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 62b Commer TV service van

The Lesney model of the cream coloured Commer TV service van joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1963,
It was originally fitted with red "Rentaset" decals which were later changed to the less common green "Radio Rentals" decals,
The opening rear shutter door was molded in off white plastic and a green tinted plastic skylight & window unit was fitted,
It came with three TV sets a ladder and a TV aerial which were all molded in red plastic.
The roof had a hole for the aerial to fit which was cast proud with a raised ring on early issues and cast flat on later variants.
The ladder would fit snugly to the two tags molded into the roof and these tags can be either 2.5mm or 2mm high on the later issues.

It was usually fitted with knobbly or fine tread black plastic wheels but grey wheels can also be found and the axles were always domed head with rounded ends.
The early issues had a black "snap fit" baseplate that was attached by two tongues one at the front and one at the rear.
Later issues had the front tongue removed and a round rivet was used to attach the front end but examples have been found with the baseplate attached to the model by the two tongues but with an unused rivet hole in the base as well.
Looking inside the rear roller shutter you can see that later issues had two vertical strengthening struts added.

Although being this model was based on the same vehicle as used on the 47b ice cream van it is in fact a completely new casting.
The TV van is a fairly common piece with three exceptions, The rentaset issue with knobbly tread grey wheeled versions is quite rare. The rentaset issue with fine tread grey plastic wheeled version being rarer still, The rarest variation which is seldom seen would be the radio rentals version with fine tread grey plastic wheels. all three variations fetch a premium. It was in production until 1968 when it was replaced by the Mercury Cougar. It was packaged in box types 'D' and 'E'.

Updated: 22-01-10, Patrick Flawhinney from Belgium recently discovered a Rentaset decalled, 11x45 BPW with 2.5mm ladder rests and a rivetted baseplate but this one has no interior struts, It has been listed as the new code 8.

"rentaset"

"radio rentals" (with wrong box)

code number	decal type	wheel type	ladder rests	base type	interior struts
code 1	rentaset decal	9.5 x 20 black plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	2 tongue base	no interior struts
code 2	rentaset decal	10 x 24 grey plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	2 tongue base	no interior struts
code 3	rentaset decal	10 x 24 black plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	2 tongue base	no interior struts
code 4	rentaset decal	9 x 24 black plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	2 tongue base	no interior struts
code 5	rentaset decal	10 x 36 black plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	2 tongue base	no interior struts
code 6	rentaset decal	11 x 45 black plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	2 tongue base	no interior struts
code 7	rentaset decal	11 x 45 black plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	2 tongue base & rivet hole	no interior struts
code 8 NEW	rentaset decal	11 x 45 black plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	tongue & rivet base	no interior struts
code 9	rentaset decal	11 x 45 black plastic	2.5mm ladder rests	tongue & rivet base	interior struts
code 10	rentaset decal	11 x 45 black plastic	2mm ladder rests	tongue & rivet base	interior struts
code 11	rentaset decal	11 x 45 grey plastic	2mm ladder rests	tongue & rivet base	interior struts
code 12	rentaset decal	11.5 x 45 grey plastic	2mm ladder rests	tongue & rivet base	interior struts
code 13	radio rentals decal	11 x 45 black plastic	2mm ladder rests	tongue & rivet base	interior struts
code 14	radio rentals decal	11 x 45 grey plastic	2mm ladder rests	tongue & rivet base	interior struts

box types	notes
D2	one black side one blue, "new model"
D2	one black side one blue
D2	two blue sides
D2	light blue sides,
E3	"Rentaset"
E4	"Rentaset"
E4	"Radio Rentals"

values

rentaset decals, black plastic wheels £35

rentaset decals, knobbly grey plastic wheels £170

rentaset decals, fine tread grey plastic wheels £300

radio rentals decals, fine tread grey plastic wheels £500+

radio rentals decals, black plastic wheels £45

values are for mint models in mint boxes

price guide gallery

box gallery

picture gallery