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The 4a Tractor with yellow hubs has been on my radar as a possible genuine variation for several years. However, the only examples available on Ebay were at excessive prices for mint and boxed examples (which I'm always extremely suspicious of when it comes to rarities).
As luck would have it, one recently came up in a mixed lot and then, three days later, a second example from a completely different source became available. I bought the second one in order to be able to conduct a comparison and so determine once and for all whether these yellow-hubbed examples are genuine factory products.
I think the photographs speak for themselves:
Having given the matter some thought, I believe (but have no proof) that the issue with yellow hubs was the very first, since it attempts to replicate the appearance of the large-scale tractor. Furthermore, I would suggest that since the yellow hubs are solely on the rear, this casts grave doubts over the authenticity of the 4a with gold trim to both the front and rear wheels (of which I have only seen photographs of a single mint and boxed example).
Various Internet searches have produced evidence of another three examples and, based on what i remember of Ebay listings, I think that, in terms of rarity, this variation is on a par with a red 45a Vauxhall.

What a brilliant find - a significant new variation on one of the very earliest models. We will all be looking for these now!

DrJeep wrote:What a brilliant find - a significant new variation on one of the very earliest models. We will all be looking for these now!

Thank you for the kind words, Glenn.
Here are photographs of the other three examples I have found on the Internet:

I think the yellow hubs on this model make it look much better, makes it pop. The gold hubs are rather drab. I wonder what caused them to change colors.

mbox2000 wrote:I think the yellow hubs on this model make it look much better, makes it pop. The gold hubs are rather drab. I wonder what caused them to change colors.

All I can offer is that I think these hubs were hand-painted, making the yellow fall under the category of "trim". Trim in the very early days was gold (the only exception I can think of off the top of my head being the first issue of the 6a Quarry Truck which has silver trim). It would therefore have made sense to replace the non-standard yellow with the standard gold.

Idris wrote:Trim in the very early days was gold (the only exception I can think of off the top of my head being the first issue of the 6a Quarry Truck which has silver trim).

Red drivers and saddle blankets on the small coronation coach. Tan drivers on the road roller (1a). Tan driver on the site dumper (2a). Tan driver on the tractor (4a). White on the milk float's horses, driver and crates/bottles (7a). Black hats and red drivers on the Cat tractor(8a).

List of colors hand applied:
Gold.
Silver.
White.
Tan.
Red.
Black.
And now yellow.

Tinman wrote:

Idris wrote:Trim in the very early days was gold (the only exception I can think of off the top of my head being the first issue of the 6a Quarry Truck which has silver trim).

Red drivers and saddle blankets on the small coronation coach. Tan drivers on the road roller (1a). Tan driver on the site dumper (2a). Tan driver on the tractor (4a). White on the milk float's horses, driver and crates/bottles (7a). Black hats and red drivers on the Cat tractor(8a).

List of colors hand applied:
Gold.
Silver.
White.
Tan.
Red.
Black.
And now yellow.

Bang goes another theory...

I'm good at shattering hopes and dreams (or so says my ex-wife).

That is why I only stick with Casting variations .

George T.

kerbside wrote:That is why I only stick with Casting variations .

George T.

It's too late for me to learn that lesson. I'm currently happily married with four ex-wives. Now, let me say, that's a very expensive collection!