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Quite a rare variation to find, with the triangular supports under the curved canopy (roof)

George T.

kerbside wrote:Quite a rare variation to find, with the triangular supports under the curved canopy

I would class this as extremely rare (IIRC, last time we discussed this, the conclusion was that fewer than ten examples were known to Members.)

Great find George, congratulations.

Hello Alex I have had this model for quite a long time, I posted it as we seem to have a few new members now, which might have been of interest to them I hope.

George T.

This canopy casting must have been an extremely short run since it escaped cataloguing by NAMC, AIM, Stannard, Houghton, Leake and U.K. Matchbox (although admittedly, based on what Dick (Kwakers) has told us, it would seem that neither curved canopy version was ever released in the US, so NAMC and AIM can be excused the oversight).
It is also interesting as an intermediate casting because although the ends of the canopy could be straightened by removing material from the tooling, removing the webs would have required adding material back to the tooling - something which is difficult to do. The third style (straight edge) canopy therefore represented a degree of retooling, which strikes me as something the Company would not have undertaken lightly given the costs involved. However, looking at the two designs, I can only assume that the webbed canopy shown in this thread so offended Jack Odell's sense of aesthetics (apparently he felt he was making miniature models rather than toys), that he simply could not let it be and had to step in with an alternative design. Even so, it is still surprising just how few of these are around, suggesting that the new tooling was made available for production very quickly indeed.

After years of looking, I managed to pick one of these up recently that was hiding in a joblot. The condition is poor/overpainted but to me it's such a rare casting that the appearance is secondary. On mine, the roof is strong without any movement despite the playwear, so the webs certainly worked in that respect, so I do agree that the appearance was probably the factor that lead to the change. I have heard a number of times that Jack Odell was something of a perfectionist who liked to build in as much quality to the models as possible within the constraints he was working with.

(btw superb model George)

kerbside wrote:Hello Alex I have had this model for quite a long time, I posted it as we seem to have a few new members now, which might have been of interest to them I hope.

George T.

G'day George,
Wow!!!
I failed to buy one on the Ebay auction only a few weeks back, it was pretty bent up repainted and worn but I would have LOVED to have it in my collection as I try to get as many variations I can. I do Have the Type 1 Roof.
By the way has anybody ever counted how many Regular wheel variations there are that have been catalogued
Cheers
Red Down Under.

red-thumb wrote:By the way has anybody ever counted how many Regular wheel variations there are that have been catalogued?

Nick's 1-75 guide is pretty comprehensive in that regard. I found another that was moreso, but I can't remember who posted it. With new variations being found periodically, and models that have bewildering arrays of variations (such as the 57C Land Rover Fire Engine), we may never be able to catalog all of them!

It is difficult to quote numbers for how many variations exist for any item made by the original Lesney company. I have just gone over the 40 variations mark with a certain Yesteryear Bentley and I am still finding more to add to the collection!!

Ghosthunter.

its funny to see many ebayers selling the non curved 1a as a 1a...i stopped correcting people years ago on their castings being the wrong thing listed...just too many and no time to do it anymore