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lesney matchbox 30b Magirus Deutz crane truck

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Moko Lesney Matchbox 30b Magirus Deutz crane truck



Lesney introduced the German built 30b Magirus Deutz crane truck in 1961, It appeared at the number 30b position of the Matchbox 1-75 series replacing the earlier number 30a Ford Prefect.
The first version was painted light brown with a red crane jib and hook and grey plastic wheels on dome head axles with rounded ends. This and the following issue which was the same but with an orange painted jib and hook are presumed to be pre production models are exceptionally rare and don't come up for sale very often.
All of the following issues had a silver painted body with an orange crane jib which could have either an orange or silver metal hook or on the last few runs with a grey plastic hook, On the early versions the hook was attached by a biff rivet but later this was replaced by a shortened regular dome head type axle pin.
The model went through knobbly tread grey, silver and black plastic wheels and the last run had wheels of fine tread black plastic.

There were many casting variations which add to at least 27 variations with the possibility that more may exist that will need adding when they come to light,
Firstly the body has a strap on the left hand side fuel tank, Later the strap was covered by an ejector ring and later still a brace was added to the rear end under the crane turntable.
The jib originally had an open end but this was later cast closed, The jib center had an open rear end but this was cast closed and the covering panel stood proud of the jib and it had a thick brace to the inside, Later the covering panel was recessed into the jib and the brace was reduced in size.
Four types of hook can be found on this model, 20mm metal with thin cables in silver or orange, 20mm metal with thick cables in silver or orange, 18mm metal in silver or 20mm grey plastic.
Lastly the baseplate which was smooth on the early issues had the front axle recessed slightly which left it with two ridges running across the baseplate.
The two issues with light brown body are among the rarest of all 1-75's, the silver bodied versions with orange jib are all fairly common. The model was packaged in 'C' and 'D' type boxes, It was replaced by the 30c 8 wheeled crane in 1965.

Updated: 25-11-10, George Marshall and Hardy Ristau have both informed me of a darker orange jib which can be found on the last of the Magirus Deutz which were fitted with the grey plastic hook and type 4 jib. This variation has been added at numbers 26, 28 and 30.


The type 4 darker orange jib and the type 4 standard orange jib.
photo courtesy George Marshall

above: early issue without rear brace and later issue with rear brace.

above: open (type 1,2 & 3) & closed (type 4) jib ends

above: three hook types, silver
metal, grey plastic & orange metal

body type tank strap rear brace
body 1 over ejector ring no rear brace
body 2 under ejector ring no rear brace
body 3 under ejector ring with rear brace

crane jib type jib end jib center
jib 1 open end open center
jib 2 closed end open center
jib 3 closed end cast closed with proud center and thick brace
jib 4 closed end cast closed with recessed center and very thin brace

code number general wheel type baseplate body type crane jib type hook pin hook type
code 1 brown body, red jib, black base 9 x 20 grey plastic no ridges body 1 jib 1 biff rivet thin, red metal 20mm
code 2 brown body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 grey plastic no ridges body 1 jib 1 biff rivet thin, orange metal 20mm
code 3 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 grey plastic no ridges body 1 jib 1 biff rivet thin, silver metal 20mm
code 4 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 grey plastic no ridges body 1 jib 1 biff rivet thin, orange metal 20mm
code 5 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 silver plastic no ridges body 1 jib 1 biff rivet thin, orange metal 20mm
code 6 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 silver plastic no ridges body 1 jib 1 biff rivet thin, silver metal 20mm
code 7 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 silver plastic no ridges body 1 jib 1 biff rivet thick, silver metal 20mm
code 8 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 silver plastic no ridges body 2 jib 1 dome head thick, silver metal 20mm
code 9 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 silver plastic no ridges body 2 jib 2 dome head thick, silver metal 20mm
code 10 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 silver plastic no ridges body 1 jib 1 dome head thick, silver metal 20mm
code 11 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 silver plastic no ridges body 2 jib 1 dome head thick, silver metal 20mm
code 12 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 silver plastic no ridges body 2 jib 1 dome head thick, silver metal 18mm
code 13 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 2 jib 2 dome head thick, silver metal 20mm
code 14 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 20 black plastic no ridges body 2 jib 1 dome head thick, silver metal 18mm
code 15 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 2 jib 1 dome head thick, silver metal 18mm
code 16 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 2 jib 2 dome head thick, silver metal 18mm
code 17 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 2 jib 2 dome head silver metal 20mm
code 18 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 2 jib 3 dome head thick, silver metal 20mm
code 19 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 2 jib 3 dome head thick, silver metal 18mm
code 20 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 2 jib 3 dome head silver metal 20mm
code 21 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 3 jib 3 dome head thick, silver metal 20mm
code 22 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 3 jib 3 dome head thick, silver metal 18mm
code 23 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic no ridges body 3 jib 3 dome head silver metal 20mm
code 24 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic with ridges body 3 jib 3 dome head grey plastic
code 25 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic with ridges body 3 jib 4 dome head grey plastic
code 26 NEW silver body, dark orange jib, black base 9 x 24 black plastic with ridges body 3 jib 4 dome head grey plastic
code 27 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 24 grey plastic with ridges body 3 jib 4 dome head grey plastic
code 28 NEW silver body, dark orange jib, black base 9 x 24 grey plastic with ridges body 3 jib 4 dome head grey plastic
code 29 silver body, orange jib, black base 9 x 36 black plastic with ridges body 3 jib 4 dome head grey plastic
code 30 NEW silver body, dark orange jib, black base 9 x 36 black plastic with ridges body 3 jib 4 dome head grey plastic

box types notes
C "new model"
C no "new model"
D1 one black side one blue
D2 one black side one blue
D2 two blue sides

values

brown body, red jib, grey wheels £3500+

brown body, orange jib, grey wheels £3500+

silver body, orange jib, silver wheels £30

silver body, orange jib, grey wheels £35

silver body, orange jib, black wheels £25

values are for mint models in mint boxes
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