Thank you for a great website – very interesting. I’ve got two of model 20, one similar to the above, and one with a much more pronounced door canopy in an upside-down V shape and with slightly more pointed dormer windows (this version has no model or decorator number on the bottom). Did the model moulds develop over time?
Hi Philip.
Over the years of production the models did change slightly, new moulds were made as old ones wore out and the new ones had sharp crisp detail which then wore out over time and use until another new one was required.
There was no intentional changing of a production model from the series although some were changed to produce special models like the Lark Rise set or the Bury In Bloom. These ‘spin offs’ were made by my father using the mould from the collection and cutting the required detail into it.
Having no marks or stamp on the base rings slight alarm bells. When being packed it was not uncommon to miss a few with the stamp, but during decoration it was much harder to ‘forget’ to put your initial on the base together with the model number. So I cant say for sure that what you have is a Mudlen End product.
A photo would help decide.
Regards.
Ben.
Thanks for looking at my photos of this model, Ben. I’m glad you agree that there is a pronounced “porch roof” on a few models which is different from the “flush” one. You said you were at a loss to understand why or at which stage it was altered or for what reason. The only thing that came to your mind is that in some models protruding areas were a bit of a problem, during transport particularly. For example on the ‘shop’ the bow window protrudes and the top lip was very vunerable to scuffing against the one in front of it, requiring a quick touch up before firing. Interested to hear what further thoughts you have. regards, Philip
Thanks for replying Ben. I will send a photo – is there a way of uploading on this site? The door canopy does look distinctly different, not just the difference of wear and tear, I would say. The model has a Mudlen End Studio stamp on the base, though no model or decorator mark. Best wishes, Philip
Thank you for a great website – very interesting. I’ve got two of model 20, one similar to the above, and one with a much more pronounced door canopy in an upside-down V shape and with slightly more pointed dormer windows (this version has no model or decorator number on the bottom). Did the model moulds develop over time?
Hi Philip.
Over the years of production the models did change slightly, new moulds were made as old ones wore out and the new ones had sharp crisp detail which then wore out over time and use until another new one was required.
There was no intentional changing of a production model from the series although some were changed to produce special models like the Lark Rise set or the Bury In Bloom. These ‘spin offs’ were made by my father using the mould from the collection and cutting the required detail into it.
Having no marks or stamp on the base rings slight alarm bells. When being packed it was not uncommon to miss a few with the stamp, but during decoration it was much harder to ‘forget’ to put your initial on the base together with the model number. So I cant say for sure that what you have is a Mudlen End product.
A photo would help decide.
Regards.
Ben.
Thanks for looking at my photos of this model, Ben. I’m glad you agree that there is a pronounced “porch roof” on a few models which is different from the “flush” one. You said you were at a loss to understand why or at which stage it was altered or for what reason. The only thing that came to your mind is that in some models protruding areas were a bit of a problem, during transport particularly. For example on the ‘shop’ the bow window protrudes and the top lip was very vunerable to scuffing against the one in front of it, requiring a quick touch up before firing. Interested to hear what further thoughts you have. regards, Philip
Thanks for replying Ben. I will send a photo – is there a way of uploading on this site? The door canopy does look distinctly different, not just the difference of wear and tear, I would say. The model has a Mudlen End Studio stamp on the base, though no model or decorator mark. Best wishes, Philip