The Matchbox Models from the Pre-1969 era
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A Numerical Photoguide to the Early (Pre-1969) Matchbox
Numbers 6 through 10
These cars originate from about 1953 and go into the 1970's.
(Remember to click on a picture to see a larger, detailed version!) There are several casting and color variants that are not shown here for each model.
Matchbox #6
First up on this page is the #6A Quarry Truck issued in 1954 until 1956. Note the gold-trimmed grill, the knobby metal wheels, and crimped axles. Then in 1956 came the #6B Quarry Truck. This box would have been issued late in this period as The Lesney Products Co. broke away from the MOKO distributorship agreement and marketed there own toys, leaving out the "MOKO" in the flag portion on the box. This would become known as the "type C" box.
In 1964, Matchbox introduced the #6C Euclid Quarry Truck. This was another favorite of mine as a child. Note this model was equipped with a "hydraulic sleeve" to support the tipper bed while using it. The bed would stay tipped up! Missing from my collection is the #6D Ford pickup in red. A casting based on this same model later would be the #50 Kennel Truck in green.
Matchbox #7
This is a #7B Ford Anglia restored by a collector in New Zealand. I purchased it on eBay with the intention of having a model that I could show as a "restored" car. This particular model is very easy to spot, and I will be detailing this in an upcoming article that should be available soon.
This is the #7C Ford Refuse Truck issued in 1966 until 1969. The "F" type box details the action of the tipping mechanism.
Matchbox #8
On the left is a #8A1 Caterpillar Tractor from 1955 in my friend David Sadler's collection. There are four engine casting variations of this model and all have crimped axles. On the right is my #8B1 Caterpillar Tractor which is only 1 5/8" long.
This is the perennial favorite of collectors: the #8E Ford Mustang Fastback. Widely available in white, but quite a bit rarer (and expensive!) in the orange-red body color. This model had a manual steering knob which allowed the front wheels to steer in the direction the child wanted. Here it is pictured with the "E" type box.
Matchbox #9
The left-hand picture is the #9B Dennis Fire Escape, an early mechanized fire engine. It was made in 1957 and 1958. On the right is a copy of the Dennis Fire Escape made in Japan. (See the little "Japan" on the side?) Note the metal wheels and the crimped axles. It is about 90% the size of the original.
This is an example of the #9C Merryweather Marquis Fire Engine pictured with a "D" type box. Variations exist with tan, gold, and silver highlights, and even the number of rungs on the ladder can vary: either 17 or 18!
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Here we have a picture of the #9D, 1 & 2 variants.
Matchbox #10
The number 10A and 10B Mechanical Horse and Trailer seemed rather fantastic to this American boy...A three-wheeled truck!! I believed it because my parents were in Germany in 1956 and 1957 and I was amazed to see a three-wheeled dump truck in their photos from when they were there, just like the tractor of this model. Anybody got a good picture of the Tate & Lyle Sugar Container Truck to provide?
This is the #10D Leyland Pipe Truck. This particular model is one of the few models I consider to be C10 Mint-in-Box in any collection. A truly crisp, un-damaged box. It has the original 7 pipes still attached to the sprue and the original rubber band holding the pipes onto the truck! On the right, my daughter's hands hold two of my #10D's to demonstrate two versions of the baseplate: One says, "Leyland No. 10", and the other, "Ergomatic Cab".
Stay tuned for more updates as they are posted!
© 2000 By Mark Curtis