Do any of the lego resources have any information on known mould numbers for
set parts?
For example, a part from a set will have the part number, a mould number and
the position in the mould.
People who have the legit set would list mould numbers to help people find exact
parts to a specific set.
If nothing like this exists I think it should. It would help to keep sets more
original.
Do any of the lego resources have any information on known mould numbers for
set parts?
For example, a part from a set will have the part number, a mould number and
the position in the mould.
yes most parts have this, but not all, there are hundreds if not thousands of
different parts which have no markings at all
People who have the legit set would list mould numbers to help people find exact
parts to a specific set.
if you look at any inventory on bricklink you can see all the numbers of each
of the parts, however parts are often updated even mid production of a set and
the inventories will only show the first number used for that part irrelevant
of what set it is in, if the part has had a major change in the mold it is given
a new entry and that is used
If nothing like this exists I think it should. It would help to keep sets more
original.
the bricklink database is the best catalog for invenotries in the world, however
not every minute update to every part is given a new entry as otherwise it would
be a mess
What I mean is, for example I have a 1x6 black tile.
The part number is - 6636
The Mould ID is 10, underlined
The spot in the mold is 1.
Almost every time in a set, the Mould ID will match across all pieces.
There are times where this isnt the case but its somewhat rare ime.
I think a resource where people could post what their mould numbers for the parts
are freely would allow people to cross reference their parts and
A. see if the set they bought second hand has had replacement parts added or
is authentic
B. be able to properly reconstruct their sets from a large mess of parts they
inherit (which is my issue)
C. make it easier to buy parts that match the exact mould variation of what they
have.
D. improve the authenticity of many second hand sets being sold on here, ebay,
ect.
I get it would be a mess to add to a site like this but I think it should exist
either way.
where the part has this has appeared as an alternate many times (toward the bottom
of the page)
and that is just for a known variation of 1 brick. many parts that arent split
are never tracked but even tho 1 example has had extensive variation in how either
it or the other version can be included in the set
I think a resource where people could post what their mould numbers for the parts
are freely would allow people to cross reference their parts and
A. see if the set they bought second hand has had replacement parts added or
is authentic
B. be able to properly reconstruct their sets from a large mess of parts they
inherit (which is my issue)
C. make it easier to buy parts that match the exact mould variation of what they
have.
D. improve the authenticity of many second hand sets being sold on here, ebay,
etc.
there may be some sites that have that data however there would be way to much
data to put it all together, there are probably some sites that better track
individual molds of parts and what years they were used in beyond what bricklink
does but i doubt there an an exhaustive list for them all. you can use the lego
data to a point but even they only show what was included on the very first run
of the set so in the not rare case of the parts being update mid productions,
you wont know and may assume you got in inaccurate part but still received the
correct one that came with the set
I get it would be a mess to add to a site like this but I think it should exist
either way.
bricklink is first and foremost a marketplace (even tho many like myself believe
the data is just as important) so i doubt they would want to do that, Recently
they did a huge merge and merged a large amount of parts so there would be less
in the catalog so buyers wont be as confused
Finding the original parts for sets when you have alot scattered is tough. I
have been trying to match the mould variations and learning alot about the changes
in parts from year to year to try to maintain their authenticity.
I just dont want to sell sets without them at least having the right "era"
of parts and moulds matching at least in design and text format.
I usually try to match the mould number in sets I reconstruct as well but thats
not so easy.
Is it ok to sell sets this way? Should I make a note they were reconstructed?
I would be annoyed if I bought a vintage set reconstructed with a ton of modern
parts but not if the seller actually made an effort to maintain the authenticity
and the parts were the right era.
Finding the original parts for sets when you have alot scattered is tough. I
have been trying to match the mould variations and learning alot about the changes
in parts from year to year to try to maintain their authenticity.
it can be fun!
I just dont want to sell sets without them at least having the right "era"
of parts and moulds matching at least in design and text format.
I usually try to match the mould number in sets I reconstruct as well but thats
not so easy.
indeed, tho in general, only highly "picky" (not picky in a bad way but
for lack of better words) buyers will care and when you sell the set you can
just include a note and most buyers will be fine with it
Is it ok to sell sets this way? Should I make a note they were reconstructed?
you can, but if you sell on bricklink it just needs to match the bricklink inventory
which doesn't have to be era accurate just inventory-accurate
I would be annoyed if I bought a vintage set reconstructed with a ton of modern
parts but not if the seller actually made an effort to maintain the authenticity
and the parts were the right era.
doing so will increase the premium for the set and some buyers will pay more
for that but many usually wont care unless its a major thing however including
notes in the listings will usually clear it up
It is very fun, I enjoy the nuance of the parts and have learned so much about
the different eras and their changes.
They're as much fun to organize, sort and reconstruct sets as they are to
build with.
Thanks for the info. When it comes time to sell them I will make clear what the
situation was and that I did my best to reconstruct them with appropriate era
parts.
It is very fun, I enjoy the nuance of the parts and have learned so much about
the different eras and their changes.
They're as much fun to organize, sort and reconstruct sets as they are to
build with.
indeed! data is amazing!
Thanks for the info. When it comes time to sell them I will make clear what the
situation was and that I did my best to reconstruct them with appropriate era
parts.
Finding the original parts for sets when you have alot scattered is tough. I
have been trying to match the mould variations and learning alot about the changes
in parts from year to year to try to maintain their authenticity.
I just dont want to sell sets without them at least having the right "era"
of parts and moulds matching at least in design and text format.
I usually try to match the mould number in sets I reconstruct as well but thats
not so easy.
Is it ok to sell sets this way? Should I make a note they were reconstructed?
I would be annoyed if I bought a vintage set reconstructed with a ton of modern
parts but not if the seller actually made an effort to maintain the authenticity
and the parts were the right era.
Appreciate any advice.
There is probably a very small niche of customers out there that are going to
be concerned with what you are doing. Unless you have very rare or highly
sought after sets, the time you are putting into this endeavor of yours is most
likely not worth the money or effort. But if you like doing this sort of thing,
please do have fun with it. Just know that most buyers are not going to care
one way or the other.
What I mean is, for example I have a 1x6 black tile.
The part number is - 6636
The Mould ID is 10, underlined
The spot in the mold is 1.
Almost every time in a set, the Mould ID will match across all pieces.
There are times where this isnt the case but its somewhat rare ime.
First, it’s funny, all the answers you got are actually about or applicable to
part numbers, not mould IDs.
According to your hierarchy, if different mould IDs in the same set is a rare
occurrence, then different part numbers would be even rarer.
But that’s not true at all!
If you get a set that was produced during a variant change, you get different
part numbers in the same set/box.
Sometimes, if the part comes in different colours, it’ll be all the parts in
one colour that will be in one variant and all the parts in another that will
be in the other variant. But it’s not certain.
And even if, officially, the part number didn’t change, the mould (= shape, not
just its number) changes.
It’s what happened to me with
in the same set, even in the same bag (bags were not numbered at the time).
I don’t know whether “3794” was printed on the parts (the parts got mixed an
reused since), but, certainly, they can’t be from the mould if the shape changed
(with/without groove)
What I mean is, for example I have a 1x6 black tile.
The part number is - 6636
The Mould ID is 10, underlined
The spot in the mold is 1.
Almost every time in a set, the Mould ID will match across all pieces.
There are times where this isnt the case but its somewhat rare ime.
First, it’s funny, all the answers you got are actually about or applicable to
part numbers, not mould IDs.
According to your hierarchy, if different mould IDs in the same set is a rare
occurrence, then different part numbers would be even rarer.
But that’s not true at all!
If you get a set that was produced during a variant change, you get different
part numbers in the same set/box.
Sometimes, if the part comes in different colours, it’ll be all the parts in
one colour that will be in one variant and all the parts in another that will
be in the other variant. But it’s not certain.
And even if, officially, the part number didn’t change, the mould (= shape, not
just its number) changes.
It’s what happened to me with
in the same set, even in the same bag (bags were not numbered at the time).
I don’t know whether “3794” was printed on the parts (the parts got mixed an
reused since), but, certainly, they can’t be from the mould if the shape changed
(with/without groove)
You are saying this occurred in 10214-Tower Bridge. I can go take a look I have
a few and one has the seals popped?
Obviously, as some have grooves and others haven’t, they can’t come from the
same mould.
That’s a big and memorable example, but there are others, smaller ones. You
could look at parts with alternates and then in the changelogs of the inventories
they are in: quite often, people say what they exactly had (“x of this, y of
that”).
TLG considers them the same part and put them in the same storage unit.
Of course, one machine/mould spews all its production in one crate, so same-mould-ID
parts tends to be close together until they are put in a bag/box.
But mixing is not that rare, especially as one machine only does one colour at
a time and colours are not produced or used in the same quantities.
USA
Canada, Ontario
France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
