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Lesney Matchbox 15c Tippax refuse truck

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Moko Lesney Matchbox 15c Tippax refuse truck



In 1963 Lesneys new model of the Dennis Tippax refuse collector joined the Matchbox 1-75 series taking the number 15 spot from the Rotinoff super Atlantic tractor.
The Dennis was always painted dark blue with a mid grey refuse container and it was enhanced by red decals for "Cleansing Service" applied to the sides of the container. The decals originally had an angled cut at one end and a rounded end at the other so the decal fitted neatly into the container body but later decals with square cut ends were used and the final issue had square cut labels.
Silver trim was mask sprayed to the grille & headlights but this was ommitted after the first five issues.
The wheels were always black plastic and can be found in 10 x 24, 11 x 45 or 10 x 36 on dome head axles with rounded ends.
For added play value the container body could be tipped to be emptied and the rear door could be raised, The door was hinged to the container by a regular axle pin which was painted grey as it was fitted before painting, the container hinge was also an axle pin and is unpainted as it was fitted after the components were assembled, A black plastic "hydrosleve" was fixed between the rear mudguards into which a curved rod cast into the bottom of the container would locate into to hold the container in the raised position.
The container body was modified very early on when a vent hole was cast into the end of the container to assist the removal of the casting from the dies, the early issues without the vent (or peep) hole are quite hard to find.
Later the container door hinge arms were thickened.
The chassis was also modified, Firstly when the tipper rests were lengthened followed by a wide crossmember being cast in between the chassis rails. Some time later it was altered again where the chassis was originally just 1mm thick at the attachment to the rear mudguards was then thickened to 1.75mm.
The first version without the vent hole and 10 x 24 wheels is quite hard to find and the 10 x 24 without the hole is almost as tough, The later issues are all fairly common except for the 11 x 45 without the container vent hole as so far only one is known to exist but I have included it in the listing as it is not a variation that would always get noticed so maybe more will come to light.
One pre production model is known to exist as a code 1 with the body painted in the same shade of light blue as the 3a cement mixer.
The Tippax was packaged in box types 'D' and 'E', It was replaced by the VW 1500 saloon in late 1968

above: code 1 and 2, photograph courtesy George T Marshall

above: early decal with 1 angled and 1 rounded
end & later decal with square cut ends.

above: the vent hole and with & without silver trim.

above: thick and thin container door hinge arms.

above: thin and thick chassis rails and with & without chassis crossmember

above: early short and later long tipper rests.

chassis code width crossmember tipper rests
chassis 1 1mm wide none short
chassis 2 1mm wide none long
chassis 3 1mm wide with long
chassis 4 1.75mm wide with long

code number general wheel type decal / label chassis type container type trim
code 1 blue body, grey container 10 x 24 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 1 without vent, thin hinges with trim
code 2 blue body, grey container 11 x 45 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 1 without vent, thin hinges with trim
code 3 blue body, grey container 10 x 24 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 1 with vent, thin hinges with trim
code 4 blue body, grey container 11 x 45 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 1 with vent, thin hinges with trim
code 5 blue body, grey container 11 x 45 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 2 with vent, thin hinges with trim
code 6 blue body, grey container 11 x 45 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 1 with vent, thin hinges no trim
code 7 blue body, grey container 11 x 45 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 3 with vent, thin hinges no trim
code 8 blue body, grey container 10 x 36 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 3 with vent, thin hinges no trim
code 9 blue body, grey container 10 x 36 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 3 with vent, thick hinges no trim
code 10 blue body, grey container 10 x 36 black plastic decal, angled ends chassis 4 with vent, thick hinges no trim
code 11 blue body, grey container 11 x 45 black plastic decal, squared ends chassis 3 with vent, thin hinges no trim
code 12 blue body, grey container 10 x 36 black plastic decal, squared ends chassis 4 with vent, thick hinges no trim
code 13 blue body, grey container 10 x 36 black plastic label, squared ends chassis 4 with vent, thick hinges no trim

box types notes
D2 one black side one blue, no decal
D2 one black side one blue
D2 two blue sides
D2 light blue sides
E3 "Refuse truck"
E4 "Dennis Refuse truck"

values

with 10 x 24 black plastic wheels, no vent hole in container £120

with 11 x 45 black plastic wheels, no vent hole in container £500+ (estimate)

with 10 x 24 black plastic wheels with vent hole in container £70

black plastic wheels with vent hole in container £30

values are for mint models in mint boxes
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