Lesney Matchbox 16a transporter trailer

Moko Lesney Matchbox 16a transporter trailer

The Lesney model of the transporter trailer joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1955,
It was made specifically to be towed by the previous model the 15a Diamond T prime mover and being based on the earlier Lesney 1950 large scale prime mover set the 18a Caterpillar bulldozer would have been it's load.

The Diamond T was an ex military vehicle and in reality the trailer was probably a tank transporter.
The trailer was always painted light brown or a slightly darker shade of brown on the later issues,
It had six grey metal wheels on flat head axles with crimped ends except for the final issue which had dome head axles with crimped ends,
A brown painted metal wire towbar was attached to the front and there was a die cast flip down loading ramp at the rear which being very delicate is quite often missing,

There were casting modifications made to the ejector post just forwards of the front axle,
At first it was a plain ejector post, The first modification was to fill out the post where it joined to the forward brace, Later a raised collar was cast around the ejector post,
The ramp also had two modifications, The first was to thicken the center section of the ramp, Later two ejector posts were cast into the ramp.
It is not difficult to find and although the earlier castings are scarce there are no rare variations,
It was packaged in 'B' type boxes and in 1960 it was replaced by the larger eight wheeled 16b super atlantic trailer.

code number	general	wheels & axles	trailer ramp	ejector post
code 1	light brown body & tow bar	7 x 18 grey metal wheels. flat head crimped axles	thin center, no posts	plain ejector post
code 2	light brown body & tow bar	7 x 18 grey metal wheels. flat head crimped axles	thickened center, no posts	with build up to the front
code 3	light brown body & tow bar	7 x 18 grey metal wheels. flat head crimped axles	thickened center, no posts	with build up & collar
code 4	light brown body & tow bar	7 x 18 grey metal wheels. flat head crimped axles	thickened center, with posts	with build up & collar
code 5	light brown body & tow bar	7 x 18 grey metal wheels. dome head crimped axles	thickened center, with posts	with build up & collar
code 6	darker brown body & tow bar	7 x 18 grey metal wheels. flat head crimped axles	thickened center, with posts	with build up & collar
code 7	darker brown body & tow bar	7 x 18 grey metal wheels. domed head crimped axles	thickened center, with posts	with build up & collar

box types	notes
B1	small box
B1	larger box, blurred picture
B1	larger box, sharp picture
B2	dark tow bar
B2	light tow bar
B3	none

values

all models £35

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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