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Hello Matchbox-Pat and all

My understanding is that in 1959 Lesney had a relationship with a third Printer, perhaps a company called TP Products.
We are aware of Pembroke Abbey and Bowater Scott on other boxes.
I am not sure if TP products were the printer or direct relationship with a printer of the major pack boxes but the TP box logo featured on various Major Packs on the side flaps.
Some were in blue ink others were in black ink.
One box even has the logo printed in reverse which I have labelled as an OOPS.

Major packs M2, M5, M6, M7, M8 all have TP mark in blue and white in my collection.

I have not seen anything written about TP in the past in Matchbox Lesney publications. Can any member shed any light on TP box logo or trademark please.

Look forward to any information

Pat, you are welcome to use photos, if you need others please let me know.

Bert

TP Packaging was a third vendor of boxes during that time period. I am no expert on this subject I just remember reading this at some time in the past. The Wally Walter's Collection which is currently on Vectis shows many superb unfolded examples of the TP Packaging brand.


Hopes this helps.

A quick Google suggests they are still in business, so maybe a look in their archives might be handy. Worth contacting them to see if they kept any artwork or notes relating to Lesney.

TP Packaging Design (London) Ltd
145 Wynchgate
Winchmore Hill
London
N21 1QT

Ghosthunter.

I'm not at all sure that the TP logo is that of that particular TP Packaging. A look at their website reveals that "We've been designing packaging since 1970". Furthermore, an Internet search indicates that TP Products produced (or at least marketed) a small number of diecast vehicles after the war, so that also seems an unlikely candidate. I therefore think that we need to find an alternative identity for TP, and I would suggest that the P might possibly stand for packaging (which fits better with the logo that either printers or printing would), although Vectis identified the company as 'TP Packaging', but on what basis, I do not know.

Thanks Kevin, James and Hugh

Yes I agree that the P possibly represents packaging. I have written to several UK companies or businesses in the past couple of years but each replied they could not help including the one suggested by Kevin.
A further check of my Major packs and Accessory boxes indicate D and E boxes also have TP. One interesting thing I had not picked up on is the M10 Dinkum Dumper box was printed by Pembroke-Abbey and also printed by TP. Both are identical D boxes.

I also went through all my 1-75 boxes and none of that period have the TP mark. It is worth noting that some printers marks are on the glued tab section which is out of site but I am not too keen to check them.

I have tried looking for trademarks through official sources but no luck there either.

One other thought was that the pocket catalogues were printed by a number of printers as well, eg Balding and Mansell or Newgate Press but I do not have all the early catalogues to see if TP might feature on another.

I have also changed the title of this thread also to make it easier to reference.

Thanks gents, the search shall continue.

Bert

I see that TP also had a contract for Accessory Pack boxes (here).

Hi !

Very interesting ! The printing/packaging company is not a subject I have included in the web site yet, as I need to do more research on it. So I am not confortable enough to comment, but I am surely very curious !

I have the hard to find D box for the Accessory Pack A-2 Car Transporter, and it is a TP packaging.

The printing company is most probably one of the reason for minor variations (position and type of lettering, etc.)

Thanks !

yellowfoden wrote:Now......the only reference I have found is the number 76 is listed on the base of the PS5 Army Transport set. So I had a look closely at my PS5 and I have never opened this box out fully before and BINGO… on the hidden flap is the TP logo.

Major Packs, Accessory Packs, Gift Sets: could it be that 'TP' were (initially) engaged by Lesney to print the larger boxes, perhaps because their other suppliers couldn't manage the dimensions? After all, are any 1-75 boxes from 'TP' known?

Yes, that is a good point about box sizes especially given the size of the Presentation Set boxes.
So far I have not come across any 1-75 boxes with the TP logo.
As promised in the thread relating to printers plates I can add another photo of a Moko Lesney box PS5 with the TP logo.
Quite possibly one of my most sentimental Lesney pieces and I had never any thoughts of unfolding this box until our recent discussion on printer plates.
The first picture with box front and back does not give a clue who printed the box.
The second picture with the base flaps unfolded shows the TP logo.
These presentation sets were introduced in the UK in 1959 and there being 5 sets. They are quite a complex box with 13 fold lines and the perforated top which folds out for counter display.
It is a good reference to the fact that the number 76 Cadillac was destined in 1959 but went on to become the 27c in July 1960
The Acc No 4 is a favourite photo with 7 unused boxes from a regional distributor giving the possibility that the distributor was supplied with the empty boxes and the bags with diecast signs separate.

Bert

Please click on the image or scroll to see all the detail.

yellowfoden wrote:The Acc No 4 is a favourite photo with 7 unused boxes from a regional distributor giving the possibility that the distributor was supplied with the empty boxes and the bags with diecast signs separate.

That makes a lot of sense, otherwise the use of those curious paper bags is hard to explain.