VBD2 is closed. Please go to https://vbd3.co.uk instead.

In reading my Post from last night, I realized I needed to clarify one point I made about rare Lesney Regular Wheel discoveries. The Model I have with white tissue windows is not a Grit Spreader, but a number 63B Foamite Crash Tender. I know of a 62B Radio Truck and at least one other Lesney with these unique paper windows in them. For the Grit Spreader to have a black painted base is just another rare but a bit more 'commonplace' Lesney oddity in my mind compared to these perfectly placed Paper window inserts after you have seen and held one. Why Larry's Model would be met with disbelief when displayed by him is a bit strange after years of seeing other special Lesneys come out of the woodwork.........kwakers

Dick. Can you show us your tissue windows, this is the first time I have heard of them.

kwakers wrote: My basic question to Mick and a few others is this: Why is it that an unrecorded Regular Wheel oddity like this black painted base Grit Spreader is met with such disbelief??

Because the base colour just looks odd in the pictures, not like the normal black painted bases on other models at all. It does look more like discolouration often seen on other models' unpainted bases (both regular and Superfast).

Like I said in other threads before, I visit many local flea markets, and there I often see models in badly worn condition, which sometimes includes discoloured bases, and this model reminds me of those.

As aforesaid though, pictures can be misleading, and my opinion might change if I ever encountered one of these in real life.

Christian is absolutely correct, the photographs shown here do not show Lesney black paint because its so easy to see the metal through the tint.If black painted baseplates exist on Grit Spreaders they need to be evidenced with photgraphs

nickjones wrote:Dick. Can you show us your tissue windows, this is the first time I have heard of them.

Me too!!!

Hi Larry,please do not be offended in any way by my requesting clear close-ups of this Grit Truck base and know that i did not dismiss your specimen as a fake/repaint or other.
Know that this darkened base/grill specimen is new to me and to others on here.Perhaps early collectors do have them in their collections so it would be wise to determine if its genuine factory or post-factory and put this saga to rest.Opinions will differ and arguments are the best way forward esp with new "oddities" such as this.
The base/grille really seems almost translucent in texture so possibilities run high on this.It could also be a very weak mix of black paint or a type of anodizing unknown to us so clear close-ups would determine its form and then we can go ahead and compare it to Mr Jones' specimen and if they do tie up/look similar in all respects then one should get to the bottom in finding out what the reasons were for Lesney to use this type of finish on a very short run.Was it done in error??
Also if the front axles were also "painted or anodised" then it clearly shows that the wheels had already been fitted to the baseplate before the procedure and before it was rivetted to the casting.
If its found to be authentic then it should be added to the variation table as a legit code cos we now have more than one other specimen surface or a footnote as a pre-pro trial or even a negative variation for that matter.
Thanks for showing Larry & Mr Jones.
All the best
numi

The black base 70b is not in my collection, the photos are from an email enquiry that I received.

nickjones wrote:The black base 70b is not in my collection, the photos are from an email enquiry that I received.

Thats ok Mr Jones.
Ure still the representative
numi

kwakers wrote:In reading my Post from last night, I realized I needed to clarify one point I made about rare Lesney Regular Wheel discoveries. The Model I have with white tissue windows is not a Grit Spreader, but a number 63B Foamite Crash Tender. I know of a 62B Radio Truck and at least one other Lesney with these unique paper windows in them. For the Grit Spreader to have a black painted base is just another rare but a bit more 'commonplace' Lesney oddity in my mind compared to these perfectly placed Paper window inserts after you have seen and held one. Why Larry's Model would be met with disbelief when displayed by him is a bit strange after years of seeing other special Lesneys come out of the woodwork.........kwakers

Like others have asked, photos please of these tissue paper windows!
Dick, you have at least one PM waiting for you (if not more).

hi well just got back from our show, i showed it to my chemist friend and he said without a doubt it is painted .
its not tarnished or discolored , and appers to have been painted at the factory .
i will try and post some better pics this weekend .
larry c. in ny