LESNEY/MATCHBOX- EARLY Models of Yesteryear.

Still have the Allchin. I thought I had that London bus, but apparently not. At some point, I think I had displayed my MoYs in numerical order, but now they are scattered in different categories.

I have many of these and love them.

David, Paul, Jack.  What really surprises me is that you kept so many of these models from so long ago.  I suspect we are all at or near the senior citizen age category.  Though I purchased several of these in the 50s and 60s and made many plastic models, I got rid of those long ago.

Posted by: @ed-davis

David, Paul, Jack.  What really surprises me is that you kept so many of these models from so long ago.  I suspect we are all at or near the senior citizen age category.  Though I purchased several of these in the 50s and 60s and made many plastic models, I got rid of those long ago.

Ed, my MoYs were display cars from the very start. My nephew wanted to play with them when he was young, but I never let him. 😊 My sons got my 1-75s, and those cars ended up in a laundry basket full of toys. Though my collection has expanded, I have a powerful emotional attachment to the MoYs, and I enjoy looking at them every day just as much as the more detailed and more expensive models.

@paul-rouffa Paul; I destroyed every last one of my childhood Matchbox, Dinky, Corgi, etc. toys like most children.  My current collection was purchased since 1990.  The Matchbox toys appeal to me more than the others for some strange reason....likely based deeply in nostalgia.

The 3rd and 4th Models of Yesteryear, and a page from a late 1950s catalogue.

Y-3-A was a 1907 London E Class Tramcar. This was issued in 1956. 1/80 scale, 1/130 scale, discontinued in 1965.

Y-4-A was the release before the horse-drawn fire engine, a '1915' Sentinel Steam Waggon. This was issued in 1956. 1/80 scale, 1/100 scale, discontinued in 1960.

Paul talked above about his 75 series Matchbox cars being played with and body worn. This happened with my Sentinel Waggon which was taken from a shelf by my granddaughter and played with in the sand box. The first 3 images show a mint vehicle. The rest are my survivor. Note the second 'g' in wagon. This is correct.

Y-5-A was a 1929 4.5 Litre Bentley. This was issued in 1956. 1/80 scale, discontinued in 1960.

Y-6-A was an AEC "Y" Type Lorry (says AEC 1916-1921 on base). This was issued in 1957. 1/100 scale, discontinued in 1960.

@david-green 

Nice models.  I am curious why they made each in two different scales?

@ed-davis 

Hi Ed.

Lesney/Matchbox originally designed their models to fit a old style box of matches. In order to keep the vehicles fitting, various scales were used,

It is only in fairly modern times that set scales started. Matchbox until they went out of business used multiple scales. Dinky Toys while often called 1/43, rarely really were.

@david-green 

Though not specific to the Models of Yesteryear theme, I have a Matchbox question for you.  I had some of these, along with some Dinky Toys, in the 1950s.  My favorite Matchbox model was a Ford Thunderbird hardtop, 1958 to 1960 style.  Do you have one of them?

@ed-davis 

Hi Ed,

Sorry but I no longer have one. I got rid of most of my early issue American cars by Matchbox several years ago. I wish I had kept them as prices have really risen.

Here it is, #75, first issued in the USA in September 1959 and the rest of the world in 1960.

Thanks.  That is the one I had.

The 7th and 8th Models of Yesteryear, and a page from a late 1950s catalogue.

Y-7-A was a 1918 Leyland 4 Ton Van. This was issued in 1957. 1/100 scale, discontinued in 1960.

Y-8-A was a 1926 Morris Cowley Bullnose. This was issued in 1958. 1/50 scale, discontinued in 1961.

I had Y-8 and Y-9 since the late fifties. Now I'm wondering what happened to them. I loved the look of both of them.