Matchbox 15b; Rotinoff Super Atlantic Tractor; Orange, Black Plastic Wheels Wikipedia just gives Rotinoff a single line on a page
about ballast tractors: "Rotinoff Motors Ltd, Slough – 35 heavy haulage
tractors were built by the company between 1952 and 1959, of which 11
are known to survive"
Here's a bit more from tractors.wikia.com "George
Rotinoff, son of a Russian engineer set up Rotinoff Motors Ltd at
Colnbrook near Slough in 1952 to build heavy haulage tractors. He
developed the 140 tons gross "Atlantic", and the 330 tons gross "Super
Atlantic". The trucks were fitted with Kirstall axles. Also built were 2
long wheelbase "Viscounts" which were of a lighter construction and went
to Australia for use as cattle hauling roadtrains for the Vesty meat
company. The company also built a one-off dumper known as a
"Pacific" which it is believed was built as a prototype. George Rotinoff
died in 1959 when only 35 vehicles had been built bearing the Rotinoff
name, after which no more vehicles were built. The Swiss army had 12 for
pulling tank transporters and the only one was sold new into UK heavy
haulage to Sunter Bros of Northallerton. Several were re imported into
the UK and sold on by dealers Walkers Machinery of Oxford."
The Rotinoff Super Atlantic Tractor (15b) was released in 1959 and was
deleted in 1963. It is a very commonly found Matchbox model in its basic
form - orange with black plastic wheels. However the ones with grey
plastic wheels are very rare and are valued well into four figures, the
crimped axle versions being even rarer and more desirable than the
rounded end axles. |