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Naji Norder wrote:
> In lugnet.general, Gary R. Istok writes:
> >
> >
> > So after all this discussion, here is what I would consider to be highly • collectible in
> > Cellulose Acetate:
> >
> > 1) Green (Samsonite) Cellulose Acetate plates - never produced in Europe in • the 1960's.
> >
> > 2) Blue or Yellow Cellulose Acetate plates - never produced in USA in the • 1960's, and
> > very rare in Cellulose Acetate in Europe.
> >
> > Gary Istok
>
> Somewhere in my collection I've seen a 1x2 plate with a square pip on the
> bottom. I'd like to look through and find any Cellulose Acetate bricks. How
> can I tell them from ABS?
>
> Naji
I sometimes have a hard time telling the difference. The pips on the 1x2 aren't
a good indicator, because I have ABS 1x2 plates with that pip.
Here is an overview of telling the difference:
On new or hardly used pieces it is much easier. The CA bricks have a high gloss
mirror like finish. The ABS bricks have a duller matte finish.
Most CA bricks/plates/slopes/windows are warped, some more so than others. Try
to find a straight edge on the piece, and look at it edge on. If the piece is in
otherwise good condition, and it is warped - then it is more than likely CA.
The font of the word "LEGO" on top of the studs (this doesn't work for early
windows & doors because there are no stud tops) is not a good indication. I've
got CA pieces with older and newer fonts.
How to tell by color:
Red - this is the easiest color to tell apart. CA red pieces have a lighter
"orange" like hue to them.
White - not always easy to tell apart. CA white pieces have a more "milky" hue
to them that ABS, which is darker.
Yellow - this is not too difficult to tell apart. CA yellow pieces have a sort
of lighter "lemon meringue" milky color. This is the only 1960's color which I
have never been able to find CA plates in.
Blue - not always easy to tell apart. CA blue has a lighter blue color to it -
actually I prefer the CA blue to the current blue used on ABS.
Black - difficult to tell apart. Usually I can tell by the brick surface - if it
is real shiny then it is CA. Black CA Lego pieces are not that common.
Grey - difficult to tell apart. Again the brick surface (shiny) is a giveaway.
Grey CA Lego is quite scarce.
Green - 1x1, 1x2, 2x2, 2x3 and 2x4 plates from the early Samsonite era service
packs were the only green Lego ever produced in CA (with the possible exception
of some 10x20 baseplates). So these were only available in the US/Canada. The
green color is slightly lighter than the ABS green of today. Also, all the CA
green plates from that era have an "italicized" earlier Lego font.
Gary Istok
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Ooops, I forgot clear bricks (Ben Rochow reminded me). See below. Gary Istok
Gary Istok wrote:
> Naji Norder wrote:
>
> > In lugnet.general, Gary R. Istok writes:
> > >
> > >
> > > So after all this discussion, here is what I would consider to be highly • collectible in
> > > Cellulose Acetate:
> > >
> > > 1) Green (Samsonite) Cellulose Acetate plates - never produced in Europe in • the 1960's.
> > >
> > > 2) Blue or Yellow Cellulose Acetate plates - never produced in USA in the • 1960's, and
> > > very rare in Cellulose Acetate in Europe.
> > >
> > > Gary Istok
> >
> > Somewhere in my collection I've seen a 1x2 plate with a square pip on the
> > bottom. I'd like to look through and find any Cellulose Acetate bricks. How
> > can I tell them from ABS?
> >
> > Naji
>
> I sometimes have a hard time telling the difference. The pips on the 1x2 aren't
> a good indicator, because I have ABS 1x2 plates with that pip.
>
> Here is an overview of telling the difference:
>
> On new or hardly used pieces it is much easier. The CA bricks have a high gloss
> mirror like finish. The ABS bricks have a duller matte finish.
>
> Most CA bricks/plates/slopes/windows are warped, some more so than others. Try
> to find a straight edge on the piece, and look at it edge on. If the piece is in
> otherwise good condition, and it is warped - then it is more than likely CA.
>
> The font of the word "LEGO" on top of the studs (this doesn't work for early
> windows & doors because there are no stud tops) is not a good indication. I've
> got CA pieces with older and newer fonts.
>
> How to tell by color:
>
> Red - this is the easiest color to tell apart. CA red pieces have a lighter
> "orange" like hue to them.
>
> White - not always easy to tell apart. CA white pieces have a more "milky" hue
> to them that ABS, which is darker.
>
> Yellow - this is not too difficult to tell apart. CA yellow pieces have a sort
> of lighter "lemon meringue" milky color. This is the only 1960's color which I
> have never been able to find CA plates in.
>
> Blue - not always easy to tell apart. CA blue has a lighter blue color to it -
> actually I prefer the CA blue to the current blue used on ABS.
>
> Black - difficult to tell apart. Usually I can tell by the brick surface - if it
> is real shiny then it is CA. Black CA Lego pieces are not that common.
>
> Grey - difficult to tell apart. Again the brick surface (shiny) is a giveaway.
> Grey CA Lego is quite scarce.
>
> Green - 1x1, 1x2, 2x2, 2x3 and 2x4 plates from the early Samsonite era service
> packs were the only green Lego ever produced in CA (with the possible exception
> of some 10x20 baseplates). So these were only available in the US/Canada. The
> green color is slightly lighter than the ABS green of today. Also, all the CA
> green plates from that era have an "italicized" earlier Lego font.
Clear - Only the regular clear bricks were produced. The CA clear bricks have a
yellow hue to them (probably yellowed over the years). Warping is common. The ABS
clear bricks have a more blue hue to them (not to be confused with any of the colored
clear bricks, which came long after CA bricks ceased production). But anyone who has
the LEAR JET set will confirm that the 1x2 clear plates (ABS) in this set also have a
"champagne" like hue. So I would venture to guess that the blue hue of clear bricks
today happened sometimes in the late 1970's or early 1980's, and ABS clear bricks can
have either a champagne or a blue hue to them..
>
> Gary Istok
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In lugnet.general, Gary R. Istok writes:
<snip>
> Clear - Only the regular clear bricks were produced. The CA clear bricks
> have a
> yellow hue to them (probably yellowed over the years). Warping is common.
> The ABS
> clear bricks have a more blue hue to them (not to be confused with any of the
> colored
> clear bricks, which came long after CA bricks ceased production). But anyone
> who has
> the LEAR JET set will confirm that the 1x2 clear plates (ABS) in this set
> also have a
> "champagne" like hue. So I would venture to guess that the blue hue of clear
> bricks
> today happened sometimes in the late 1970's or early 1980's, and ABS clear
> bricks can
> have either a champagne or a blue hue to them..
There are definitely two different shades of clear ABS brick that have been
circulating over the last few years. For example, I'm currently looking at
my 9365 Dacta Community Vehicles set and the two shades of brick are visible
next to each other in the polybags.
To take two examples from the Community Vehicles set:
Sets such as 6680 ambulance have what I'd regard as completely transparant
bricks - I don't know if
these are the ones you'd describe as having a champagne hue, personally
I can't really see any hue.
6594 Gas Transit has a transparent windscreen but it has a definite blue
hue. I'd still regard it as not coloured - it's nothing like the really
blue-ish transparent bricks, such as occur in the Exploriens sets.
Simon
http://www.SimonRobinson.com
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Simon Robinson wrote:
> In lugnet.general, Gary R. Istok writes:
>
> <snip>
>
> > Clear - Only the regular clear bricks were produced. The CA clear bricks
> > have a
> > yellow hue to them (probably yellowed over the years). Warping is common.
> > The ABS
> > clear bricks have a more blue hue to them (not to be confused with any of the
> > colored
> > clear bricks, which came long after CA bricks ceased production). But anyone
> > who has
> > the LEAR JET set will confirm that the 1x2 clear plates (ABS) in this set
> > also have a
> > "champagne" like hue. So I would venture to guess that the blue hue of clear
> > bricks
> > today happened sometimes in the late 1970's or early 1980's, and ABS clear
> > bricks can
> > have either a champagne or a blue hue to them..
>
> There are definitely two different shades of clear ABS brick that have been
> circulating over the last few years. For example, I'm currently looking at
> my 9365 Dacta Community Vehicles set and the two shades of brick are visible
> next to each other in the polybags.
> To take two examples from the Community Vehicles set:
>
> Sets such as 6680 ambulance have what I'd regard as completely transparant
> bricks - I don't know if
> these are the ones you'd describe as having a champagne hue, personally
> I can't really see any hue.
>
> 6594 Gas Transit has a transparent windscreen but it has a definite blue
> hue. I'd still regard it as not coloured - it's nothing like the really
> blue-ish transparent bricks, such as occur in the Exploriens sets.
>
> Simon
> http://www.SimonRobinson.com
Simon, Yes there is no Champagne hue on the newer ones. Maybe in a few years
they'll turn that color.
But one thing I did notice is that the clear 1x2 plates from the 1960's
Architectural parts packs are indistinguishable from those of the Lear Jet
(1970's). That means that both are ABS, or they had a lot of CA plates left over
from the 1960's and they're both CA. I tend to think that maybe the first is
true.
But clear bricks warrant a lot more study before I can make a generalization like
that. I think I'll make clear bricks/plates/slopes a separate discussion
altogether. I think I have about 10,000 , so it'll be interesting to see what
variations I can come up with. Stay tuned.
Trivia question - what LEGO set had the most (no color) clear bricks ever?
Gary Istok
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In lugnet.general, Gary R. Istok writes:
>
> <snip>
>
> But clear bricks warrant a lot more study before I can make a generalization • like
> that. I think I'll make clear bricks/plates/slopes a separate discussion
> altogether. I think I have about 10,000 , so it'll be interesting to see what
> variations I can come up with. Stay tuned.
>
> Trivia question - what LEGO set had the most (no color) clear bricks ever?
>
> Gary Istok
I have a translucent white TV antenna from the late 1970s. It appears in the
374: Fire Station picture
http://www.lugnet.com/img.cgi?pause/town/lego374.jpg
among other sets.
Other than this one piece, the only other translucent white I've seen is the in
the new glow-in-the-dark pieces. When did Lego start/stop making this color?
(I await your clear pieces discussion if you wish to discuss this then.)
Thanks,
Naji
I have no chance with the trivia. :-(
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Gary Istok <gistok@umich.edu> wrote in message
news:37A9A4D6.6336A9ED@umich.edu...
>
> Simon, Yes there is no Champagne hue on the newer ones. Maybe in a few • years
> they'll turn that color.
>
> But one thing I did notice is that the clear 1x2 plates from the 1960's
> Architectural parts packs are indistinguishable from those of the Lear Jet
> (1970's). That means that both are ABS, or they had a lot of CA plates • left over
> from the 1960's and they're both CA. I tend to think that maybe the first • is
> true.
>
> But clear bricks warrant a lot more study before I can make a • generalization like
> that. I think I'll make clear bricks/plates/slopes a separate discussion
> altogether. I think I have about 10,000 , so it'll be interesting to see • what
> variations I can come up with. Stay tuned.
I can't say for certain, but I'd swear that the few (very chewed and
manbled)
1x2 plates I still have from my old Lear Jet are Cellulose Acetate.
Speaking of which, Gary, I've got a bunch of old clear bricks (2x4, 2x3,
etc.)
I'll never use, (most of them faded, some more than others) that I'd love
to
give to you if we ever have that Michigan Legofest :)
> Trivia question - what LEGO set had the most (no color) clear bricks ever?
Would that be the Town Plan set that you have told us all about? Looks like
it has enough clear to build multiple sky scrapers...
> Gary Istok
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Mark Koesel wrote:
> Gary Istok <gistok@umich.edu> wrote in message
> news:37A9A4D6.6336A9ED@umich.edu...
> >
> > Simon, Yes there is no Champagne hue on the newer ones. Maybe in a few • years
> > they'll turn that color.
> >
> > But one thing I did notice is that the clear 1x2 plates from the 1960's
> > Architectural parts packs are indistinguishable from those of the Lear Jet
> > (1970's). That means that both are ABS, or they had a lot of CA plates • left over
> > from the 1960's and they're both CA. I tend to think that maybe the first • is
> > true.
> >
> > But clear bricks warrant a lot more study before I can make a • generalization like
> > that. I think I'll make clear bricks/plates/slopes a separate discussion
> > altogether. I think I have about 10,000 , so it'll be interesting to see • what
> > variations I can come up with. Stay tuned.
>
> I can't say for certain, but I'd swear that the few (very chewed and
> manbled)
> 1x2 plates I still have from my old Lear Jet are Cellulose Acetate.
>
> Speaking of which, Gary, I've got a bunch of old clear bricks (2x4, 2x3,
> etc.)
> I'll never use, (most of them faded, some more than others) that I'd love
> to
> give to you if we ever have that Michigan Legofest :)
>
> > Trivia question - what LEGO set had the most (no color) clear bricks ever?
>
> Would that be the Town Plan set that you have told us all about? Looks like
> it has enough clear to build multiple sky scrapers...
>
> > Gary Istok
Hey Mark, you are correct!! Set 725 - Town Plan (the later 1962-64 version) had
over 100 clear bricks, in brick sizes 1x1, 1x2, 1x6, 1x8, 2x2, 2x3, 2x4 and 2x2
quarter circle (macaroni). No clear plates or slopes in this set. Keep those
clear bricks handy. They'll make great trading material at the Michigan
Legofest. (And make sure you get there early, before Larry P. does. We'll get
our trading done early, heh-heh).
Gary Istok
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Don't forget that another valuable source of data on this is box images
and
instruction "pictures" that show actual pieces.
Virtually every clear brick I have from the 70's is yellowed to some
extent,
except for the bricks in my 404, which are suspiciously clear. (even
though
the set was sealed when I got it).
However, all of the images from boxes/instructions seem to show crystal
clear
if not bluish pieces.
KL
Gary Istok wrote:
>
> Simon Robinson wrote:
>
> > In lugnet.general, Gary R. Istok writes:
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > > Clear - Only the regular clear bricks were produced. The CA clear bricks
> > > have a
> > > yellow hue to them (probably yellowed over the years). Warping is common.
> > > The ABS
> > > clear bricks have a more blue hue to them (not to be confused with any of the
> > > colored
> > > clear bricks, which came long after CA bricks ceased production). But anyone
> > > who has
> > > the LEAR JET set will confirm that the 1x2 clear plates (ABS) in this set
> > > also have a
> > > "champagne" like hue. So I would venture to guess that the blue hue of clear
> > > bricks
> > > today happened sometimes in the late 1970's or early 1980's, and ABS clear
> > > bricks can
> > > have either a champagne or a blue hue to them..
> >
> > There are definitely two different shades of clear ABS brick that have been
> > circulating over the last few years. For example, I'm currently looking at
> > my 9365 Dacta Community Vehicles set and the two shades of brick are visible
> > next to each other in the polybags.
> > To take two examples from the Community Vehicles set:
> >
> > Sets such as 6680 ambulance have what I'd regard as completely transparant
> > bricks - I don't know if
> > these are the ones you'd describe as having a champagne hue, personally
> > I can't really see any hue.
> >
> > 6594 Gas Transit has a transparent windscreen but it has a definite blue
> > hue. I'd still regard it as not coloured - it's nothing like the really
> > blue-ish transparent bricks, such as occur in the Exploriens sets.
> >
> > Simon
> > http://www.SimonRobinson.com
>
> Simon, Yes there is no Champagne hue on the newer ones. Maybe in a few years
> they'll turn that color.
>
> But one thing I did notice is that the clear 1x2 plates from the 1960's
> Architectural parts packs are indistinguishable from those of the Lear Jet
> (1970's). That means that both are ABS, or they had a lot of CA plates left over
> from the 1960's and they're both CA. I tend to think that maybe the first is
> true.
>
> But clear bricks warrant a lot more study before I can make a generalization like
> that. I think I'll make clear bricks/plates/slopes a separate discussion
> altogether. I think I have about 10,000 , so it'll be interesting to see what
> variations I can come up with. Stay tuned.
>
> Trivia question - what LEGO set had the most (no color) clear bricks ever?
>
> Gary Istok
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