All the reproduction pieces I have found so far have fairly shiny axles. Below is a sure-fire way to tell the current reproductions from the originals. The plastic pieces that hold the metal axles are shorter on the reproduced carts by about 1 mm than those on the original carts. I have also found a difference in the molding of the actual wheels, it is very slight, but with good vision or a magnifying glass, it is highly visible. I will post photos here as soon as I have them.
Reproductions are fine when sold as reproductions, a reproduction created to deceive is fraud.
Please email me if you have found some reproduction carts in your collection.