Stephen      (at 12:54pm, Sat 1st May, 10)

If anybody does recognise the model, feel free to post the builders name. It was bought as a lot of 2 models, the other one was similar sized. A Bowser made of Mech Army parts.That has since been dismantled for parts, this one is far too nice a model to dismantle.

Jason      (at 6:58am, Sat 1st May, 10)

Well, that's real detective work! Thanks for the info. It is very interesting to learn all this stuff.

Charles      (at 2:24am, Sat 1st May, 10)

There are a number of giveaways. Apart from the pre-ladder chain (1914) there are the red early funnels (1914-21 at the latest) and two-hole couplings (some of them, 1914-18), plus the thicker early double angle strip holding the front bumper. I could go on... Obviously the tyres are much later (late pre-war), top angle girder is MFEA (1921-28), but many of the parts could be either side of 1920 and one can guess that a model made so carefully from excellent quality nickel parts will have had as many early parts used as the builder had. Note, for example, that the nuts and bolts look like they're from the correct era too. I don't know many builders who have four 2" nickel pulleys in such good condition... that model is from a 'name' builder I would suspect...

Jason      (at 2:13am, Sat 1st May, 10)

How does one tell that the parts are WW1? As someone who is not particularly versed in the nickel era, I would not be able to tell those parts from those from the 1920s or the special order 1930s examples. From this distance, no stamping is visible either.

The chain certainly doesn't look like the ladder stuff, although it could be any old chain which has been used.

Charles      (at 2:07am, Sat 1st May, 10)

Quality model made with exceptional WW1 parts. Be very careful with that chain, it's remotely possible it's 1914 pre-ladder stuff. The rest of the parts are excellent... a really lovely find...