What are the odds that an Ebay vendor who seems to specialize in rare variations only, would have sold , among many other rare variations, the following number of models over the last twelve months:
12C Land Rover Gold - 8 copies sold
18E Field Car Green Hubs - 6 copies sold
31C Lincoln Metallic Green - 6 copies sold
65B - Volkswagen 1600 Purple - 5 copies sold
All the listings have similar, clear and detailed photos of the hubs, bases and the vendor has a 100% rating The models look legitimate but given the rarity of these variations how is it possible to have so many copies for sale? Might this be a sophisticated faker?
Any thoughts?
What Are The Odds?
Re: What Are The Odds?
It all sounds extremely suspicious.
Could you please supply either a link or the Ebay alias?
Could you please supply either a link or the Ebay alias?
Re: What Are The Odds?
There are two Ebay aliases as the same models appear on both sites:
Lesney 12345
Lesney 123456
Lesney 12345
Lesney 123456
Re: What Are The Odds?
That's our old friend Eric Jonkers of Barendrecht in The Netherlands. He is infamous in collecting circles.
A particularly detailed expose of him can be found here. You should also try searching the Forum (box top right) for 'Jonkers'.
A particularly detailed expose of him can be found here. You should also try searching the Forum (box top right) for 'Jonkers'.
Re: What Are The Odds?
Thanks for the intel on Jonkers.
Seems like an awful lot of work to keep churing out fakes. It must be profitable. Whatever method is being used to recreate the variations, there's a boldness to the approach the vendor is taking. Images in each listing show close ups of the baseplates and hubs. When one compares those images to the baseplates and hubs of legitimate models it's very hard to see any difference.
Having watched and kept track of the models he's sold over the last year it just seemed to good to be true. The number of rare variations in addition to the ones I listed that have been listed and sold is quite astonishing. On both sites there are usually eight to ten models listed each week. Recently, however, the models go unsold and then are re-listed on the other site the following week. Maybe the word is getting out there. Very hard to police such activities.
Caveat emptor everyone.
Seems like an awful lot of work to keep churing out fakes. It must be profitable. Whatever method is being used to recreate the variations, there's a boldness to the approach the vendor is taking. Images in each listing show close ups of the baseplates and hubs. When one compares those images to the baseplates and hubs of legitimate models it's very hard to see any difference.
Having watched and kept track of the models he's sold over the last year it just seemed to good to be true. The number of rare variations in addition to the ones I listed that have been listed and sold is quite astonishing. On both sites there are usually eight to ten models listed each week. Recently, however, the models go unsold and then are re-listed on the other site the following week. Maybe the word is getting out there. Very hard to police such activities.
Caveat emptor everyone.
Re: What Are The Odds?
My thoughts on collecting have been put forward before - my 1-75 RW are "memory keepers".
Heck, I can hardly remember which Dodge Tow truck colour scheme is the fake or rare one
Variations are of no interest to me - but I fully respect my friends here who chase a casting or shade.
Pictures like Ghosty's recent 3 Blue Rolls Royces warm my heart as I am transported back in time.
In relation to these possible fakes, how many serious collectors - like you guys - would you estimate to there be world wide?
Surely it cannot be hard for your expertise to be breached.
In terms of general population, I would be in a percentage of less than 1% - in relation to my (limited) knowledge of our beloved 1-75s.
The lady in the second hand shop back in Melbourne sees me as "Matchbox expert" - please re-read comments about Dodge tow truck!
In the context of serious collecting - my friends here - I would rate at the bottom of the list in terms of knowledge.
So, my question is how many serious 1-75 collectors - who could/would/should not be duped by suspected fakes would there be world wide, do you estimate?
I am not for one moment condoning fakes. I have had a few of my beaters restored to 1950s elegance and a few repro boxes cos after the models, the box is next best thing!
sourced one retro box maker who refused to put anything like "Retro" in his boxes. When I queried this he replied, "my website is printed on the flap"
Heck, I can hardly remember which Dodge Tow truck colour scheme is the fake or rare one
Variations are of no interest to me - but I fully respect my friends here who chase a casting or shade.
Pictures like Ghosty's recent 3 Blue Rolls Royces warm my heart as I am transported back in time.
In relation to these possible fakes, how many serious collectors - like you guys - would you estimate to there be world wide?
Surely it cannot be hard for your expertise to be breached.
In terms of general population, I would be in a percentage of less than 1% - in relation to my (limited) knowledge of our beloved 1-75s.
The lady in the second hand shop back in Melbourne sees me as "Matchbox expert" - please re-read comments about Dodge tow truck!
In the context of serious collecting - my friends here - I would rate at the bottom of the list in terms of knowledge.
So, my question is how many serious 1-75 collectors - who could/would/should not be duped by suspected fakes would there be world wide, do you estimate?
I am not for one moment condoning fakes. I have had a few of my beaters restored to 1950s elegance and a few repro boxes cos after the models, the box is next best thing!
sourced one retro box maker who refused to put anything like "Retro" in his boxes. When I queried this he replied, "my website is printed on the flap"
Re: What Are The Odds?
I've no idea, but it certainly seems like there are plenty of people seeking rare variations and these people must have done some research to know that (say) a regular wheel VW in purple is worth collecting. I don't understand why they don't do a bit more research and find out what good axle ends look like. Some of these people are spending quite a bit (I think £25 to £50 on a single worn Matchbox car is a lot!) so I guess they're all serious collectors, even if they sometimes lack knowledge or judgement.radar wrote:how many serious 1-75 collectors - who could/would/should not be duped by suspected fakes would there be world wide, do you estimate?