as new old or reproduction

[artherfonz]

Hi Radar,
Appears to be a mix of have and haven't for the caterpillar licensing on my #08 & 18 boxes

cheers steven

[brainstrust]

Never thought to look at boxes through a "loop". Is it safe to stay the word Matchbox on original boxes has sharp edges while on fakes it's very jagged/pixelated?

[numi]

Glad that the outcome was good Steven.We have a great team of surgeons on this forum so have no apprehension if any uncertainties arise.
Enjoy your great buys!
numi

[radar]

Hi Radar,
Appears to be a mix of have and haven't for the caterpillar licensing on my #08 & 18 boxes

cheers steven

Nice collection - I learnt something new bout the Caterpillar licensing agreement. I am working in Indonesia where it is TRAKINDO - Indo for Caterpillar. Last time I swept thru airport duty free seems CAT now have a range of watches and pens in the Swiss Army style.

[Ewan]

The '40 years' book mentions the Caterpillar licensing appearing on the models from 8b onwards, and on 'some' boxes. I wonder why some and not others? Even if it only applied in certain countries surely it would be simpler and cheaper to print it on all the boxes? Is there a timeline or does it appear randomly?

[nickjones]

My guess is the licensing details were printed on the boxes supplied by Bowater Scott but not on those printed by Pembroke Abbey.
Could you check the trade marks printed on the end flaps, one type should have a bow and arrow trademark and the other a castle trademark.

[artherfonz]

Hi all,
only one of my #8 & 18 boxes has a trade mark on the end tab, the #18 d series box. A quick check of some of my other boxes indicated that trade marks were uncommon on the A,B, series boxes as I only found one in about thirty with the castle logo, yet most of the D series boxes I looked at had one or the other box trade marks, I have very few C boxes, the one I did have easy access to had the castle box trade mark. I assume the Small # on the tab has something to do with printing lot's as they do not match the model #'s on the one's I've looked at

cheers steven

[Taniwha]

I have B2 boxes with and without the text on the end-flap - the one with came with a late 8a model, the one without has a different illustration and came with 8b. I have C box for 8c without, but one endflap is missing... for number 18, I only have B1 box for 18a, without the text. All my type D boxes for both 8 and 18 have the text.

Cheers,
Gavin

[yellowfoden]

My guess is the licensing details were printed on the boxes supplied by Bowater Scott but not on those printed by Pembroke Abbey.
Could you check the trade marks printed on the end flaps, one type should have a bow and arrow trademark and the other a castle trademark.

Hello Nick and artherfonz,
Sometimes the bow and arrow trademark was actually printed on the side glue flap of the box so not possible to see. I have one example (26b) where the glue must have been a little light on so is easy to see. Though not sure Steven is ready to check his number 18 in that way .

In an example of an new unfolded 18 Caterpillar box like Steven has there is no printer trademark anywhere on the box but it does have the license detail on the end flap.

[artherfonz]

Hi Gavin,
not something I would contemplate , I would enjoy seeing a photo of your unfolded box though.
cheers steven