VBD2 is closed. Please go to https://vbd3.co.uk instead.

Cheers, Steve
Matchboxkiwi

Nice Steve, thanks for showing. I have one in Japanese I will try to post when time allows.

Jay

Nice
Thanks

Always wondered about this, now I've seen it.

I like to see Matchbox in the foreign language.

Were the boxes 1-75 ever released in foreign language, or were the retail boxes sold in Europe in the 50 s and 60 s always in English?

I don't have many boxes from the 50's and 60's so someone else might be better answering your question.
As far as I'm aware they were the same for all markets apart from America were the writing on the bottom front of the box was different.
The only other thing I know is that the tabs that went under the end flaps sometimes had something written on them in a foreign language.

Cheers, Steve
Matchboxkiwi

matchboxkiwi wrote:I don't have many boxes from the 50's and 60's so someone else might be better answering your question.
As far as I'm aware they were the same for all markets apart from America were the writing on the bottom front of the box was different.
The only other thing I know is that the tabs that went under the end flaps sometimes had something written on them in a foreign language.

Cheers, Steve
Matchboxkiwi

Hi Steve et.al.,

Some boxes did have non-English text, but not at the bottom of the front of the box like some Superfast boxes - here are some examples: Firstly, the German issued ARAL tankers have the models described on the end flaps as "Tankwagen". Secondly, later type E and type F boxes have English, Spanish, German and French versions of the same text on each of the four inner flaps stating that the model casting and paint are lead-free. Thirdly, some models with opening doors (such as the 67b VW Fastback and the 22c Pontiac) have information about the patent for the opening doors in French on the top (insert) part of the end-flap - says: "Portieres ouvrantes - licence Solido".

I can't think of any examples of non-English text being used on boxes earlier than type E (i.e. none on A-B-C-D), except where the manufacturer of the vehicle had a non-English name e.g. Citroen.

The later RW boxes either note Matchbox is a registered TM in "GB and Abroad", and some note that it is registered at the US Patent Office (this appears as early as Type B boxes).

It's also worth remembering that the Matchbox TM was owned by the Kohnstams until about 1961, hence the note implying the trademark belonged to Lesney did not appear on the Moko branded boxes (although some simply say "Regd.").

Cheers,
Gavin