Sensational find

[Zolotnik]

In an old, run down palace in St. Petersburg, which the new owner wanted to renovate, was a locked room full of antiques, different parcels, satchels and strange objects.
After a close inspection he found among other valuable objects and furniture a model of a small redgold tank from the FITR (First Imperial Tank Regiment), St. Petersburg - that was what he thought at first.

Interior of the palace


FITR (First Imperial Tank Regiment) celebrating a new acquisition


The found tank model. Material: Redgold, Platinum, 1Diamond Top Wesselton, 1.1 carat, 4 Rubies, Italian marble base "Arabescato nero"





After much uncertainty and some doubts he contacted a handpicked team of experts to satisfy his nagging curiosity about this surprising find.

The team of experts from left to right
Prof. Dr. Zolotarev, Aleksej Eremitage St. Petersburg
Prof. Dr. Dr. Zuckerstein, Schmuel University Tel Aviv
Dr. Abakara, Machmud University Tiblisi
Dr. Feofilov, Nikita Museum of Unknown Objects Moscow


The marks found on the object and investigated by the experts



We members from http://www.925-1000.com know at once what it is - but the experts needed some time to discover that the tank is no tank but an armored limosine of the owner of the firm "Faberge´", used to drive save every day to his shop downtown St. Petersburg - traffic in Russia was at all times very dangerous (see: youtube - road rage Russia...)
The maker of this armored limosine was the wellknown firm for special orders H.W., better known under the name of "Hot Wheels". The number 56 shows that it must have been the 56th issue of this type of vehicle.
After unveiling the banal truth, the new frustrated owner decided to post it on an international internet auction site - startprice US $ 1.00

Regards
Zolotnik

[AG2012]

The number 56 shows that it must have been the 56th issue of this type of vehicle.

56 zolotniks GOLD Imperial standard (14K - 583)

[Zolotnik]

Hi AG2012 -

seemingly the story was not stupid enough to be discovered as a April 1st joke! Now I understand why the fakers have so much success!

Regards
Zolotnik

[AG2012]

There were obvious inconsistencies (hot wheels, 56, auction online for 1$, unrecorded object, funny looking experts etc) but what misled me for a moment was the fact something like this actually happened in St Petersburg decades ago; a sealed off room full of antiques found after 60 years when the wall was demolished.
Checkmate with the joke anyway! A good one!
I am done with silver — turned to jewelry — more profitable.
Good luck to you.