As a youngster I remember my brother and I playing with Matchbox toys. It wasn't until years later my Mother told me of the rushing around the shops that her and Dad went through to buy them for us. As I grew older and moved on to other interests I had no idea what happened to the toys of my childhood. Then, a few years ago, on a visit to my parent's house my Mother asked what I was going to do with that box of toys in the cupboard.
When my brother and I had outgrown our interest in toys my Mother had collected them up and stored them away (always listen to your Mother!).
That was the beginning of the collection below. I hope you enjoy looking through
them.
For more information on
the Lesney 1/75 series visit shabbir.com.
For more information on box variations visit fcarnaham.com. click on the word "images" for drop-down menu.
Another very detailed site purely about the 1-75 Series boxes is the excellent Vintage lesney Online.
A recommended guide to all Matchbox models is mboxcommunity.com.
To help identify the many variations of Matchbox/Lesney models I have mainly used the excellent "Matchbox Toys" by Nancy Schiffer as well as Charlie Mack's "Collecting MATCHBOX Regular Wheel Years 1947 - 1969". Both books are recommended for anyone interested in more information.
For detailed listing of the variation numbers I have used Michael J Stannard's "MATCHBOX" 1-75 SERIES 1953-1969 Collector's Catalogue.
I buy and sell models on eBay(ID tractorboy53), TradeMe (ID tractorboy) as well as privately.
So do e-mail me rodger@darkens.net.nz if you have models for sale.
From 1948 to 1957 Lesney made a series of toys on a variety of themes. The first four toys, produced between 1948 and 1949 were: Diesel Road Roller, Cement Mixer, Crawler Tractor and Crawler Bulldozer
Other models followed; Horse Drawn Milk Cart, Rag and Bone Cart, and Soap Box racer (1949); Jumbo the Elephant, Prime Mover, Trailer and Bulldozer (1950); Muffin the Mule (1951); Large Coronation Coach (1952); Small Coronation Coach (1953); Massey Harris Tractor and Bread Bait Press (1954). The final early model was the Covered Wagon (1955).
 Small Silver Coronation Coach |
 Bait Press |
 Bait Press |
 Covered Wagon |
1953 saw the introduction of the first Matchbox toys. These were smaller than the early, larger models and priced at 1s. 6d. These were very popular and the larger, early models were soon phased out as production began on what to become the successful 1-75 series.
