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Lesney Matchbox Major pack M5 Massey Ferguson 780 Combine Harvester |
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The Lesney M5 Massey Ferguson 780 combine harvester joined the range in mid 1959. The model was painted red all over including the baseplate, It had a seperately cast brown painted driver and the harvesting tines were yellow, It was enhanced with black & white "Massey Ferguson" and white "780 special" decals to the sides and a black & white "MF" decal to the rear. The steering wheel was originally red painted metal which was later changed to silver painted metal and finally it was replaced by a yellow plastic steering wheel. The wheels were silver plastic hubs with black plastic tyres on the front and black plastic wheels at the rear, they were later changed to orange hubs on the front with black plastic wheels at the rear, then to yellow plastic hubs with black rear wheels and finally yellow hubs front and rear with black plastic tyres. Orange hubs front and rear has been listed but I have not seen that variation yet and one that recently came to light has silver plastic hubs with grey tyres and grey plastic wheels at the rear (pic below). There were several casting modifications, The rear axle had strengthening webs added and the rear crossmember was thickened, The triangular brace on the front axle was strengthened, the floor in the area of the rear rivet was strengthened and the steering column and drivers seat platform were also altered, The front sprocket wheel on the right side of the body was altered to a plain circle which may actually be an ejecor ring. The Harvester was a very popular toy in its day meaning it is no too hard to find but there are an awful lot of variations to look for, The model with yellow hubs front and rear is probably the rarest with the yellow front hubs and black plastic rear wheels not far behind, The orange hubbed version is more common and the silver hubbed version being the most common. The issue with grey tyres & rear wheels is possibly a pre production issue. It was packaged in a 'B', 'C' or 'D' type box and after a seven year production run it was deleted in 1966. |
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The scarce variation with orange hubs front & rear. photograph courtesy John Watkins. |
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Showing the three types of base modifications, The earliest is on the left. photograph courtesy AMSCZ from the forum. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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collectable toy specialists. |
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