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Early Lesney Toys

6/17/06
(NONE of these cars are for sale).

Moko, NOT Lesney

Early Lesney toys are not my collecting focus, so I do not have a complete set of images.  The list below was prepared from Encyclopedia of Matchbox® Toys © 1997, 1999 [2nd Ed.], by Charlie Mack, reprinted with permission. [notes in teal color are not Charlie's]

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Links to others' pages:
Matchbox Memories - The Early Toys 8/19/05

Nick & Debbie's - Matchbox Toy Collection Lesney pages 8/19/05

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15 toys were released prior to the name "Matchbox" developing, known only as "Early Lesney Toys".  Some were later scaled down to miniatures while others were not.  The bait bread press is not a toy but belongs in a fisherman's box, & the letter opener fits best here (and doesn't elsewhere).

early Lesney display at Charlie Mac Museum

Aveling Barford Road Roller, 4 3/8", 1948
1. dark green body, red wheels, yellow flywheel cast

2. dark green body, unpainted wheels, no driver or flywheel cast
3. dark green body, unpainted wheels, with driver, no flywheel cast
4. light green body, red wheels, no driver or flywheel cast
5. gray-brown body, red wheels, no driver or flywheel cast
6. red body, unpainted wheels, no driver or flywheel cast
unlisted: orange body, black flywheels cast [seen at 1999 Matchbox USA convention]

Cement Mixer, 3 9/16", 1948
1. pale green body, red barrel & handles, red wheels

2. dark green body, red barrel & handles, red wheels

3. dark green body, red barrel & handles, yellow wheels
4. dark green body, green barrel & handles, green wheels

5. dark green body, green barrel & handles, red wheels
6. red body, dark green barrel & handles, green wheels
7. red body, dark green barrel & handles, yellow wheels

Caterpillar Tractor, 3 1/8", 1948 [no image]
1. green body & rollers
2. dark yellow body & rollers
3. orange body & rollers

Caterpillar Bulldozer, 4 1/2", 1948

1. pale green body, rollers & blade
2. orange body, rollers & blade

3. dark yellow body, yellow rollers & blade

Horse Drawn Milk Cart, 5 3/8", 1948

Perfect Toy

1. orange body
2. blue body

Rag and Bone Cart, 5 ¼", 1949

1. yellow body with red wheels
2. green body with red wheels

Soap Box Racer, 3 1/8", 1949

1. gold body, brown driver, metal wheels

Jumbo the Walking Elephant, 4", 1950

1. light gray body with wind up key John Moore at the 6/99 Matchbox USA Club Convention]

Prime Mover with Trailer & Bulldozer, 18", 1950
1. orange mover & trailer, all green bulldozer

2. orange mover & bulldozer, blue trailer
3. orange mover, blue trailer, orange bulldozer with red blade

Muffin the Mule, 5 ½", 1951

1. cream body with painted features, puppet strings
[Muffin the Mule TV show home page with Real Audio/Video, Annette Mills with the songs and Ann Hogarth as the puppeteer, & photos and history of muffin 8/19/05

Large Coronation Coach, 15 ¾", 1952

1. gold painted body, king & queen cast inside

2. gold painted body, queen only cast inside [w/ small coach & covered wagon]
3. gold plated body, queen only cast inside
4. silver plated body, queen only cast inside

Small Coronation Coach, 4 ½", 1953 [see large coach image]

Massey Harris Tractor, 7 13/16", 1954, & Milk Float [John Moore at the 6/99 Matchbox USA Club Convention]
1. red body, beige wheels with black rubber tires

Bread Bait Press, 2", 1954
1. red body, green wingnut & inner fixture, "Lesney Milbro" cast
2. red body, unpainted wingnut, green inner fixture, "Lesney Milbro" cast

3. red body, unpainted wingnut & inner fixture, "Lesney Milbro" cast Note: "Milbro" was a distribution agent for Lesney

Covered Wagon, 4 7/8", 1955

1. dark green body, white cover, brown horses, no barrels

2. dark green body, white cover, brown horses, dark red barrels

Souvenir Letter Opener, 8 ½", 1962 [no image, sliding inner sleeve reveals a hidden tiny matchbox toy]
1. black handle, silver blade, Lesney UK address on silver band
2. black handle, silver blade, Fred Bonner address on silver band