On this page I describe some of the interesting casting variations which are to be found among the First Series Matchbox Toys and some of their second series 'big brothers'.  There are very few 'straight' pictures of the models here - these can easily be found in the reference books and elsewhere on the web.

Go to ..... 1A  2A  2B  3A  4A  5A  6A  7A  8A  9A  10A  11A  12A   14A  15A  16A  17A  22A  23A  26A  27A  28A  36A  37A  37B  38A  39A  41A

For a full index of models covered, go to the Matchbox Home page.  Click on the picture for a larger version.

If you are a first time visitor and would like to get an idea of what collecting Matchbox was like thirty years ago, you may like to run through the pictures, without reading the text, and see how many of the casting variations you can spot without help.  It took several years for all of them to be found, with new discoveries being flashed around the world by snail mail (the only mail then!).  Great fun was had by all!  You have an advantage here - you know you are looking at different models.

In some cases, I have used a model in one of the rarer colours to show a casting variation.  This is not intended to imply that that particular variation is associated with only that colour of model, though it may be!

1A, the first Road Roller, is a copy of one of Jack Odell's large scale 'Early Lesney Toys', the Aveling Barford Diesel Road Roller. 

The first and second releases of this model are shown here.

It was found that the finely detailed vertical canopy supports in the first production models were inadequate to support the roof in play.  As a result, the posts were increased in diameter, the braces under the canopy were enlarged and the curved lower face of the canopy ends straightened, this last, presumably to partly hide the other alterations. 

In passing, let us say that the Road Roller on which this model is based owed the design of its canopy more to the Steam Rollers it was to replace, rather than functionality as represented in the later Matchbox issues.

2A, the first Dumper, had no casting variations.  However, a ½ inch nail is sometimes found holding the dump to the chassis rather than the usual crimped rivet.  This might be what was used on the first releases or just a substitute bought at the local ironmongers when they ran out of rivets!

The driver should, strictly, be looking over the top of the tipper, but with his relative size that would be difficult and, though models are found with him facing the other way, this way round is usual (and the one shown in the first catalogues).  To make a good toy, the dump had to be large enough to carry something!

2B, the second Dump Truck was one of several models re-issued to a larger scale after it was decided that 'matchbox' size was not necessary for 'Matchbox' Toys.

The obvious change affecting 2B during its four-year life, is the way the tipper was attached to the body of the truck.  With all his early models, Jack Odell maintained the authenticity of his creations as far as he was able, but the studs used to join the two components of this one would have been an obvious source of weakness in play and they were replaced by a prominent rivet as shown in the picture on the right.

3A, the Cement Mixer , in its original form, must be the most finely detailed (and fragile) of all Jack Odell's miniature models.  We recall that it was he who developed the pressure diecasting process which revolutionized the production of small metal toys in the 1950s.

Several detail modifications were made to the moulds for this model, though they all appear to have been made at about the same time as cross-overs are very uncommon.  The early and later versions are shown.

The inside of the motor compartment was smooth in the early version (on the left) but, as a result, the casting did not always slip off the mould easily.  Two vertical ridges were added to solve this problem.  The handle for the door to the motor compartment was also removed.  Three areas where the bottom of the casting was reinforced are clearly visible.  Four 'paddles' inside the barrel were also removed.  The vertical post holding the barrel was increased in thickness, as was the wheel used for turning the barrel.  The way in which the barrel unit was clipped to the post was also made more secure.

4A, the Massey Harris Farm Tractor, had just one casting variation.  On the first models, there was a space above the engine, as in the real thing.  There are often signs of 'flash' (debris from the mould) in this space and, in due course, one half of the mould was pared down to leave a gap which resulted in the area over the engine being filled in.

The words Lesney and England were cast on the mudguards and it was intended that the pair of mudguards should be one of each type (they are not 'sided'), but this didn't always happen.  As a result, there are models carrying the name Lesney twice with no country of origin and vice versa!  All Massey Harris Tractors (the real ones) were painted red.

5A, the first London Bus, has two casting variations, both found at the rear of the model.  The illustration shows the original and a later model after both changes had been made.

The model on the left appears to have a taller upper deck rear window with some flash.  The window of the right hand model has been given a sloping upper edge, once again to make it easier to slip the casting off the mould.  At a later date, the mould was modified again, this time to remove the rear number plate.

This was the first Matchbox model on which the model number appears.

6A, the first Euclid Quarry Truck, has two small variations on the underside.

The first issues had a small space between the front axle and the cross-brace.  This was later increased to rather more than 1 mm.  A cross-brace on the underside of the tipper, where it was attached to the mould, was half-round to begin with.  On later models this is found with straight sides and a curved outer face (no illustration).

7A, the Horse-Drawn Milk Float, seems to have been the most delicate of all the early castings, at least as far as the manufacturing process was concerned.  If the Cement Mixer broke easily in play, it was the dies of the Milk Float that were altered more times than any other in those early days.

The two pictures illustrate the main changes.  The milk crates were cast very close to the back of the model to begin with but were 'moved' forward, probably fairly early in the life of the model; the driver's seat was narrowed and his footrest increased in width.  The 'plate' joining the shafts to the body of the float was increased in size, then the mould was very crudely altered to leave what amounts to a lump of metal filling the gap on one side of that 'plate';  then the other side was filled in.  The picture on the right shows the first, third and fourth variations.  The horse, too, had a small variation - a smooth surface inside his left foreleg was remoulded and replaced by a smaller triangular tab - attempts to photograph this have so far proved unsuccessful!

The model was in the line for seven years.  A further picture is found on the introductory Matchbox page.

8A, the first Caterpillar Tractor , has four casting variations, all involving the gap between the engine casting and the body, which was progressively filled. 

The illustration shows all the casting differences and, in order, the four colours found on the model, deep yellow, pale yellow, orange and mid-yellow.  For the earliest runs of this first tracked Matchbox model, Lesneys tried dipping the complete model after the rollers had been fitted - it probably didn't work too well!  So, the first yellow model may or may not have yellow painted axles and rollers.  Early on, the moulds were modified to fill in the space behind the engine but there remained a gap all the way across the top.  Pale yellow is only found on the second of those variations.  During the currency of the orange model the front section of the space above the engine was closed.  Soon after the last change of colour, the remaining space between engine and body was filled in.

9A, the first Dennis Fire Engine , when first released had a gap between the driver's arms and legs.  On later models that space has been filled in. 

There are also subtle differences in the shape of the rims and hubs of the escape wheels - which may be taking variation hunting a little too far (?!).

The second version, 9B, has a front bumper (fender) and many differences in detail as compared to the earlier model.

10A, the first Scammell Mechanical Horse & Trailer, was in production for only two years before its bigger brother was produced. 

The cab unit has no variations.  The more common variation in the trailer has a smooth 'patch' across the seam on the underside which suggests that there may have been a problem in holding the two halves of the casting in line when they were being joined together.  Judging by the scarcity of the later model, it must have been towards the end of the production run that a sizeable brace was added between the legs.  This was neater, it would have helped align the two parts and at the same time strengthened the legs themselves.  The later trailer is seen on the right in both pictures.

11A, the first ERF Petrol Tanker, has just one casting variation.

This involved strengthening the chassis between the cab and tank unit, so we may assume that, when first released, there was a tendency for the chassis to collapse when the toy was being played with.  Although the modification was made in the period when the third of the four colours was being used, this was still quite early in the life of the model.  The colours, in sequence, are green, yellow, lemon and red (this one with Esso decals/transfers in 3 different forms).  Illustrated are the yellow model, always with the 'flat' chassis and the second lemon model with the later rounded support.

Have you noticed how, as time goes by, Lesneys introduce new more economical techniques?  The two examples of 11A, above, show this clearly as painting by 'dipping' is replaced by 'spraying'.

Go to ..... 1A  2A  2B  3A  4A  5A  6A  7A   8A  9A  10A  11A  12A  14A  15A  16A  17A  22A  23A  26A  27A  28A  36A  37A  37B  38A  39A  41A

12A, the first Land Rover , when first released had a small recess under the bonnet (hood) immediately behind the radiator (grille).  This can be seen in the model on the left of the picture.  In this instance, one guesses that the problem lay in releasing the model casting from its mould (mold).  The mould was altered to eliminate this recess quite early in the production run.

13A, the first Bedford Wreck Truck , is the first model without any variations!  So no picture.  13B, the second Wreck Truck, though superficially similar was made on a redesigned mould.  The quick way to distinguish these models is that second version models carry the number 13 under the roof of the cab.

14A, the first Daimler Ambulance, also has no casting variations.  All the models are supposed to have a red cross on the roof.  However, a few were found in a retail shop (by me, in Kitale in Kenya) without the cross - one or two had bits of cross, which had flaked off, in the box!  The cross can all too easily be removed with a finger nail and any offer of this as a 'variation' to-day has to be rejected!

15A, the Diamond T Prime Mover, has no casting variations.  However, this model is unique among the Matchbox 75s (if one excludes the 6C Euclid Dump Truck with its imitation wheels) in being fitted with different numbers of road wheels during 'normal' production.  The original model had metal wheels, as might be expected, but in 1958 when the first grey plastic wheels appeared, it would have been an obvious example on which to fit double rear wheels.  The picture shows both the metal and small grey plastic wheel versions.

16A, the Transporter Trailer, has its variations, too.

The two most obvious alterations are to be found inside the hinged tail ramp.  The sprues by which the ramp was attached to its mould were left at their full length in later production and the small ridge along the edge of the ramp is increased in size, probably to reduce the chance of its being deformed when being fitted to the main casting.  At the front end, underneath, the area close to the casting circle was strengthened in two stages - no illustration for this one.

17A, the first Bedford Removal Van, does look as if it gave Jack Odell a headache or two!  The design was based on the long-established Bedford 'O' type chassis.

The three models chosen for this set of pictures reflect the succession of infills above, behind and to one side of the cab.  The first picture shows the most obvious variation, the window (and lack of it) at the back of the cab.

The second Bedford Removal Van, 17B, is superficially similar to 17A but was made on a different mould.  It should be noted that while 17B normally showed 'No.17' under the cab roof, the very first releases of the new casting had no number.

Have you noticed how, as Jack Odell became more experienced, more business-oriented and less obsessed with producing an accurate, finely detailed model - he had, by now proved to himself and his market that he could do it - the variations get less interesting?  He has now been working on these 'miniatures' for at least three years (starting from the Coronation Coach).  Is Les Smith telling Jack to stop playing with his toys?  The presses have to be kept running!

The next models have no casting variations:  18A, the first Caterpillar Bulldozer, 19A, the MG Midget TD, 20A, the first ERF Heavy Lorry and 21A, the first Bedford Long Distance Coach.

22A , the first Vauxhall Cresta, has an unusual variation in that the baseplate comes with or without a brace across the front axle, as shown in the picture.

23A, the first Berkeley Caravan was first made without the extra supports against the axle cover, shown here.  23A is easily distinguished from 23B, in spite of the similar tooling - they do come from different moulds - by its lack of a number cast on the baseplate.

The moulds for 24A , the first Weatherill Hydraulic Excavator, and 25A, the Bedord Dunlop Van, were not changed during the lifeltime of the models.

26A, the ERF Ready-Mixed Concrete Truck, has an easily spotted variation (if you're looking for it).  In the early models, the barrel was attached by a simple rivet.  This was replaced by a substantial post which ran through to the back of the cab and gave the casting much greater strength.

27A, the first Bedford Low Loader, was the smallest scale Matchbox Toy made.

Very early in its life, two small triangular braces were added at the rear to support the wheel covers. But it's not that simple. The earliest recorded two-tone blue models have a tiny triangular brace next to the rear edge of the left wheel cover and no support on the right side. Soon, still on the short-lived blue model, a slightly larger brace was added next to the wheel cover on the right. Then came the colour change and, soon after, the left side brace was increased in size to match the one on the right. The illustration shows the first and third casting variations. The cab unit was modelled on the Bedford 'S' Type which formed the basis for the remaining Bedfords in the First Series.

28A, the Bedford Compressor Truck, was originally made with a space between the two tanks.  This space was later filled in.

The "Matchbox" line has now been running for four years - it is 1957 - and Lesney Products and Co. Ltd. is really up to speed.  So, while still beautifully crafted, the castings are becoming much more substantial and the experience of the design team means fewer problems to be sorted once the model is in full production.

36A, the Austin Cambridge A50, is the next model to mention.  The real car was pretty ugly and the Matchbox model fits in in that respect quite well!  It seems that the first releases showed that the roof needed some extra support and this was provided in the form of a bar which is clearly visible through the windscreen.

37A, the first Karrier Bantam Coca-Cola Truck.  One imagines that, when the model was released, someone in the factory commented on the amount of broken glass that would be left on the road if a driver moved off with the crates stacked like that!  So the 'odd' crates mould was altered to produce what we call the 'even' crates version.

The 37A was the last model to be made as a single casting before baseplates became the norm.  Within two years, a revised model, the 37B Coca-Cola Truck, externally very similar but with a black baseplate, made its appearance.  Some early lists coded the Coke Trucks as 37A, 37B, 37C.

Damage to the large side decal as it was being applied in the factory led to the appearance of a smaller version which stood clear of the bottle tops - both are to be found on both 37A models.  The first picture shows two examples of 37A together and a 37B (which always had the same side decal).  When the original large rear decal was applied to 37B it, too, often got damaged, this time by the tab of the baseplate, so that was reduced in size although the text size was not changed.  The second picture shows one example of 37A with the two different decals on 37B.

38A, the Karrier Refuse Truck comes with one major and two minor variations which are shown here on the three colours associated with the model, mud (we usually call it grey-brown), grey and silver.

During production of the grey model, the space between the cab and the body of the vehicle was filled in.  In addition, guide lines for affixing the transfers (decals) to the sides were added.  Towards the end of production and found only on the silver model, an external support was added at the rear of each side.  This may have had something to do with holding it all together after complaints that the rear panel kept falling off.

39A, the Ford Zodiac Convertible, has. in later models, a wide ridge introduced to strengthen the area at the base of the windscreen.

The first D Type Jaguar, 41A, saw no changes to its casting.  Follow this link for a picture alongside its big brother, 41B.

Finally ...  Did you know that some of the 'unnumbered' first series models did, actually, have their number on the model?  Take a look at Christian Falkensteiner's Matchbox Wheels pages.

 Go to ..... more Regular Wheels variations.

Go to ..... 1A  2A  2B  3A  4A  5A  6A  7A   8A  9A  10A  11A  12A  14A  15A  16A  17A  22A  23A  26A  27A  28A  36A  37A   37B  38A  39A  41A        Complete Index

Geoffrey Leake

Edited to 20 February 2005  (First edition June 2002)
Re-formatted Sep 2006 (More new material before long, I hope!)
 

E-mail:  lesneylink@dsl.pipex.com Go to other Matchbox Pages: Go to ... Matchbox Home Page Go to top of this page All original Matchbox material © G Leake 1970-2005

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