Tag: Lesney

Miniatures Box Type – F

Box type ‘F’ is the last of the ‘Regular Wheel’ boxes before the shift to ‘Superfast’ and was only used for two years 1969 & 1970.

All models in the range can be found in this style box with the exception of the following models :

20c : Chevrolet Taxi
30c : Faun Crane
35b : Snow Trac
69b : Hatra Tractor Shovel

The difference in the variations is on the placement of the word ‘Series’. It is worth noting that there are known to be many very minor variations of the ‘F’ style box that are not listed here.

In 1970 some of the ”Transitional” models were released in F2 style boxes that had the inclusion of the new ”Superfast” logo added to them

F1	F2	F3

”Series” position : Inside blue number box	”Series” position : Underneath the final two letters of ”Matchbox”	”Series” position : Underneath blue number box
F4

”Series” position : Underneath the final two letters of ”Matchbox” ”Superfast’ logo added

*Information with permission from the vintagebritishdiecast.co.uk website that was run by Nick Jones.

Tags Lesney, Matchbox

Miniatures

Box type ‘E’ can be found in use from 1964 onwards and with the similar model image as the type ‘D’ boxes. The major difference for this new type design was the position of the word ”Matchbox” it was now above the word ”Series” and not next to it as it was in the past.

The side tabs again were the point of difference between the variations on this box type.

E1	E2	E3

Released: 1964 End Flap: Model Name & Number Side Panels: Blue & Black ® Mark: No	Released: 1964 End Flap: Model Name, Number & Drawing Side Panels: Blue & Black ® Mark: No	Released: 1964 End Flap: Model Name, Number & Image Side Panels: Blue & Black ® Mark: No
E4	E5	E6

Released: 1964 End Flap: Model Name & Number Side Panels: Model Name, Number, Image & ”Matchbox” ® Mark: No	Released: 1964 End Flap: Model Name & Number Side Panels: Model Name, Number & Image ® Mark: Yes	Released: 1964 End Flap: Model Name & Number Side Panels: Model Name, Number, Image & ”Matchbox” ® Mark: Yes

*Information & images with permission from the vintagebritishdiecast.co.uk website that was run by Nick Jones.

Tags Lesney, Matchbox

Miniatures

Miniatures Box Type – D

For 5 years starting in 1962 each model in the range could be found in box type ‘D’. There are 2 main variations of this type with some subtle sub variations.

Each box now had an image of the model instead of the line drawing of previous issues

D1

Available From: 1962 End Flap Text: With Serifs Box Sides: 1 x Blue & 1 x Black
D2-A	D2-B	D2-C

Available From: 1963 End Flap Text: Without Serifs Box Sides: 1 x Blue & 1 x Black	Available From: 1965 End Flap Text: Without Serifs Box Sides: 2 x Blue	Available From: 1966 End Flap Text: Without Serifs Box Sides: 2 x Light Blue

*Information & images with permission from the vintagebritishdiecast.co.uk website that was run by Nick Jones.

Tags Lesney, Matchbox

Miniatures

Miniatures Box Type – C

In use from 1961, box type C still has the line drawing as seen on its predecessors but now that Lesney has bought out Moko, that brand name has been dropped from the box design.

The end flap was again plain blue with the model number in black text inside a white circle and the model name printed in white text.

Each model can be found in a ‘C’ type box with the following exceptions :

41b : Jaguar
47a : Trojan Van
59a : Singer Van
66a : Citroen
70a : Thames Estate
71a : Army Water Truck
73a : RAF Refueller

*Information & images with permission from the vintagebritishdiecast.co.uk website that was run by Nick Jones.

Tags Lesney, Matchbox

Miniatures

Miniatures Box Type – B

In use for 6 years from 1955 through to 1960 and having 5 different variations, this box type was used for all models.

The box still had a line drawing of the model contained within but this time the ”Moko” name was in the same bold font as the ”Lesney” name. The difference was in the end flap design; more specifically the text.

B1	B2	B3

End Flap: Plain Blue	End Flap: Black model number	End Flap: Black model number in White circle
B4	B5

End Flap: Black model number in White circle with Black model name on White panel	End Flap: Black model number in White circle with White model name

*Information & images with permission from the vintagebritishdiecast.co.uk website that was run by Nick Jones.

Tags Lesney, Matchbox, Moko

Miniatures

Miniatures Box Type – A

Produced from 1953 to 1954 this box contains a drawing of the contents on the front and is labelled ‘A Moko Lesney product’

More commonly known as the ”script box” this style was only used for the first 7 models (1 through 7a), the end flap was plain blue in colour with no other markings present.

It takes it name from the fact the the ”Moko” company name was printed in a script font as opposed to the Lesney company name which was plain text.

Tags Lesney, Matchbox, Moko

Miniatures

Minature Box Types

Boxes and box design form a large part of some peoples collection. The boxes like the vehicles themselves have undergone massive changes through the years.
The first boxes from 1953 were a simple drawing of the model contained in the box, by 1962 the drawing at been replaced by a more colourful and complex drawing of the model. The 1970’s saw the introduction of the ‘Superfast’ branding and a lot more colour.
1983 with the takeover by Universal saw the cost cutting measures take place and for the first time a generic box was used instead of the more traditional individual boxes. Because the boxes were now generic, they had a clear perspex window placed in the box to allow the customer to see the contents. These generics boxes also underwent changes through the years in colour and design until their eventual demise and replacement in 2004 with blister packaging now used as the standard.

Although the miniatures have traditionally always been sold in boxes, in more recent years the boxes were dropped in favour of the blister pack but there has now been a nostalgic return to issuing boxes although mostly still contained in a plastic blister.

Below is a list of the various packaging box types released over the years.