PLEASE NOTE: I will no longer be altering the variation codes. All new discoveries will be inserted in to their correct place in the timeline and given a suffix.
So a new variation that would be nearest to variation 4 would become the new 4a, etc.

Moko Lesney Matchbox 46b Guy Pickfords removal van

The Lesney model of the Guy "Pickfords" removals van was introduced into the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1960, It was painted blue with silver trim to the grille, front bumper and headlights and it was fitted with a black baseplate. To add to play value it was fitted with a cream or off white plastic roller shutter that could be raised to access the cargo area.
The model was enhanced by cream or off white decals that read "Pickfords", "removers & storers", "branches in all large towns".
The axles were always dome head with rounded ends and it can be found with a variety of grey or silver wheels.
Fairly early on the model was redesigned, the new type body had additional locker and fuel filler detail to the sides and a redesigned grille.
Later the model was recoloured to green and the green version can be found with grey, silver or black plastic wheels. Later the trim was reduced to grill & front bumper only and the final issue had a casting modification which added a rear bumper / step to the back end.

There were two promotional issues, The first of these was for Pickfords removers and storers which was founded in 1695 and is one of Englands oldest established companies, Their models were type two castings in dark blue with grey or silver wheels like the regular issue but were fitted with a new type of decal that had only two lines of text which read "Pickfords" and "removers and storers", These promotional models could only be purchased from a Pickfords shop or depot. The two line decal has also been seen on a green van but are most likely to be fake as decals can be switched between models.

The second promotional issue was for "Beales Bealesons" a furniture retailer on the south coast of England, This issue was also a type two casting with black plastic wheels but it was recoloured to brown and fitted with sunburst decals for "Beales Bealesons", These issues were probably not assembled by Lesney so were never silver trimmed. They were sold in Beales own white boxes with "it's a pleasure" labels. Reproduction Beales decals are available but so far they are distinguishable from the genuine decals by not naving a dot between the words "Beales" and "Bealesons"
The Pickfords van was packaged in 'B', 'C', 'D' and 'E' type boxes, The 'E' box is quite hard to find and it will fetch a premium. It was deleted in 1968 to make way for the 46c Mercedes 300SE.
Updated: 20-04-09, On a recent visit to the Huntingdon toyfair I found an unlisted 46b, A type 2 body casting painted green and without rear bumper and with 3 line decals but this one is fitted with 8x18 black plastic wheels which to my knowledge has not been listed before, It is quite an amazing find seeing as this model has been out of production for 41 years and this variation has only just been discovered.

above, the blue versions can have grey or silver plastic wheels

above: the green versions can have grey, silver or black plastic wheels

above: with 9.5 x 20 BPW & 10 x 36 BPW. Both of these are tough to find.

above: a close up of the 9.5 x 20 BPW & 10 x 36 BPW.

above: Latest discovery, a common type 2 casting in green with 3 line decals
and no rear bumper but fitted with unlisted 8x18 black plastic wheels,
could this be a new contender for the rarest 46b?.

above left: the two line decal was a Pickfords promotional issue that could only be bought at a Pickfords shop.

above: the two line decal on the green truck. this variation has caused
controversy among collectors because it is believed that as Pickfords
used a blue livery on their vehicles they would not have used a green
truck but as this promotional was fully assembled by Lesney so
crossover pieces like this are not impossible and after 40 odd years
the truth behind this model will never be known for certain.

above: left, the first casting. right the second casting

above: the final issue with rear bumper / step

above: the Beales Bealesons, a promotional issue for a UK south coast furniture shop, this issue
did not have silver trim, note the dot between the words Beales and Bealeson. reproduction
decals do not have the dot.

above: a recent discovey made by Lüder Schaefer is what we believe
to be an unofficial 1960's promotional for the haulage company of
Fermont of Frankfurt in Germany. Updated: 18-06-09, Lüder has
been in contact with Fermont who still have one staff member that
can remember the Fermont 46b being created in 1968, This was
the first of many promotionals that were produced by Fermont and
several examples of the 46b were known to have been made at the
time although it is not known exactly how many were made or how
many still exist today. Photo courtesy Lüder Schaefer.

code number	general	decal type	wheel type	casting type	silver trim
code 1	dark blue body	3 line "Pickfords"	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	casting #1	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 2	dark blue body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 20 grey plastic	casting #1	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 3	dark blue body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 20 silver plastic	casting #1	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 4	dark blue body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 20 grey plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 5	dark blue body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 20 silver plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 6	dark blue body	3 line "Pickfords"	9.5 x 20 silver plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 7	dark blue body	2 line "Pickfords" (promotional)	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 8	dark blue body	2 line "Pickfords" (promotional)	9 x 20 grey plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 9	dark blue body	2 line "Pickfords" (promotional)	9 x 20 silver plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 10	green body	2 line "Pickfords" (promotional)	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 11 NEW	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	8 x 18 black plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 12	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9.5 x 20 grey plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 13	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 20 grey plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 14	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 20 silver plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 15	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9.5 x 20 black plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 16	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 24 grey plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 17	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 24 silver plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 18	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	8.5 x 24 black plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 19	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 24 black plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper, headlights
code 20	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 36 black plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper
code 21	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	10 x 36 black plastic	casting #2	grille, front bumper
code 22	green body	3 line "Pickfords"	9 x 36 black plastic	casting #2 with bumper	grille, front bumper
code 23	brown body	"Beales Bealesons" (promotional)	9 x 36 black plastic	casting #2	no trim

box types	notes
B5	"new model"
C	"new model"
C	none
D1	one black side one blue
D2	one black side one blue
D2	two blue sides
D2	light blue sides
E3	light blue sides

values

casting 1, blue with 3 line "Pickfords" decals & grey wheels £80

casting 1, blue with 3 line "Pickfords" decals & silver wheels £200+

casting 2, blue with 2 line "Pickfords" decals & grey wheels £120 (promotional)

casting 2, blue with 2 line "Pickfords" decals & silver wheels £300+ (promotional)

casting 2, blue with 3 line "Pickfords" decals & grey wheels £50

casting 2, blue with 3 line "Pickfords" decals & silver wheels £100

casting 2, green with 3 line "Pickfords" decals & grey wheels £50

casting 2, green with 3 line "Pickfords" decals & silver wheels £50

casting 2, green with 3 line "Pickfords" decals & black wheels £30

casting 2, green, 3 line "Pickfords" decals, black wheels & rear bumper £120

casting 2, brown, "Beales Bealesons" decals & Beales Bealsons box £700 (promotional)

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

picture gallery