See also
CONCISE CHECKLIST OF ENGLAND, HONG KONG AND MACAU MODELS 1983-1991

A Concise Catalogue of 75 Series Matchbox Toys by Lesney by Geoffrey Leake began as a personal list of the models I found when teaching in Kenya in the early 1970s.  The list sent to me by Lesney Products in London was very interesting but didn't quite fit!

The first 'collector's' list had been published as a small booklet by a certain Alan Ladd in America in about 1967.  I soon joined the growing band of collectors worldwide who were hunting for the models and their variations and sharing their discoveries through one of two collectors' clubs in the USA.  My choice was American-International Matchbox (AIM) run by Harold Colpitts.  We all have our own ideas and I put together the list in a form that suited me.  It grew and grew ...  I remark that the numbering system now used universally (except that UK lists tended to use the suffices A,B,C, ... while in the USA it was originally -1,-2,-3, ...), which first appeared in print in the 2nd edition AIM Regular Wheels Catalogue in 1976, may be attributed to myself up to #36 - models #37 onwards had not been 'updated' when Harold had to rush out his catalogue to beat the competition!  Someone had to produce a clear definition of what was a different model and what was just a variation.  That wasn't as easy as some might think to-day!  It wasn't a Lesney decision - they just made the toys!  But collecting was fun (and harmless, though it soon became big business!).

1979

The sources for my own 1st edition in 1979 were anything and everything that anyone had published put together in a way that I found helpful and which, therefore, I felt would suit others.  Variations were listed to what seemed to be a 'sensible' degree of detail.  Complete lists of Japanese models and special US releases were included, as was a serious attempt at matching colour descriptions.  'Hearsay' models and supposed 'Friday afternoon fakes' were remarked on in an appendix (a few tricky judgements here - perhaps there were mistakes, but we will never know for sure!).

1981

It will be clear from what I have said that it was only as the 'Regular' wheel models were being phased out in 1969 that the first serious attempt at cataloguing was begun by collectors.  We could only list what we had in our hands!  Some especially scarce colour variations might be described as 'pre-production' or 'trial' models, but it was very hard to say, 10 or 20 years after the event, how this sort of thing should be classified when a handful might or might not have been packed in with the first deliveries.  As far as the Superfast were concerned, it was possible to build a better list, day by day, as new models and variations emerged.  There were still problems, but cross-overs could now be recorded when found in the shops by the collectors of the day.  As time went on, a new generation of good catalogues appeared and most acknowledged my own as one of their key sources.

1992

This code 3 MB-38 Ford Van was offered to those who bought copies of the 3rd Edition in 1992.

September 2004

For full details, please click on the pictures above

Also ....

The Concise Catalogue covers all the 75 series and some others made by Lesney Products and Co. Ltd. or which carried the Lesney name (a few as late as 1986).

My Concise Checklist of Matchbox Miniatures 1983-1989, with supplement for 1989-1991, is an A4 document of 32 (+5) pages covering all the Miniatures and Convoys made around the world up to the time production stopped in Macau.  It does not extend to models made in China or Thailand.  The models are listed in order of Collector Codes (Manuafacturer's numbers) and each colour variation is listed separately with as many details (dates, logos, etc.) as will fit on one line!  It is fully cross-referenced and many interesting observations on the numbering of these models are included.  Copies are still available .  The price is £5 (5 GBP), post free in UK.  Elsewhere, e-mail me for postage cost.

I also produced a complete list of the Collector Codes (MAN #s) of the Miniatures for the period 1983 to 1998.  This is on line - please go to the Miniatures page (link below).  I can also send a printable copy by e-mail - details on the Minatures page.

A few sets of the eight issues of the magazine Lesney Link produced between 1985 and 1987 are also still on offer.

Minor revisions 3 January 2005
Re-formatted Sep 2006

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