51c AEC 8-Wheel Tipper
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 1:23 pm
The NAMC’s “Catalog of all Series Matchbox Models” (second edition) and the AIM “1-75 Series Regular Wheels” catalogue (second printing, 1983) both carry details of a casting variation not described elsewhere. This concerns the rearwards extension of the chassis rails which form the bracket for the tipper hinge. Both catalogues detail castings with thicker and thinner chassis rails. (Note that this refers to the width rather than the height of the members.)
AIM codes them as 51-3a (orange, Douglas, white grill, with tow slot) and 51-3b (yellow, Douglas, silver grille, with tow slot), whilst NAMC has 51-3G (yellow, Pointer, silver grille, no tow slot) and 51-3H (yellow, Pointer, silver grille, with tow slot). More research is needed to determine which of Nick's variations exist with thin chassis rails and which with thick. If we assume, as seems probably, that the thin rails represent an early casting, stock of which were occasionally unearthed in the stockroom, then it is highly likely that some variations will be found to exist with both.
As if that were not enough, Houghton lists a variation at 51c-5 which is the equivalent of Nick's code 11 (orange, Pointer, silver grille, no tow guide, wide on right), but with a white grille.
Stannard has no variations not already detailed by Nick and U.K. Matchbox did not examine the model.
To close, it should be remembered that there is also an orange, silver grille models with monochrome Douglas labels. These have reversed lettering (i.e. Douglas is in white on a black background). Roughly ten examples have come to light over the last four or five years from a number of different sources and are a mixture of playworn and mint. (Interestingly, none has been found boxed.) Their origins are unknown at present, but they probably represent a promotional issue.
AIM codes them as 51-3a (orange, Douglas, white grill, with tow slot) and 51-3b (yellow, Douglas, silver grille, with tow slot), whilst NAMC has 51-3G (yellow, Pointer, silver grille, no tow slot) and 51-3H (yellow, Pointer, silver grille, with tow slot). More research is needed to determine which of Nick's variations exist with thin chassis rails and which with thick. If we assume, as seems probably, that the thin rails represent an early casting, stock of which were occasionally unearthed in the stockroom, then it is highly likely that some variations will be found to exist with both.
As if that were not enough, Houghton lists a variation at 51c-5 which is the equivalent of Nick's code 11 (orange, Pointer, silver grille, no tow guide, wide on right), but with a white grille.
Stannard has no variations not already detailed by Nick and U.K. Matchbox did not examine the model.
To close, it should be remembered that there is also an orange, silver grille models with monochrome Douglas labels. These have reversed lettering (i.e. Douglas is in white on a black background). Roughly ten examples have come to light over the last four or five years from a number of different sources and are a mixture of playworn and mint. (Interestingly, none has been found boxed.) Their origins are unknown at present, but they probably represent a promotional issue.
