EARLY MATCHBOX (Moko/Lesney/Matchbox)

5-A London Bus, 1/150 scale, Introduced in 1954, deleted in 1955.

In 1954, Lesney introduced the 5th model to the Matchbox 75 series. Like the 1-A road roller, this was a copy of a Dinky Toys model, this time the 29c pre-war Leyland bus. This was painted red like the real London bus. The base was also red and the front grill was painted gold. The wheels were grey metal with cripted axle ends. A paper label with rounded ends was attached saying ‘Buy Matchbox Series’ in black lettering. Examples with no labels were fairly common mint out of the box.

5-B London Bus, 1/150 scale, Introduced in 1957, deleted in 1960.

This replaced the earlier issue in 1957 and like the first was a copy of the Dinky Toys 29c but slightly larger. The easiest way to see the difference is that this one has 4 side windows on the left lower deck where the 5a has five windows. On the very first issue the wheels were grey metal with first cripted, then rounded axle ends. These were shortly changed to grey plastic. A decal was attached saying ‘Buy Matchbox Series’ in dark green lettering. The decal was changed to first ‘Players Please’ (a cigarette) and finally ‘BP Visco-Static’ in two variations.

Very nice!  My favorite of these was always the "Players Please" decal.

6-A Euclid Dump (Quarry) Truck, 1/108 scale, Introduced in 1954, deleted in 1956.

6-B Euclid Dump (Quarry) Truck, 1/108 scale, Introduced in 1957, deleted in 1963.

This one comes with or without a decal on the door.

6-c Euclid Dump (Quarry) Truck, 1/146 scale, Introduced in 1964, deleted in 1967.

Posted by: @ed-davis

@david-green 

I remember the tractor back in the 1950s.  I never knew about the motorcycle.  Matchbox sure had a great variety of models.

Ed;  There was another one ( Harley Davidson as I recall??), done as well in metallic brown.  I have it here but packed away presently with all my other old Moko Lesney matchbox treasures.  Do you have it by chance David?

@jack-dodds 

Yes, it is No. 66 ,Jack. Mine also is in storage but I will get to it at some point here. It also has a sidecar.

Thanks David!

7-A Horse Drawn Milk Float, 1/125 scale, Introduced in 1954, deleted in 1960.

This one is unique in that it is the only horse drawn vehicle in this entire range. This one came with white milk cartons on an orange float. A rare final version has chrome bottles.

The single horse varied in trim but always brown. First year wheels were metal, changing to grey plastic similar to the metal ones and finally generic grey plastic wheels. The driver was white but changed to orange in the final year. Most variations other than the last rare issue with chrome bottles are shown here.

8-A Caterpillar Tractor, 1/70 scale, Introduced in 1955, deleted in 1957.

No number on the base plate on this one. Originally orange with a gold grill, this changed to yellow with a silver grill. Metal wheels and rubber treads!

@david-green 

I think I had the yellow tractor back in the late 50s.  After all these years how are the rubber treads, still flexible?

Posted by: @ed-davis

@david-green 

I think I had the yellow tractor back in the late 50s.  After all these years how are the rubber treads, still flexible?

Ed;  I'm not sure if you know this but you can still buy quality replacements for the originals, which often dry up and break.

@jack-dodds 

Amazing, I did not know you could buy replacement parts for these items, which are over 60 years old.  I do not need any parts, but am curious where you could buy them?

@ed-davis 

There are several sources in the UK and the Netherlands. Most also list on eBay. If you want a website, I can provide one.

9-A Dennis Fire Engine, 1/80 scale, Introduced in 1955, deleted in 1957.

This was one of my first Matchbox Toys bought as a boy.  I have a MB replacement now.

9-B Merryweather Marquis Series III Fire Engine, 1/93 scale, Introduced in 1959, deleted in 1966.

Came with initially grey wobbly wheels later changing to black plastic. Unpainted top later later became gold.