16d Case Buldozer Casting-Variant

[kwakers]

Please let us know the area of the difference Mathias, I am having trouble seeing this one and want to check the standard color for it......kwakers

[ChFalkensteiner]

I believe it is just one of the small differences between the four base/blade moulds which are most easily identified by the die numbers 1 to 4 cast on the bases.

[shockwavediecast]

Surely half the current threads belong in the Superfast Casting Show!!!

[motorman]

Surely half the current threads belong in the Superfast Casting Show!!!

Yes SW i agree with you. Are you listening Mathias?

[SMS88]

This was always a RW casting even tho produced well into the SF era. As it was never converted to SF it cant be a SF casting!

[Tinman]

It can be noted as superfast era and there are spotting features and colors which easily identify some as being made in the SF era.

[ChFalkensteiner]

It is a regular wheel casting which had originated before 1970 and was produced until many years later.

Those variations which are known to have been made after 1970 certainly belong to the Superfast era. In this context it must be kept in mind that the Matchbox Miniatures range never consisted entirely of Superfast models. So during all of the Superfast era (which actually ended in 1980, as the Superfast name was discontinued in that year) the range included some regular wheel models - first those which had been introduced before 1970, such as the Case Bulldozer featured here, and later some others which were introduced from 1974 onward, starting with the Hondarora and Big Bull.

I think that it makes most sense to cover regular wheel models from the Superfast era in the Superfast section - that is if you want to separate the two sections at all.

[SMS88]

I believe the Superfast section is for Superfast models rather than late production Regular Wheels. Certainly many RW collectors exclude SF models but do include RW models made after 1970 so this model is of interest to them but not to all SF specialists - I dont have one of these in olive yet!

[kwakers]

This particular model is what I consider to be a member of BOTH lines, so I am very happy Mathias Posted it here and Christian has mentioned the casting numbers. I bought some of these Dozers from store stock with black treads that were boxed in the 26C GMC Superfast era boxes right from the factory. Although that dates them as post- RW, Mike Stannard had those several variations I found in those boxes listed in his regular wheel guide. Everyone here has valid points and arguments, so maybe these should have a combined section to be discussed by both RW and SF collectors so no one misses them?? Thanks Mathias, Christian Mick and all.....kwakers

[Tinman]

I think that it makes most sense to cover regular wheel models from the Superfast era in the Superfast section - that is if you want to separate the two sections at all.

IMHO, it's imperative to keep the cut-off date of 1969 for the Regular Wheel era. Any model that continued to be produced (with non-speed wheels or treads) beyond this date is in the Superfast Era and should be cataloged in that era (with it's speed wheel cousins).

That cut-off date is critical in my personal collection and I never include models produced beyond that date. Thus I have no yellow hub Alvis Stalwarts, no orange tractors, no tan hay trailers, no black tread dozers, etc. I'm such a purist about that cut-off date that for years I refused to allow the Iron Fairy crane into my collection. The reason being was that it didn't hit the store shelves (where I live) until the first half of 1970 (with it's speed wheel cousins). I've no idea what caused the model to be released/stocked (around these parts) until Superfasts were already in the displays.

For some odd reason, the second edition 1969 catalog was never available in my local shops either. It would be sometime in the early 1990's before I would find my first "second edition" 1969 catalog and consider the crane. Some discussions with other collectors, around the end of the 20th Century, convinced me the crane was within the timeline for the Regular Wheel era and I added the model. Now, with all we know, it seems foolish that I would hold the crane in question. However, until the 1990's, communication with other collectors was not as simple and even when I did get "online" in 1992 ... the usenet was far from the wealth of information that one has at their fingertips today.


I vote that we not try and reinvent the wheel and keep the established timelines and eras in tact. It's bad enough to have to constantly recatalog your models if you use Nick's variation guide (probably why most will never give up the Stannard and continue to use Stannard Codes along side Nick's).