Oh boy where to begin?
My
Hong Kong Cherry Treats is a beautiful white
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China Cherry Treats has the nasty brown / yellowing issue. She has a forelock!
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loginI double-checked these last night, and confirmed that my China one with forelock is the bad one, my Hong Kong is the white one. With the Sundae Best ponies I have, the China ones seem to be more pure and bright in color, the HK ones not so much, so I was surprised by these two. Also, I've noticed too that a lot of China ponies don't have forelocks. But it's not the first time I've seen China release both versions -- the European Fancy Pants babies for example. I have a full set of four with and without short forelocks.
The yellow/browning issue looks more like it leaked out of her, like it's smeared on her. It's not a uniform discoloration. Plasticizer, reacting with the chemicals in the scenting agents would be my guess. Some ponies seem to be made with plastics that are more prone to leaking than others, or at least are more prone to discoloring. I think plasticizer leakage can be brought on by environmental conditions (heating up or big changes in temperatures) so that might explain why some have the affliction and some don't. But it's just a theory -- I'm no chemist!
As for the rest of my Sweetberry ponies, the link to my album is at the bottom, but here's the list. I need to verify a couple of forelocks because the curly haired ponies forelocks are quite long.... it's sometimes hard to tell if they are forelocks! But here is what I've found:
1. I'm pretty sure the whole set was released as Hong Kong with forelocks, China with forelocks, and China without forelocks. Except the unicorn, which I haven't seen any version with forelock.
2. China with forelocks
may have been a US release but I'm pretty sure those without are more European. My China with forelocks set was bought from a US collector and I believe it was her childhood set.
3. I think China without forelocks are less prone to the browning issue, whether it's their plastic, the scenting agent, both or something else. My HK ponies are the result of long searches and lucky finds. Usually they aren't this nice!
4. Most of the ponies have PAT PEND on the hoof, both China and Hong Kong. I do have at least one that is not PAT PEND, a Boysenberry Pie from Germany (or whatever name she went by).
Cherry Treats - Hong Kong - forelock - not discolored
Cherry Treats - China - forelock - badly discolored
Cranberry Muffins - Hong Kong - forelock - not discolored
Cranberry Muffins - China - forelock? - *slightly* discolored (I used to have a badly discolored one)
Strawberry Surprise - Hong Kong - forelock - not discolored
Strawberry Surprise - China - forelock - slight yellowing
Blueberry Baskets - Hong Kong - forelock - not discolored
Blueberry Baskets - China - forelock - slight yellowing
Raspberry Jam - Hong Kong - forelock - yellowing
Raspberry Jam - China - forelock - discoloration (neck and body) Head is not affected!
Raspberry Jam - China - no forelock - not discolored
Boysenberry Pie - Hong Kong - (no forelock) - bright intense purple!
Boysenberry Pie - China - (no forelock) - dull purple, likely discolored and/or yellowed
Boysenberry Pie - China - (no forelock) - NO PAT PEND! - light purple, not discolored or faded
This last Boysenberry Pie came from Germany. I need to see if there was never any PAT PEND mark or if it was melted off, like I've seen on several German ponies. I think this pale purple one may be a variant specific to Germany, kind of like pale Speedy is. But I don't know this for sure.
ALBUM OF SWEETBERRY PONIES
(C=China, HK=Hong Kong, PP=Pat.Pend, NPP=no Pat Pend, all other notes are about flaws)
https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=2BB843F02DEF779C&resid=2BB843F02DEF779C%212050&authkey=AIP90Fy8STYYQyw