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Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 8:32 pm
by oblivious
I'd like to add the early Lesney models to my database, but I don't know very much about them, other than what I have gotten from Charlie's books. For each I have a year of introduction, and a list of variations, but what I'd like to come up with is the final year of production for each model. Can anyone with more experience than me speculate on how long any of these might have been produced? I'd appreciate any help.

Here is the list I'm working with:
  • Aveling Barford Road Roller, introduced 1948
  • Cement Mixer, introduced 1948
  • Caterpiller Tractor, introduced 1948
  • Caterpiller Bulldozer, introduced 1948
  • Muir Hill Dumper, introduced 1949
  • Horse Drawn Milk Float, introduced 1949
  • Rag and Bone Cart, introduced 1949
  • Soap Box Racer, introduced 1949
  • Jumbo the Elephant, introduced 1950
  • Prime Mover with Trailer and Bulldozer, introduced 1950
  • Muffin the Mule, introduced 1951
  • Large Coronation Coach, introduced 1952
  • Small Coronation Coach, introduced 1953
  • Massey Harris Tractor, introduced 1954
  • Bread Bait Press, introduced 1954
  • Covered Wagon, introduced 1955
Thanks,

Dean Dierschow
BAMCA Webmaster

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 9:17 pm
by GHOSTHUNTER
Here are some dates for you.
Early Toys dates..JPG
Early Toys dates..JPG (69.55 KiB) Viewed 1754 times
Ghosthunter.

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 9:23 pm
by oblivious
Interesting. I knew that the large-scale Ruston Bucyrus was not made by Lesney, which is why I've dropped it. I did not know that the dumper was also not Lesney. ETA: I just ran across a notation that indicates that it may have been Lesney, but was never released.

I believe that the Soap Box Racer may have never been released. Can anyone confirm that?

Thanks,

Dean

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 9:39 pm
by GHOSTHUNTER
The dumper is connected to Lesney but was not actually made by them, it comes from 'CONDON' instigated by a member of staff from Lesney. The introduction of the '1-75 series' range in 1953, affected all the early Moko-Lesney toys, with some of them being scaled down to be part of this new range, so you see the production periods of these early toys was fairly short.

The soap box racer does indeed exist but was packed several to a single box, not in it's own box, so mint and boxed examples do not exist.

Ghosthunter.

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 9:59 pm
by YYS4BOB

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:11 pm
by GHOSTHUNTER
Thank's Bob, I was looking for those. They are about the best there is when it comes to the early Moko-Lesney toys, fully recommended.

Ghosthunter.

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:47 pm
by YYS4BOB
Hans & Marco are really nice guys. Had the pleasure of meeting them at Sandown a few years ago.

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:58 pm
by oblivious
That's very helpful. I'll reach out to them and see if they can fill in some of the blanks. Thanks.

Dean

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:09 pm
by Miller
I clicked the link out of coriousity and found out, that i have such a heavy Moko tractor in nearly the same condition! I never knew, what it was :D
Speicher2.jpg
Speicher2.jpg (49.82 KiB) Viewed 1718 times

Re: Early (pre-Matchbox) Lesneys

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:11 pm
by GHOSTHUNTER
So many collectors do not know what they've got until they look... :?

Ghosty.