Reply to "Toy-Like Tinplate Bing Love"

@Elgaucho posted:

I’m adding a more close-up of the body.
I’m assuming it’s a litho body... but noticing a lot of bubbles or bumpy surfacing. Just curious peoples thoughts.

Hi Ariel ,

My thoughts on this ... the cab is definitely lithographed , the boiler is possibly restored ( a long time ago ) or was factory dip enamel painted with waterslide/decal boiler bands ( or very skilled paintwork  ... then it looks like the boiler at least has had lacquer applied ... this was often done to older toys to make them look brighter/newer and or to preserve fading "dusty" paint .

The crackling effect is usually the lacquer layer reacting with the paint after many many years , the lacquer keeps shrinking and it cracks the underlying paint while the surface remains intact  ( also one way to tell true antique paintings ! )

So in my mind it is 100% possible that the finish is  exactly how it left the factory and age has wearied it , or equally as possible its had some restoration many years ago ... it was a common thing for UK modellers to use laquer to "preserve" finishes

looking at the cab the litho appears to have a slight gloss to it too , so it has probably had a light lacquer too , but as chrome-lithography litho ink is bonded more strongly like a skin to the underlying metal it doesnt crack as much as enamel will over time , but it still can just not as deeply , as the enamel is a much thicker coat ..

So if I had to call it .. I would say the cab is 100% factory litho and it is mated to a litho boiler which had had enamel dip ( for the black at the front)  and clear laquered , either ex factory , or by a well intentioned owner later on..