I will probably upset some one some where , Especially if they brought it thinking original untouched .
I am sure repainted and not sure as to genuinality.
# 1 Label has been painted over
Labels are put on after painting.
Also note bottom left a touch of darker green ??
And take note of Cranko/diamond stamp ( we will come back to that later )
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# 2 extra hole in tender side ?? Does not appear in any other Rollers I have seen
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More colour issues along the rail at the end A darker green
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# 4. Zoom in on the fold on the burner shroud Under boiler
A big patch of dark green
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# 5. Flywheel is black
Cranko Flywheels are red Same as pulley Black are more related to Auckland Model Engineers and the use of Cranko parts
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# 6. Cranko /diamond stamp,
Cranko rollers have Cranko /diamond on the boiler front and not on the tender the exception is very early rollers and tractors that have a curved Cranko over NZ .
I know of 6 variants that show his progression and the last one had a level plug on boiler front which may have diamond on back . So if this back is correct where is the front level plug
Donald supposedly finished toys in 1956 when he left HaveLock North.
He did move to Whangārei and resided there for some time .
The paper work is a bit of a mystery ?
Did he assemble some from there ? But if he did this does not explain the black flywheel and boiler front.
The darker green parts we see are more like original green roller paint
And if you zoom in on the label you will see “ models “ under the paint
This reinforces repaint and not missing part 0f label
Also zoom in and check screw holding boiler to fire box bright steel after 60 years ??
Auckland Model Engineers Supposedly brought Cranko stock and made some engines but had their own colour scheme
Cheers
Dennis