Saturday 03 May 2008
About a week ago I received an email from a collector in Australia wanting to sell part of his collection. He had read my article on the Matchbox #13D Dodge Wrecker Reverse Colours and he claimed to have one. That night he rang me and I asked him to describe the model. It appeared to be one of the pirate models made in 1970 with crimped axles. After a few emails and phone calls we came to a price for it subject to my inspection to confirm it was real. He also had a few unusual Yesteryear models. These didn't interest me much but I did refer him to Mick Flack in Sydney. Mick is the Yesteryear guru and has an awesome web site called Matchbox Memories.
This morning we fueled up the Mercedes and set off on the 400 kilometer round journey to appraise and hopefully bring home the elusive reverse colour wrecker.
We arrived at our destination and immediately I was given the reverse coloured wrecker to inspect. The instant I saw it I knew it was a fake. For a starter the box it was in, was, perhaps one of the worst reproduction boxes I have ever seen. Then I looked at the axles of the model and was so disappointed.
I didn't know how to tell the gentleman that his pride and joy was a fake. However, I had to explain it so that he could understand why I wasn't buying it. After explaining, showing and comparing to other models I thought he understood until he said he would have to get a second opinion! Oh well, I guess it takes a little time to sink in when you thought you had the real deal and some stranger comes along and deflates your world!
I asked to see some of this other models and again I was shocked and disappointed to find so many fakes in his collection. He had a nice number 11a Petrol Tanker in green that had the axle ends virtually mutilated, yet the paint was perfect. Obviously a lovely repaint! His yellow 11a Petrol Tanker and number 28a Bedford Compressor Truck had both been repainted a nice pale primrose yellow. He claimed those were genuine and original also.
Then out came his rare Models of Yesteryears. I don't claim to be an expert on MOY but I do have a reasonable knowledge on them and can certainly spot a fake! The first one he showed me was a Y3 Benz in Orange and Green. Again, as soon as I spotted the axles I knew it wasn't genuine. Next was a Y16 Spyker in Maroon. Yep, you guessed it - a fake. And so it went on.
In some ways I feel sorry for this collector but then I believe he has only himself to blame. He commented that he has "all the bibles" on Matchbox toys but got them after he got his models! Fat lot of good that does!
Education is the only solution to learning how to spot fakes. Once you know what tell tale signs to look for, it is very easy to spot most fakes. As a collector and/or investor you owe it to yourself not just to buy the collector books on Matchbox Toys BUT REFER TO AND STUDY THEM! Sitting the books on a shelf and not opening them will not help you identify whether a model is in the correct box, has the right wheel and axle combination and so on. I don't know all this by heart but I do refer to the books constantly especially my own Definitive Guide to Matchbox Toys 1-75 Series 1953 - 1969. Buy it and read it, you will learn something!
All because of a lack of education and knowledge on the part of the collector, "The Gippsland Collection" has gone from having a potential value of $20-30,000 for the "rare" models to about $200 for repainted and restored toys. And to top it off, the collector has paid out thousands and thousands of dollars for a collection that is worthless.
All in all a very disappointing weekend for all concerned but certainly an education! |