James with gray face

In buying lots of broken engines, I've acquired a few James engines with a gray face. Are these worth any more than the ones with the white faces?

In buying lots of broken engines, I've acquired a few James engines with a gray face. Are these worth any more than the ones with the white faces?

Just a guess, but I believe the graying is from cigarette smoke...

[ripley802]

Just a guess, but I believe the graying is from cigarette smoke...

I have had several that have been discolored as well. Most of the ones I have seen have had a yellow tinge to them. I usually just use them for parts at that point.

Maybe post some pics though, it could be maybe a newer vs older one or something?

I'll get some pics after the little one goes to bed. She doesn't know about these.

[Super]

A good way to see if for some reason the faces have stained from smoke or sunlight is to unscrew the face and take a good look at the back to see if its the same color which would tell you if the color is all the way through or just on the surface.

Here are 2 engines from the same year. Notice the switch on the one with the gray face is still white.

[img]<a href="http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/dan_laduke/media/Thomas%20and%20other%20related%20things/IMG_20150902_224430_zps8tercurl.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/dan_laduke/Thomas%20and%20other%20related%20things/IMG_20150902_224430_zps8tercurl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20150902_224430_zps8tercurl.jpg"/></a>[/img]

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Here's a bit of the other engines awaiting their turn with the Dr.

[img]<a href="http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/dan_laduke/media/Thomas%20and%20other%20related%20things/IMG_20150902_225545_zps2ktnayym.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/dan_laduke/Thomas%20and%20other%20related%20things/IMG_20150902_225545_zps2ktnayym.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20150902_225545_zps2ktnayym.jpg"/></a>[/img]
[img]<a href="http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/dan_laduke/media/Thomas%20and%20other%20related%20things/IMG_20150902_225540_zpsuuyujgfh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h403/dan_laduke/Thomas%20and%20other%20related%20things/IMG_20150902_225540_zpsuuyujgfh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20150902_225540_zpsuuyujgfh.jpg"/></a>[/img]

I would be so busted by my little girl if she saw these pictures! LoL! She doesn't know about these boxes.

[Super]

I believe the plastic they use for the face and the type for the switch switch is different so staining or ultraviolet rays cane affect it differently. Just my uneducated guess. Have you looked at the back of the face to see what color that is?

No I haven't removed the face to look at the back. I'll do that when I have him "under the knife".

The one on the right of the picture is a molded face, and painted facial features, whereas the left one is a separate face piece.