One of the first 3 Yesteryear models ever put on display at the Harrogate Toy Show in 1956. The Allchin was a beautiful model and the main variant on this model was the rear wheels. On the very first run, the treads across the rear wheels were cut straight across (1). This was changed to treads that were diagonally cut across as Jack Odell wanted to prove that it could be done and ejected from a mould. These type treads can be forward or rear facing depending how they were assembled and sometimes even both the same type wheel on one model so there are many permutations involved(2).  One variant to the wheels was they normally came with just red centers and the outer edge plain metal but some are painted all over red the same as the front wheels(3). Axles can be either crimped on early versions or riveted on later. The very last run has smooth wheels from the Y11 Aveling & Porter Road Roller(4) as it is presumed the dies wore out and as the end of the run not worth making new ones (Note: there are different hubs centers on these smooth wheels so be careful to check they are the right ones).

Next variant concerns the boiler door which came in copper, gold, silver and the all elusive green which was exactly the same as the body colour (5). No noted shade variations have been noted about the green colour and remained fairly standard for the whole life of the model. The gold trim gradually decreased as time went on as a cost saving exercise.

Early models have 9 slats in the cab floor while later versions have 11. The rear tow hitch became less defined as time rolled on due to wear on the mould.

There is one very rare item on this model which I can show you. It is not currently listed in any Yesteryear list but believe (hope so!) it may well do soon. On all models the front axle assembly is cast as part of the body and rigid but on a few found so far, the front assembly has been cast separately and a small rivet inserted to make the whole lot swivel so giving it steering capabilities(6-10). My model has crimped axles on this version and why it was done I'm not really sure. Perhaps to get more play value or realism, but it certainly seemed a fiddly job for an assembly line process that relied on speed. So far I know of around 5 of these 'steerable' versions that exist. The first pic(7) is a normal version with the boiler door popped out and in the remainder you can see the tiny rivet going through.