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“K&Sword” – Conti legends
“K & Sword”
LEGENDS
Myth # 1 – Gino Bechi big fan of Conti trains
This legend is largely bogus. This is yet another case of distortion of the historical truth of the rumor by ignorant, meaning by this word “ignorant” not the extended meaning and derogatory, but simply to narrow the “missing knowledge”. Unfortunately, this phenomenon present in human nature and in history already widely used to write and rewrite the story for the use of more skilled with the Internet takes on exponential proportions: whatever you write on the Internet, true or false, it becomes indestructible and replicates infinitum.
The famous opera singer Gino Bechi was a great lover of miniature trains, but not particularly of Conti. On the contrary, Gino Bechi loved playing modeling and even then in the sense in which today means, though at the time, had not yet at the levels of mania today. Obviously they could not be the Conti trains to approach this concept. We all know, we have said in every sauce, trains Conti were not reproductions modeled like already rather trying to be the Rivarossi in the national. Only at the beginning of production, when the cousins โโinstill Parretti expressed the best of them, winkles and electric trains, as approximated, were in line with the standards of the model railroad of those early years after World War II.
All subsequent production represented quality toys old and further away from the reproduction model in the modern sense. So when Gino Bechi showed up on TV by Mike Bongiorno, in extolling the passion for trains, carrying him and showing to all Italians glued to those first tubes are long and narrow, a nice little train Rivarossi … This did not meet with the approval of the Conti in which such behavior perceive, unfair competition and material damage. The matter passed through quickly as recommended (mail worked well at the time), official documents and lawyers. Finally, before landing on the bench of a judge, the question came back with an arbitration settled some gestures repairers.
So it was that Gino Bechi reappeared on TV by Mike Bongiorno and showing a magnifying train Conti; then he visited the factory in Bollate, attending receptions with great fanfare with the inevitable local authorities and, not least, with the devolution of a certain sum to charity. Pictures in black and white of the visit to the factory in Bollate are not just a piece of news: they are the picture of an era. Besides the singer there are three social classes: the workers of all time, new entrepreneurs, widely emblematic of a business community willing and fervent bottom emerged from the war, and finally the old power. You see a Gino Bechi among the desks of production and in the workshops, among workers in white shirts who continue to work with head bowed while only sketch a shy smile with eyes subdued, entrepreneurs and executives in suits a bit rumpled shirt or for the occasion too perfect, a cigarette between his fingers, intent to prove themselves a turning, in sharp contrast with the behavior and the dress worn by the baritone and elegant coats luxury of the owners of the plant, the expression aloof and formal, with looks parabolic, as cavalry officers who observe from the hill handpieces infantry trudging in the mud.
Legend No. 2 – Gino Bechi and Settebello (1) The Vulgate reads the baritone during the visit in Bollate
has been struck by Settebello like St. Paul on the road to Damascus, but as the train product configuration trade reduced to only three elements, Bechi would have required a special production for him a train in a real configuration of seven elements, thereby inspiring the production of a model that then never appeared in the catalog. Although this reconstruction is certainly imaginative. There are certain dates of commencement of production of Settebello (one of three elements in the catalog), but there is evidence that at the time of the visit in Bollate the train was not yet in production. And however very probable if not certain thatย Bechi subsequently ordered a Settebello in real configuration, because at the time (and for a long time remained) Settebello Conti was the only record of that train, precise or approximate it to be, It was his impression even in a purist “contachiodi”.
Legend No. 3 – Gino Bechi and Settebello (2) Almost completely eradicated by the evidence, until a decade ago was circulating even rumored that Settebello seven elements it had been produced only one: to Bechi precisely. Under this, whenever it was rumored a miraculous discovery of Settebello seven elements, it was invariably to Bechi, whose fate remains shrouded in mystery for another. No models know how many were produced, we can only speculate statistically in relation to those who are and who we see at the collectors, they are produced few, many, few or many. Seven elements are certainly there were very few products: he was not in the catalog, was made at the request and cost a lot (apparently 100,000 in the 60s), if we add that in practice there is no doubt that he could ride if straightline and that it took three people to move it without breaking it … you understand that there could be a big production. Surveyed in the hands of collectors there are at least a dozen, so it is permissible to apply a multiplier of two or three to include all those destroyed or held in stock by unknown persons, and blind from time immemorial breath.
Legend No. 4 – Random Color At first I believed it myself. One of the most deeply rooted clichรฉs is invariably represented by the following statements: ย “Depending on how they got up in the morning” or “ended when the “tolla” (tin)ย a color they changed to another.” At first I believed it myself. But it’s not true. The cousins Parretti โโwere ex-railway workers and were familiar with the colors of machines wagons and carriages. Taken off the case of the packaging of the locomotive “Puppy” whose bright colors had a specific explanation in the purpose of the toys, all the other models had colors, however approximate, however, with a right of origin. The advocates of the theory of surface withdraws, with easy irony evidence, often point to the red-blue of some winkles, but precisely that color was adopted as a model of railcar assets perhaps where one of Parretti was on duty. The same can be said of the yellow sand adopted for the 424 and other periwinkles. It is simply the interpretation of the Isabella originally very clear to those real machines. This interpretation was indeed widespread at the era in a bit all productions of model of trains. Locomotives and railcars Biaggi, locomotives FAGE, winkles FEM, etc. the color was similar. And yet the many color combinations of the carriages in two axes, even in ancient times and several of the real history of the railways, have existed.
Legend No. 5 – Combinations Random At first I believed it myself. “They put into what happened” … in the packages. That is, it is believed that removed the machine that is the discriminating, wagons or carriages were included without logic. This is also untrue. The fact is that the small quantity of unopened packs encountered does not allow more to be a statistic mnemonic of occasions for being against many combinations in the catalog. So you tend to always see different things and it is concluded that there was a rule. But it is not so. After all to realize just read the catalogs that often respond to the doubts that I would ask … Hamlet, already enough to read, not only look at the pictures! ย Wagons and carriages in the packages were included with established systems. When you read the catalog “three wagons assorted” means two low cost (usually two carriages, one high and one low) and third most valuable (usually transport by car, or a crane or a tank etc.). In the case of configurations specifically named “Conti Electric Train” launched in 1952 with box having label different from all others and containing the new 3000 Series machines with new weapons “economic”, passenger coaches had different color combinations. The two-axle locomotive in D / C Series 6000 yellow sand with aluminum armament was always combined with two flat cars to bank with low wheels in Bakelite, as written in the catalog and as shown in the colored image. In the case of successive packs with carriages with two axles it is always present a luggage compartment and one or two passengers. These are just examples, but in general there is no escape to the above rules. It is true that occasionally could be that at the time of the trader satisfy customer requirements by replacing the carts of the pack with more bulk, but usually when we happen to see boxes with strange situations is not because “Put into what happened” but happened because some incompetent put it there just before …
Legend No. 6 – Prototypes Periodically there is a series of phenomena “the twilight zone” for legitimacy, even in good faith, do not fail to take advantage of some of the other “legends” first exposed. It is said of a prototype model, the specimen No. zero. One on which the study was done and then make mass production after you make all the changes and improvements needed. It might even be more than one existed, but in short, one or two … Especially could theoretically be existed prototypes of models ever produced, experiments etc. aside. So it happens that specimens showing important and sometimes unexplained differences than the model commonly known, are immediately in the odor of “prototype” and it likely canonization for summary. Here is a sample of 424 gross metal craftsmanship evident amateurish that is easily assumed as a prototype of Conti. Here’s another item of equipment Conti with the changes clearly experimental, yes, but at the hands of some ancient enthusiast or some less ancient wag that becomes “experimental model”. Particularly, some of the world fer-shopping, for example over the Internet, tend to label as “perhaps Conti” do not know anything catalog. And often a way to promote something otherwise not exploitable and even in these cases the hypothesis supported by the proto-typical legends about the impromptu production Conti, abound. In my opinion, experimental models or prototypes, around there are none. The only one I saw, for some authentic being in the hands of the son of the designer, is the study of the interconnection between the modules of Settebello through bellows, which was ultimately shelved. But it is just a mere detail. Entire machines had “prototypes” of the various stages of design. They made a mantle of wood and worked until like, saw how to adapt one of the types of carriage that already existed, and began to work the mold. The first unit producing, maybe put him on file, but more probably sold it like the others. But was identical to the successive until the die was not exhausted. With the repetition of the mold could be some changes in detail, and so on. Entire machines, then never mass-produced, can not be existed because if they decided to shelve the project they did before producing the molds that, you know, are the most expensive part. Something similar happens with certain colors “unusual”. I’ve heard really “all colors”! But the colors are always the same, with the necessary means rarity. There are 424 green, there is some blue periwinkles, blue is the 554, the 530 is yellow sand. But it’s rare, but always serious and not because it was finished “tolla” (tin). If we as a joke or for specific request of some fanciful, some single specimen was also out of the factory with a strange color or structural changes, it does not make these prototypes but simply of “curiosity”. A different case but always at risk of canonization proto-typical is that of conversion of machines by
D C/ A C.
There are several cases I have found over time, again by some old owner eager to reuse an old car on new circuits. These adjustments are easily recognizable, but at least in a few cases it was possible to establish with reasonable certainty that the intervention took place at the factory. At the time it was usual to send in repair the machines in the factory in Bollate, I have documentary evidence. So it is quite possible that there were direct requests for conversion. So a machine manufactured in series only in C / A, and modified in D / C as can be classified …? A very rare prototype if the change is factory? In my opinion it is not any of that. It ‘s just what it is: a modified model. Another case in which the applicant invokes the license of prototype assembly arbitrary models with non-existent or non-conforming to the original type. Even for these cases that makes extensive help from the various legends of the “every day they were making different”. And so that on the internet are now consolidated to bastions flat cars with banks carrying trucks or cars Mercury which were instead placed exclusively on platforms without sides. And the rest to my dispute, the disputed replied that I was not able to demonstrate that the factory had not ever come out that way. And he had full reason: it is impossible such a demonstration, then I retired, while being quite sure of my reason. These latter cases, however, identify the flourishing category of fakes and with original parts. Category devious. Now I greet you: I have a couple of 424 battered that I think will help me find the market in Bollate (depending on the month) the prototype of abandoned project Conti 636 3 engines … (with a surplus).
