Hello kwakers,Nick, idris, numi, Rodger and all,

I believe this worker may actually be riveting the axle holding the hook on the 13c Thames Wreck Truck.
The models looks to be almost complete and making their way to the station ready to be trim detailed before being put into a tray prior to being boxed. I would think the hook assembly would have been the last assembly type task prior to boxing.

I would think this machine has a pre-set travel or stroke subject to the length of the axle, so one hand with the fingers are holding the hook to apply pressure to stop axle falling out and the other hand holding the model.

This type of machine can then be operated with a foot operated switch to activate tool. If you look closely at the video you can see her leg move at the same time the lower part rises. The jig in this case would be designed to suit the correct seating of the crane jib.

The amount of travel could also be determined by a bed or jig holding a component and varied accordingly for other tasks.

She does it quickly, but by the look on her face has been told she must work faster.

Footnote
Usually machines like this are guarded to prevent fingers, hand or clothing getting caught as can be seen in another clip where a spare tyre is being riveted in place. In this case the actual tool may be guarded but not visible to my eyes.

I would have thought axles were spun and hammered at the same time to produce a dome effect. As stated a longer period would give a full dome whilst a shorter one, a flat spot on top. Over the years I have seen many different ends on axle ends from pure common models to rare and can definitely say they are all covered by Rogers photos.
We are talking a mass production process, with staff on timed work / paid per item and a target to meet. To look for the ultimate perfection on every model is ludicrous in my opinion and have seen it with MOY collectors who take every model out of its box to find that 'perfect' one - WTF ! Are we considering models made for collectors like a limited run or are we collecting what were considered cheap throwaway toys for kids in a similar vein to those produced in Hong Kong ( there is really no difference except in popularity)

All I look for is the fact that the axle ends look and feel right to me and I am more than happy. It always strikes me as funny that most rare models you see are always in pristine condition usually - never played with - and this has always bought up the thought with me that were these known as rare models from day 1 or were they just looked after all the time by a load of fastidious kids. I have this problem with MOY as well when I see the likes of a Y24 Bugatti with white or green seats fetching a huge premium but never have I seen one on Ebay just listed as common or in the wild anywhere which leads me to believe they are made specifically for someone and then sold (must admit this was a known fact of life late in the factories production).
If a rare model I would look for an axle end I could rely on even if not perfectly round, flat topped or striations on the dome.

Moyboy wrote:It always strikes me as funny that most rare models you see are always in pristine condition usually - never played with - and this has always bought up the thought with me that were these known as rare models from day 1 or were they just looked after all the time by a load of fastidious kids...

...or are modern fakes!

Idris wrote:

Moyboy wrote:It always strikes me as funny that most rare models you see are always in pristine condition usually - never played with - and this has always bought up the thought with me that were these known as rare models from day 1 or were they just looked after all the time by a load of fastidious kids...

...or are modern fakes!

Speaking from experience with 'Rare' models, when I started collecting (As opposed to playing) in 1964 as a young lad, when you went to the local stores to buy a model, you picked the one you wanted the most, bought it, and brought it home. It went right onto your display shelves as a 'Mint' model, unplayed with whether it was common or 'Rare'. As I self taught wheel variations by observations out of store displays, they were also removed with the store owners help as dusty as they were and never had seen play wear either. I soon noticed that the common black plastic wheels were easy to find and current, but certain models like the 51 Albion Cement Truck was only found in Metal, gray plastic, and rarely silver wheels as left over stock one at a time. Then we went to leisure Time Crafts in Schenectady to find a box of twelve BPW Albions, could only talk the owner's Mother out of six of them, but would have taken them all if we could have. Moyboy is right, they were 'Rare' from the start, early pioneer collectors knew each common variation, so they were bought Mint as trading stock for us. One Albion is still with us, five were sent all over the U.S. in trades with collector friends in 1968-70s, so were NEVER played with. The same was true of so many 'Rare' models like the 68 Mercedes Coach in green, the 33 Miura in yellow with white interior or with Superfast Gold bodies, odd number decals on the 19C Aston Martin or the 41B Jaguar, the yellow 41 Ford GT, and on and on and on........... We as collectors do not play with 'Rare' models, we spot them, buy them by the dozens if we ever can, and trade them off for models we never found in our areas. On some deals we did well, on others I still have many regrets in swapping away VERY 'Rare' Mint later models for what are now early 50s common metal wheel first series that we never located in our stores. They were very much ALL Mint though, off to work now.....kwakers