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Forum 43
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Topic starter
05/11/2024 9:29 pm
I lost the high bid for this item in a recent eBay auction. The description didn’t identify the maker, simply describing it as a Michelin 1:43 diecast vehicle. Does anyone know more? Who made it? When?
05/11/2024 9:50 pm
It seems Michelin were producing pneumatic tyres for railway carriages - as well as the cars themselves - in the 1930s and this was an early example for experimentation / prototype purposes (some Paris metro lines run on pneumatic tyres even today).
And one still running in Madagascar - sorry no further information - but I found this at catawiki so maybe your 1/43 is Marklin ?
This item is no longer available, but there is much more to discover
Märklin H0 - 3123 - Railcar - Railcar "Minerva Michelin" - Private railroad
https://www.catawiki.com/nl/c/387-modeltreinen
BINGO !
05/11/2024 10:50 pm
Definitely something different. Thanks for pictures.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
06/11/2024 5:34 am
Cool looking vehicle! Excellent research work Charles - 
06/11/2024 7:47 am
Voila! https://www.ebay.com/itm/196557158026
and this one - I hate it when the cost of postage >> cost of item! https://www.ebay.com/itm/334936938360
06/11/2024 8:09 am
06/11/2024 2:30 pm
@karl Perhaps. Some people, (relatives selling a collection?) don't fully grasp scale. I once bought on e-bay four 1/43 U.S. veteran models cars; including a much sought-after Duryea. And was desolate when a tiny box of HO 1/87 arrived! Still, we're all now well-up on rubber tyre-d trains!
Karl Schnelle and Ed Davis reacted
Topic starter
06/11/2024 10:35 pm
@charles-rockett Good catch! Now I don’t feel so bad about losing out or paying more.
Charles Rockett and Karl Schnelle reacted