Dreadful Dracula Cape Variation

[ramsey37]

I recently discovered a variation in the Dreadful Dracula cape. I picked up a Type 2 Dracula from a seller in the UK not long ago, and I noticed when I received it that the cape has a plastic snap closure instead of the standard red elastic band commonly seen on the cape. I had spotted this once before on a Type 2 Dracula and assumed it was an old repair, but after receiving this one it appears to be a factory-made variation. You can see pics of the cape here:
Flickr: Photos & Video from mrramsey37
To date I've only seen this variant on Draculas from the UK. Has anyone else come across this?
George

[Bionic Joe]

Never saw this var before, hopefully someone here can shed some light on it, thanks for bringing it out i love new discoveries

[English Paul]

I remember the auctions as I was watching them all week. I had noticed the snap and assumed it was probably a late Lion Rock figure. They were all T2 monsters IIRC? I hoped to win it and do exactly the same as you are doing now

[ramsey37]

I had previously noticed the snap closure on this auction, which was offered by a different seller a few weeks before:
Vintage Mego Dracula Action Figure 1974 VGC *No Res. - eBay (item 160191939086 end time Jan-01-08 13:24:00 PST)
This was the same seller that had the Tomland Wolfman figure up, btw.

[ramsey37]

I've posted a few photos on my flickr page that show both Type 2 Draculas with the cape variant, as well as just the cape by itself.
Mego Dracula Variant - a set on Flickr
George

[ramsey37]

And finally, here's the auction link from the Dracula I bought:
Mego 8" Mad Monsters Dreadful Dracula. - eBay (item 310018143779 end time Feb-01-08 06:07:37 PST)
Just to show I'm not making this up
George

[Dave Mc]

Was really hoping some more folks would be able to shed some light on this. George knows his monsters and says it looks like a factory variation in person. It looks so in the pics, but I was really hoping to there might be a few others floating around so we can can get a little better grasp on the circumstance surrounding it. Anyone else have one of these?

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

Sweet. I would have just thought it was a homemade change upon first inspection. Thanks for pointing it out George.

[Meule]

Like the others I would've suspected it to be homemade, but knowing what a monster fan George is I trust his judgement