Product Name:
Unique 1910 le plus cher CR Charles Rossignol mouvement prototype voiture bing Marklin CIJ alfaÉtat：Occasion le plus cher
Type：Vintage/ Classic Toys Country/Region of Manufacture：France Subtype：Clockwork/ Wind-Up Vintage：Yes A scarce version, possibly prototype, of this 1900s Charles Rossignol 971 clockwork town car with a rare square box section bonnet. (possibly made for export - as it has France clearly marked on the side - unlike other CR cars) (last 2 pictures shows a version with the more usual shaped bonnet + firewall etc, (notice that the roof-line has been extended on that model in order to shelter the driver, suggesting that the present model is earlier than that one)(also note the pieces missing on that example (which is common due to the early crude tabs method of construction - for example - if one looks at the front axle in the photos - one can see that the axle and wheels are only kept attached by 3 tabs centrally - which in addition to attachment, also facilitate axle rotation/steering - meaning that these days - the front axle/wheels are often missing)). The other thing to notice is that the bonnet on the more common variant is more detailed, having the same intricacies as the rear cabin - with stamped out, raised/pressed air-vent slats and stripe detail, whereas the air-vent slats on the current car are painted on and overall the front of the present car lacks the detailed elegant form of the rear part of the car or the elegant 3D detailed bonnet of the more common variant. As though the bonnet of the present car is in part or concept, an after-thought. The original design clearly did not foresee the addition of the square-box bonnet. Re-enforcing this observation is the fact that the bonnet, including the radiator, only appears to be attached by 2 tabs to the chassis - centrally located either side - and which themselves, rather stangely, given their small size, have been soldered on, (a very labor intensive task) as additions to the bonnet pressing - this only seen internally (and marked by areas of rust beneath the back base of the wheel arches externally - [ due to electrolytic corrosion associated with the solder joint]) . There are two slots at the front of the chassis , either side, which are vacant and too far apart to attach to tabs on the present bonnet - (if such tabs existed). ....presumably - where the bonnet of the common variant bonnet would or could have been attached. One feels that this botched attachment of the bonnet on the present model would not be suitable for a mass produced production model. Moreover, the bonnet section is slightly crooked with the bonnet a few mm nearer the corner of the chassis on the drivers side. In order to compensate for this - the radiator grill has been attached so that it overhangs the bonnet on the opposite side. One cannot imagine tabs being soldered onto the bonnet as being an economic production method (as opposed to incorporating the tabs into the pressing for the bonnet, as are those tabs which attach the grill, and also those which attach the steering wheel to the bonnet.). The bonnet should be attached with at least 4 tabs - 2 toward either end, so that the bonnet is straight with respect to the chassis and indeed firmly attached to the chassis. I guess the present model was assembled/manufactured when cars changed their bonnet shape to a more function oriented box section with an enclosed drivers cab. But it attempts to marry this new front half bonnet shape with the old coach built passenger section using the simple addition of a separate new front end piece on the old chassis, rather than pressing the whole top body shell out of one new piece. Which would be more expensive. However - as it became clear that the new style was here to stay - new mouldings/pressings would be necessary to press whole body shells. In this light, the present toy might have been a transition prototype. Contrarily; and somewhat paradoxically, the rear section appears to be actually older than the c1913 example in the Lacy catalog, as the roof does not cover the driver completely. It maybe that the body was an old piece, lying around, which was useful to test the marriage of the newer box front end. But unsuccessful, as manifest by the messy connection between the front and back sections, with exposed sharp edges at the location of the drivers doors........ and so not going into wider production.
Nice bright coloured, working condition, after 100 years. Earlier than Wells or Brimtoy. About 14.5cms long.. 971 on the number plate and CR on the sides. Nice examples of the usual version, highly prized in France - as the crude tabs and construction, usually lead to parts being missing, irrespective of any rust/paint loss that might have occurred over 100 years.
Note in this respect, the early attempt at assembly using tabs - which are large and exposed; later, with the associated incongruities in the paint, these would be regarded as too shoddy... but on this example - they still hold in place well after 100 years.
The crudeness of the way in whichthe box like front end is simply added on might suggest the present car is a prototype. Possibly, the visible incongruity/disjoint between front and rear sections, the reason that not many, if any more, of this particular version with the box section bonnet, were produced. The two vacant slots on the top of the front mudguards are used to attach the radiator grill on the more common version of the car as shown; But the simpler radiator grill on the present car, and its attachment point - in the very front of the the chassis on the present model - makes these vacant holes on the mudguards redundant - whilst at the same time the front mudgards simply have no attachment points to the body shell at the front. So on the present model, the mudgards are just left dangling at the front, whereas they are attached to the body shell by means of the vacant slots to the radiator on the more common variant (as per the original design).
Also of interest, the fact of it having no windscreen for the driver, echoes horse drawn carriages .....which were running about on the same roads.
In summary; I havent seen and cant find another example of this version of the car.
.
Unique 1910 le plus cher CR Charles Rossignol mouvement prototype voiture bing Marklin CIJ alfa
