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Subject: 
Re: FOTD - Samsonite Era Set #704
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.general
Date: 
Tue, 5 Nov 2002 16:27:39 GMT
Viewed: 
992 times
  
Clark -

I'll answer some of your questions below, others I don't know the answer to
or will have to wait until I get home where I can look at it.

Based on the information you provided, I would agree, this is the Samsonite
version of 004.

Mike

"Clark Stephens" <clarkcorner@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:H53Aqv.K39@lugnet.com...
Mike,
I believe this is the same set as 004 Master Builder set:
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/004
which is listed on one of the flyers you show. In the mid 1960's Samsonite
numbered sets according to the piece count. So this set should have 704 • pieces.
Here's a webpage with copies of some of your catalogs:
http://www.chem.sunysb.edu/msl/LEGO/samsonite.html

Some notes on the pieces I see (I know more about pieces than sets):
I've never seen the gear brochure you have.
I haven't seen the 25x25 baseplates either. I have heard of them before.
They make sense cut from the 50x50 baseplates of the period.

They are indeed unusual.  I had to count the studs three times to make sure
it really was an odd number.  I had some of the 50x50 three exit road plates
when I was a kid - they remain missing at this time, I believe they are in
my parents basement somewhere.

The waffle bottom plates should be Cellulose Acetate. If they are ABS, • that
would be very interesting.

All of the parts are Cellulose Acetate to the bext of my knowledge.

Are there any yellow or green -plates- in the box? Plates in those colors
were rare at that time. Plates at all are rare in Samsonite sets.

The only plates in the box are some white plates with the waffle pattern on
the bottom.

The distribution of the brick colors looks right. Lots of clear by today's
standards, with little black or yellow (and no green). The absence of blue
roof/slope bricks is interesting though. I usually find a few blue slopes • in
Sam sets.

No blue at all.  A good selection of red though.

The slope peak corner is a nice Samsonite piece which is hard to find. I • do
not think Lego has manufactured that piece since. I have only seen it in • red
and blue.

I have seen pictures of this piece before but never one in person (unless
Frank Filz showed me one becauase I am pretty sure he has a couple).

Are the white turntables completely round, or do they have facets?

Don't recall, will have to look later tonight.

The gears are Samsonite only and are different than the European gears.
It looks like there is, or was, a nylon connector piece (p/n 650) under • the
flag. This piece is common in 60's sets, but often shows up in 'mystery
piece' questions.

It does have one of the nylon connector pieces.  I remember these from when
I was a kid and they were used as trailer hitches.  The one in this box is
still in tact.

The trees look like they are dark green. A color difference (blue-green • and
bright green) for those trees has been mentioned before, but I've never • been
able to get a comparison pic. Also, do the trees/bushes have a flat base, • or
do they have 'feet'? My tree gallery shows the difference:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=8643

At first glance the trees seem to be a bluer shade of green than other flat
trees I have.  I still have some from my childhood collection, I'll take a
look tonight and compare them.

Careful with the grey tyres. They can stick to the wheel and split if you
try to remove them.

One is already split, the rest are in good shape.  I still have a bunch of
my childhood tires too.

The solid stud cylinders with groove are from this period too.
Some of these parts are pictured on the comparison page in my brickshelf
gallery (link below).


[ ... snipped ... ]


You have a terrific set there. Unless it has Canadian markings on it, my
guess for the date is late 1960's. Thanks for the pictures and info. I had
never heard of that set before.


Thanks - it is neat from a nostalgia perspective.  It very much reminded me
of playing with my first childhood LEGO set which was also a Samsonite set
of similar vintage but I don't know exactly which one.  My grandfather gave
it to me when I was five.

Hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you wish to discuss things • further,
Clark


[ ... snipped ... ]

Immensely helpful - thanks!

Mike


--
Mike Walsh - mike_walsh at mindspring.com
http://www.ncltc.cc - North Carolina LEGO Train Club
http://www.carolinatrainbuilders.com - Carolina Train Builders
http://www.bricklink.com/store.asp?p=mpw - CTB/Brick Depot



Message is in Reply To:
  Re: FOTD - Samsonite Era Set #704
 
Mike, I believe this is the same set as 004 Master Builder set: (URL) is listed on one of the flyers you show. In the mid 1960's Samsonite numbered sets according to the piece count. So this set should have 704 pieces. Here's a webpage with copies (...) (22 years ago, 5-Nov-02, to lugnet.general)

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