Toy Collection

Boxes & Various Models

I have produced a hard copy catalogue of my 1-75 Series model variation listing, detailing over 1,000 variations and 300+ photos. Also includes the information below on the 1-75 Series of boxes
For information on the catalogue, feedback and purchase details click here: 1-75 Series Variations Catalogue

1-75 Boxes

As well as the many model variations, boxes also come in an array of styles. There are a number of good reference sites for the 1-75 Series.
Frank Carnahan has excellent site worth many hours of visiting. fcarnaham.com. Click on the small word "images" at the top left hand corner for a drop down menu.

Below there are photos of some of the box variations I have collected. Refer back to Frank Carnahams page above for more definitive descriptions. A good reference book is Charlie Mack's "The Encyclopedia of Matchbox Toys" Schiffer Pub, from which the following is taken.

Another very detailed site purely about the 1-75 Series boxes is the excellent Vintage Lesney Online. A resource of much of the information below which I would reccomend to interested collectors.

From my reading of "Collecting Matchbox Diecast Toys The First Forty Years" - Stewart Orr, Kevin McGimpsey (1989) it was a Norvic matchbox that inspired the Matchbox design.

Quote:

By coincidence Jack Odell, during the discussions picked up a box of matches made by the Norvic Match Co. Ltd, Suice, Czechoslavaki. He opened the box placed the prototype inside. Smith " We liked the Scandinavian type design and that was the birth of "Matchbox".

The early boxes show the link to the old European firm of Moses Kohnstam, whose name established the MOKO brand name. His grandson, Richard was involved with the distribution of the early Lesney models when Lesney sought someone to handle the marketing of their early toys. Lesney produced the models whilst Moko mainly handled the packaging, distribution and advertising. It was not until 1959 that Lesney were able to buy out Moko, who had earlier registered the trademark "Matchbox". Subsequent boxes no longer featured the word "MOKO".

TYPE A - Moko Lesney with Script Lettering (1953 - 1954)

Only the first seven models were issued with this box. The word "MOKO" appears in script lettering, while "LESNEY" is in block letters. All are quite rare.

TYPE B - Moko Lesney with Script Lettering (1954 - 1960)

Basically the same as Type A box, but the word "MOKO" is now in block letters.
All 1-75 series models had this box, some with more than one variation.

There are 5 sub-types in this series: B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5

B1 Plain blue end flap with no number or name

B2 Blue end flap with black model number

B3 Blue end flap with the model number in a white circle

B4 Blue end flap with the model number in a white circle below white panel with black lettered model name

B5 Blue end flap with the model number in a white circle below white lettered model name

B Box Variations
There are many variations for this series of boxes. The most evident are as follows.

Picture
The same model could have different drawings in varying styles

Here the drawings are similar but the left hand This example shows different drawings and different
drawing is blurred whilst the right is sharper. backgrounds. A number of models have this difference
Often found in early models.

Number
The model's number can be found in different sizes and position

Here No.49 is positioned differently, also note the variations in font size and style

End Flap Lettering
The model name on the end flaps can be found in lower case or capitals

New Model
Some B5 models include the words New Model on the end flaps

Blue Outline
The blue outline extends the size of the box and can be found on several B boxes

Size
The following B box sizes are:

     Length     Width     Height
     57mm     22mm     38mm
     57mm     26mm     38mm
     67mm     26mm     38mm
     67mm     38mm     38mm

TYPE C - Lesney Line Drawing Box (1961)

Issued only in 1961, the box is still basically the same as the type before it.
With the rights to the "Matchbox" name secured the "MOKO" name is now omitted leaving only a "LESNEY Product".
A few numbers were never made in this series, 41, 47, 59, 66, 70, 71 and 73.

Most boxes of this type can be difficult to obtain due to the short issue period.

C Box Variations
Lesser variations than in the B box series. Variations are mainly to do with the picture.

Picture
The main variations are to do with the background and lines under the model.

Slightly different pictures, background on left box Plain background or with lines under the model

New Model
Each new model released with a C box had the words New Model on the end flaps.

Size
The following C box sizes are:

     Length     Width     Height
     67mm     26mm     38mm
     67mm     38mm     38mm
     78mm     26mm     38mm

TYPE D - "MATCHBOX SERIES" in arc (1961 - 1965)

These are the first regular wheel boxes to have full colour pictures on the box. Some first issue models made it to this series and some of the rarest boxes fall into this group.

Boxes only available in D1 are hard to find, the hardest being 55A DUKW, 58A BEA Coach, 66A Citroen DS., 47A Trojan Tea Van, 53A Aston Martin, 33A Ford Zodiac Sedan, 71A Army Water Truck , 62A Military Lorry, 15B Atlantic Prime Mover, 51A Albion Chieftan, 6B Quarry Truck and 25B Volkswagen in descending order of rarity, order always open to discussion.

There are 2 sub-types in this series: D1 and D2

D Box Variations
The 2 sub-types are recognized by their end flaps

D1 serif lettering D2non-serif lettering

Picture
This is the most noticeable variation. Different drawings exist for the same model and some drawing have only slight variations

Different drawing and 2nd box has target No decal shown and decal colours shown here

Number
D1 boxes nearly always have the model number without serifs and smaller than D2

D1 box with smaller number D2 with larger number D1 without serifs D2 with serifs

Targets
A few new models had a round target. The target shows the special features of the model.
17D, 33B and 71B were issued with a yellow (1st issue) and white target (2nd issue).
The 17D Hoveringham Tipper is notable for having E style lettering on a variation.

New Model
Some models issued for the first time do not have a D1 type box, whilst others have both.
Models with NEW MODEL are 2C, 6C, 15C, 16C, 17D, 32B, 33B, 38B, 43B, 47B, 53B, 55B, 58B, 59B, 71B and 73B.

Size
The following D box sizes are:

     Length     Width     Height
     67mm     26mm     38mm
     67mm     38mm     38mm
     78mm     26mm     38mm
     78mm     38mm     38mm

62B is found in size 1 and size 2

Side Colours
The side colours can be 1 blue and 1 black (D1 & D2), 2 blue sides (D2) and 2 light blue sides (D2)

TYPE E - "MATCHBOX" in arc (1965 - 1968)

Similar in design to the type before it, the word SERIES now moves under the word MATCHBOX and in much smaller type. Many of the boxes show pre-production coloured models which never matched the models inside.

Difficult boxes to obtain include 22 Pontiac (blue), 36 Opel Diplomat (both green ones), and 44 Rolls Royce (tan).

Very rare boxes include 34 Volkswagen (green), 46 Pickford Van and 65 Jaguar Sedan.

There are 4 sub-types in this series: E1, E2, E3 and E4

E Box Variations
The 4 sub-types are recognized by their end flaps

E1 E2 E3 E4

Picture
This is the most noticeable variation. Different drawings exist for the same model.

Number
37C has a variation with a single number as well as a box with two numbers

Targets
A few new models had a round target. The target shows the special features of the model.

New Model
Some models issued for the first time came in the E box series.

Size
The following E box sizes are:

     Length     Width     Height
     67mm     26mm     38mm
     67mm     38mm     38mm
     78mm     26mm     38mm
     78mm     38mm     38mm

25C and 26C have different size boxes as does 36C though it also has major picture variations

Side Colours
The side colours can be 1 blue and 1 black, 2 blue sides and 2 light blue sides (D2)

TYPE F - Number in/out Blue Square (1969)

This was the final style of regular wheel boxes. The box featured the word "MATCHBOX" across the top in red. The number appears in or out a blue square in the upper right corner.

Difficult boxes to obtain include 3C Ambulance, 8E Mustang (with Superfast picture) and 12C Safari Landrover

Very rare boxes include 14D Iso Griffo and 22C Pontiac. Four numbers were never made in this series - 20, 30 , 35 and 69.

There are 3 sub-types in this series: F1, F2 and F3

F Box Variations
The 3 sub-types are recognized by the word SERIES, which could be white in blue square under model number (F1), in red outside of square under OX of MATCHBOX (F2) and in red in square under model number (F3)

F1 F2 F3

Picture
This is the most noticeable variation. Different pictures exist for the same model.

Bottom Lettering
Four variations of text can be found at the bottom of the box under model picture

A LESNEY PRODUCT MATCHBOX IS THE REGD T.M. OF LESNEY PRODUCTS & CO. LTD. LONDON ENGLAND

LESNEY PRODUCTS & CO. LTD LONDON ENGLAND MATCHBOX REGD T.M. OF LESNEY PRODUCT & CO. LTD. LONDON ENGLAND

New Model
Several model have NEW on end flaps for models introduced with this series of boxes

Size
The following E box sizes are:

     Length     Width     Height
     78mm     26mm     38mm
     78mm     33mm     38mm
     78mm     38mm     38mm