28b Ford Thames Trader Compressor Truck

Moko Lesney Matchbox 28b Ford Thames Trader compressor Truck

The Lesney 28b Ford Thames trader compressor truck joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1959 replacing the smaller 28a Bedford compressor.
It was painted in just the one colour scheme which was yellow with silver trim applied to the headlights, Grille, Front bumper and to the compressor radiator grille at the rear.
On later issues the silver trim could be omitted from the compressor radiator grille.
It usually had black or very rarely grey plastic wheels on dome head axles,
The early issues had crimped axle ends and the later ones had rounded ends,
The baseplate is painted black and is held on by a spread rivet at the back and a round one at the front.

There were a few casting modifications,
The first was the addition of a strengthening web to the front rivet post that is just viewable under the front wheel arch, The web joined the front of the rivet post to the inside of the radiator grille,
The other modifications were to the compressor engine,
The first was the filling in of the area between the engine and the radiator, The second variation to the compressor engine was from wear rather than a deliberate modification where the area above the rear of the engine and the engine cover flashed over due to wearing of the dies,

Although it is not a common model it is nearly always found with black wheels, The grey wheeled version being an extremely rare variation and it is another piece that always seems to come to auction in a mint and boxed condition which makes you wonder if some of the rarer models went straight from the factory into collections.
It was sold in three box types, 'B' 'C' and 'D'.
It was deleted in 1964 to make way for the 28c mark 10 Jaguar.

Above: it originally came with an open area berween the engine and radiator

Above: first the area between engine and radiatior was filled
then soon afterwards the area above the engine flashed over.

Above: The brace pictured in the left hand side photo is a recent discovery.
It is not known what variations have the brace but it has been seen on
Thameses with 10x24 and 11x45 wheels.
photo courtesy George Marshall

code	general	wheels	axles	rivet web	compressor engine
code 1	yellow, silver trim, black base	10 x 24 black plastic	domed crimped	no rivet web	no infill
code 2	yellow, silver trim, black base	10 x 24 black plastic	domed rounded	no rivet web	no infill
code 3	yellow, silver trim, black base	10 x 24 grey plastic	domed rounded	no rivet web	no infill
code 4	yellow, silver trim, black base	10 x 24 black plastic	domed rounded	with rivet web	no infill
code 5	yellow, silver trim, black base	10 x 24 black plastic	domed rounded	with rivet web	engine to radiator gap filled
code 6	yellow, silver trim, black base	10 x 24 black plastic	domed rounded	with rivet web	engine to radiator gap filled + flashing above engine
code 7	yellow, silver trim, black base	10 x 36 black plastic	domed rounded	with rivet web	engine to radiator gap filled + flashing above engine
code 8	yellow, silver trim, black base	11 x 45 black plastic	domed rounded	with rivet web	engine to radiator gap filled + flashing above engine
code 9	yellow, silver trim, black base	11.5 x 45 black plastic	domed rounded	with rivet web	engine to radiator gap filled + flashing above engine

box types	notes
B3	28a shown
B4	28a shown
B4	28b shown
B5	28a shown
B5	28b shown
C	28a shown
C	28b shown
D1	one black side one blue
D2	one black side one blue

values

with 10 x 24 black wheels £50

10 x 36 or 10 x 45 black plastic wheels £70

10 x 24 grey plastic wheels £2500+

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery