502 and 902 Foden Flat Truck (1947-59)

Is this an unlisted variation ?Has anybody seen a type 2 Foden flat bed with this marking ?

My 502/902 has no markings here. Looking through my other mark 2 Fodens. My 903 is marked with 903, my Maroon 905 is marked 905 but my red grey 905 is not marked under on the board. Mark 1 Fodens are not marked in this way so I wonder if this is a late revision to the dies for the Mk 2 Fodens. If so I tought the red grey was a later version.

My 902 does not show a number either: For dating it may help that the inside stamp says: 10 5 56. My 905 chain truck does not show the number below either. The inside box stamp of that one says: H8 56. Kind regards, Jan Werner

Continuing this post of a few years back,
noticing the thread
from
my old acquaintance Peter Golden whom we lost in November 2011.My 902 has the marking 902 under the tray as shown in the following picture.[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 9020387cc_800x275.jpg [/img] This is how the model looks like.The factory inspection is for January 1954.[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 9020387_640x487.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 9020387b_800x624.jpg [/img] In looking at the tyres of Dinkycollect ' s 902 they are of the same pattern as mine,
with Jan ' s being a later issue with ' block ' tread.Jan ' s model is
from
May 1956 so it would appear that the marking was deleted between 1954
and 1956.If we can obtain more quality inspection stamps,
it may assist in defining exactly when the number was deleted.Kind regards Bruce

Checking my 502 / 902 Flat Trucks,
this is what I could find: - no marking on the 502 first type Flat Trucks.2nd type: - 502 french blue / red body / light blue wheels 502 matt light blue covered box (
same colour as the light blue covered boxes on the late 1st type Fodens like the 505 Chain Lorry
) no date stamp no 902 marking - 502 burnt orange / green body
and wheels 502 shiny dark blue covered box date stamp H 10 3 with 902 marking - 502 / 902 red / green body
and wheels 502 / 902 dual numbered striped box date code 12 53 no 902 marking - 902 orange / green body
and wheels 902 striped box date code 5 55 no 902 marking - 902 yellow / green body
and wheels 902 striped box date code 9 H3 no 902 marking Only one 902 marking on my Flat Trucks,
could it be introduced
and deleted around the renumbering
from
502 to 902 ?
And why ? Remain questions to me ! Rob

Was the die for the three second type Fodens rear beds the same ? Flat truck,
Flat truck with tailboard,
Flat truck with chains,
all of them
having
the chain boses
from
1952 on
and looking very carefuly at the picture which I posted at the top of this thread,
it seeems that the 902 is on a replaceable insert.

Have you checked the photograph I submitted,
as both models appear the same.I am uncertain what is meant by a ' replacement insert '.

Bruce.A replacable insert is a small part of the die that can be removed
and repleaced by an other one.The die for the Flat truck with tailboard could probably be fitted with an insert that filled the tailboard space.One could then cast a flat bed without tailboard in that die.A well known example is the 60f / 891 / 997 Caravelle jet.The same die travelled several times
from
Bobigny to Liverpool
and back,
a repleacable insert was used to change the marking ' MADE IN FRANCE ' into ' MADE IN ENGLAND '.

Jacques Herewith are two photographs of the 902 inscription on my Foden,
taken as best I can with the equipment available to me.It does show as if the insertion includes the support for the tray back,
however I will leave it to you to analyse without me offering any thoughts
or suggestions.Bruce [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_7829_544x800.jpg [/img] [img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / IMG_7828_575x800 -20140823.jpg [/img]

[img] / images / sites / default / files / old - forum - images / 902 -20140824.png [/img] Bruce,
Your excellent pictures show a line on each side of the ref.number.This proves that the number is on an insert
and suggests that there was only one die for the flat bed
and the tailboard.

Jacques Yes it does prove an insert,
however,
perhaps you can tell me why later issues of the 902 have neither the number
or apparently no evidence of an insert ? New / replacement mould ? Why bother with a number in the first place as Meccano did not seem very consistent with numbering the underneath of Foden,
Guys,
Big Bedfords
and Leylands ? I am surprised Meccano did not use the tinplate base for the model details,
although again cost would have been a contributing factor.

Bruce,
I have only three 2nd type Fodens
and none of them has the ref.Number.I have only seen models with the 902 marking.Are the other rear beds marked as well: 901,
903,
905 ? It would be interesting to make a chart describing all the variations for each model: stanchion boses,
towing hook,
tyres,
ref number,
colour etc...Identifications have been added to castings at an unknown date.This can be a ref.number
or the name of the car cast into the ceiling.I think that this practice stoped when glazed windows were introduced.