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Two Matchbox Carry Cases were issued concurrently in 1971, accommodating 24 and 48 models each. A thin dark blue layer of vinyl covers the rigid Cases, which have pictures of oncoming Superfast cars and the familiar “Matchbox” logo in double quotes. The 24-car version (left) has a yellow handle, really a strip of plastic, which is wedged securely into the Case’s front flap. On this flap is a stud button which snaps the Case shut. The 48-car version (right) has a more conventional handle, flexible but strong, also made of yellow plastic (US issue has a different shape). A latch and clasp mechanism ‘locks’ the Case’s lid shut, preventing a fully-loaded one from opening in transit.



Both Carry Cases have sets of identical plastic trays, precisely moulded to fit every model from the 1-75 Superfast range. The 24-car Case has two of these trays, each holding 12 models, and the 48-car Case has four of them. A light blue plastic lining on the inside completes the product, which is sturdy, functional and visually striking.






A word of caution about these Carry Cases - when models are shut in them and stored for a long time, due to confined air, the outgassing from the plastic materials can have a damaging effect on their paintwork. This usually manifests itself as increased tackiness, and in worst cases bubbling of paint. Therefore, it is recommended that they be ‘ventilated’ at least once every two weeks. Also, the clear covering over the pictures tends to ripple over time (to varying degrees). This is a natural process and can be mitigated by keeping the Case in a cool, dry place, away from sources of strong light and high temperatures.

The stiff box structure holds up well, but to prolong its longevity, it’s best not to put any stress on it. I only open/close my Carry Cases when necessary, as it doesn’t take much for the vinyl covering to split at the hinge. If kept in the right conditions, there’s no reason why a Carry Case shouldn’t maintain its quality and appearance for the next 40+ years. What more can I say? These landmark products embody a period in Lesney history where a spirit of innovation looked forward to the young decade, the “Super 70s” to come, with some unusual, and at times “far out” results!

Cheers, Ken

One bit you forgot to mention is when the handle breaks off and the metal clasp turns rusty and the case is not fit for display don't throw it out, The picture is just a printed sheet so cut the vinyl case open and remove the illustration and frame it, I have seen several that have been removed and framed and they look great.

nickjones wrote:One bit you forgot to mention is when the handle breaks off and the metal clasp turns rusty and the case is not fit for display don't throw it out, The picture is just a printed sheet so cut the vinyl case open and remove the illustration and frame it, I have seen several that have been removed and framed and they look great.

Yeah, good point, Nick. I've seen some really battered, neglected specimens that are way beyond rescue. I don't think these Cases were heavily 'played with' by kids the way the cars were, but probably degraded over time and were handled carelessly by whoever inherited them. About the rusty clasp, I find that even near-pristine Cases suffer from this problem. Is there some kind of anti-corrosion coating that can be applied to stop it from getting worse?

I've actually done a poster sized rendition of the 24-car Case in which I've 'edited out' the lettering (my avatar has a portion of this). You're right, they make fantastic images on their own. I've got another similar image that says "Matchbox - Action" featuring the 'Road' and 'Rat Rod' Dragsters, together with the Beach Buggy. The same artist is responsible for these as well... I wonder who he/she was? There's such little surviving testimony to the creative geniuses at Lesney. Many thanks for your feedback and contribution, Nick!

Cheers, Ken

I was in touch with an artist who drew many of the early superfast illustrations who was now living in Gibraltar, Soon after making contact I had a hard drive crash and I lost practically everything including his email address.

nickjones wrote:I was in touch with an artist who drew many of the early superfast illustrations who was now living in Gibraltar, Soon after making contact I had a hard drive crash and I lost practically everything including his email address.

Time you bought a new computer as well as a satnav for your Yacht Nick.

Have you managed to retrieve his e mail address? It would be wonderful to get some comments from him about the artwork he created.

Does he have any original artwork that was never put into the finished model cases?? Now that would be very interesting to see.

Ken,

Thank you for a very useful post.
I have many of the 24 and the 48 cases but due to lack of space I have them stacked on top of each other.
My question is you said that there should not be any stress on the box so would mine be suffering if I have them on top of each other. They are all full. 24 on 24s and 48s on 48s. Cheers, Arthur.

nickjones wrote:I was in touch with an artist who drew many of the early superfast illustrations who was now living in Gibraltar, Soon after making contact I had a hard drive crash and I lost practically everything including his email address.

Really amazing to hear that, Nick! It’s a pity the artist’s contact details got zapped.. he’d be the one person with all the answers! How long ago were you in touch with him? I hope he’s still around and in good health and able to help us in our research into “Matchbox” graphics.
I fully echo Alex’s sentiments... it would be a ‘coup’ for our Forum if this gentleman was connected with and his co-operation secured. For all we know, he may even have original artwork and concept drawings, among other fascinating stuff!

Cheers, Ken

REDSCOUSER wrote:Ken,
Thank you for a very useful post.
I have many of the 24 and the 48 cases but due to lack of space I have them stacked on top of each other. My question is you said that there should not be any stress on the box so would mine be suffering if I have them on top of each other. They are all full. 24 on 24s and 48s on 48s. Cheers, Arthur.

Hi Arthur, thanks for your response. I’m glad you found this thread useful, it makes my efforts worthwhile!

Re. stacking Cases on top of each other, personally, I avoid doing this even when they’re empty. As mentioned previously, it’s important not to put any unnecessary stress, or weight, on them. It’s not so much the box integrity that’s at risk here, but the thin vinyl covering, which has a tendency to split quite easily. It starts out as a tiny slit and insidiously expands till it’s a noticeable flaw. This might just be an age-related issue, as I remember having Carry Cases ‘back in the day’ and the dark blue vinyl was much more robust and hard-wearing.

So yes, IMHO it’s far better to keep them side by side, with nothing sitting on top of them. Re. the ‘rippling’, I think that air trapped behind the clear covering at the time of manufacture expands and/or degrades over time, causing this distortion of the surface. I have a 48-car Case which once had extremely severe ‘rippling’. One day I thought I’d try and ‘repair’ it, so I put a folded tea-towel over it and ironed it gently on medium heat. It actually flattened out the creases, but you have to be very, very careful not to allow the heat to build up. Last thing you want is bits of clear plastic sticking to the cloth as you lift it off!

Basically, there seem to be two kinds of Carry Case collectors; those who use them strictly to store models in, giving little thought to the Case’s external condition, except that it does its job and doesn’t fall apart or collapse when loaded. The other kind, myself included, see them as precious collectables in their own right, to be looked after and preserved just as much as the models they contain. You have to marvel at the simple yet stylish functionality of these Cases and at how well they’ve stood the test of time!

Cheers, Ken

Re the ex Lesney artist, we only exchanged a couple of emails and then I had the hard drive crash. I managed to salvage a couple of photographs that he had sent but his email address, emails and several other photos were lost for good, I may have copies of the photo's on my daughters computer, I did post the photographs onto one of the forums a few years back, Maybe someone has copies, CF, MF Anyone ?