Thursday, June 26, 2014

MATCHBOX MOKO LESNEY the real coronation coach and the fake



Story of the first Matchbox a Moko Lesney product - The Coronation Coach 
The real MOKO LESNEY, Coronation Coach, and The Fake Benbros Royal Coach

The first big seller - 
The Coronation Coach 1953 by MOKO LESNEY
On horses center bar is stamped 
A Moko Toy By Lesney British Made
the 8 horses, left side with 4 drivers, other 4 without driver are running, hooves curved
Comes with box, Coronation Coach a perfect miniature Moko Lesney
Some Coach colors are Gold some are Chrome Silver 














The real Coronation Coach of England built in 1762



Coach colors- Silver (chrome silver), Dark Gold (dull gold), Gold (shine gold) 1953


Moko Lesney Coronation Coach ( dark gold coach ) (dull gold) 1953



Moko Lesney Coronation Coach ( gold coach ) (shine gold) 1953


Moko Lesney Coronation Coach ( silver coach ) (chrome silver) 1953




The Bembros Royal Coach
Now the Fake, not intended but there was another maker of the Coronation Coach
The Fake - Bembros Made in England almost exact replica Coronation Coach 1953
Differences are - 3 things, 
letters ER on coach door, 
stamped MADE IN ENGLAND on horses bar, 
Horses with drivers are running, The Lesney Horses with Drivers are NOT running
If you count another thing is the rear wheels have 10 spokes, Lesney has 12 spokes
I Had this Fake Bembros since the 70s was given to my father by another collector unknowingly.







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In 2002 a company named M.i.C.A. Matchbox International Collectors Association
made for Lesney a 450 Limited Signature Edition
Coronation Coach model signed box gold plated coronation coach 225 Gold, 225 Silver
In the 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary of England Queen Elizabeth Coronation


The Special Limited Gold Plated Signature Edition year 2002
Leslie Smith of Lesney had made a special signature limited edition of 450 coronation coach replicas 225 gold plated and 225 silver plated, with original reproduction box signed. 
The differences are
No Lettering on Horses Bar
10 spoke rear wheels
Signature on Box by Leslie Smith co-founder of Lesney

2002 Coronation Coach Signed Box by Leslie Smith co-founder of Lesney ( LESlie and RodNEY smith )













2002 Coronaton Coach signed box L C Smith Limited Edition model Gold and Silver 450 made
ON THE 2002 SIGNED BOX STATES
A Perfect Miniature - This is the 10th model in the Perfect Toys series in 2002 to co-inside with
Queen Elizabeth IIs Golden Jubilee. Limited to a maximum of 450. There are two types of model-
gold plated and silver plated. This Perfect Miniature box has been personally signed
by the co-founder of Lesney Products, Mr. L.C Smith OBE


In 2005 Mr Leslie Smith passed away leaving this legacy of what many call The First Matchbox





 

History of Matchbox

Matchbox Toys has an interesting history and has gone through a number of transitions in the company’s 60 years. With the help of dedicated collectors, Matchbox has been able to persevere an continues to create realistic high-quality die-cast vehicles today. The following is a decade-by-decade break-down of the Matchbox timeline:

1950s



The Matchbox name, as we know it, began in 1953 when childhood friends Leslie and Rodney Smith created Lesney Products in England (LESlie, RodNEY). Their first major success was a gold and silver model of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Coach. This model sold over 1 million pieces and cemented Lesney as a household name in Great Britain.

They were sold through a toy factor called 'MOKO' after Moses Khonstam
Realizing they had a good thing going, Leslie and Rodney introduced the Matchbox series of toys in 1953. Matchbox started with three models: the Number 1 Diesel Road Roller, Number 2 Dumper, and Number 3 Cement Mixer. The name “Matchbox” was chosen because each model could easily fit inside a matchbox. This was the start of the 1-75 model series.



In the early years, only British car models were made, but as the toys grew in popularity, more international models were created, particularly American models. In order to create such small, detailed models. Lesney took careful pictures of each car and even obtained original blueprints from auto manufacturers to create miniature versions of the cars. 

Through the early Matchbox years the Lesney company bought out Moko in making the models, and can tell by the boxes early saying Moko in script and circle around the Moko logo, then Moko in print,  and later without the Moko logo, saying a Lesney product. 

Collector variations - Early Matchbox are by year and can see size difference smaller in early models, using codes as number 2a, 2b, 2c, as well as different body and wheel colors a same model may come out. An example a few red cars instead of white may happen, a few red wheels instead of yellow, and total window color variations. Cars with yellow windows, a few may have variation of blue, green, yellow, and clear. Bottom chassis variation have been found as well, increasing the value to over 1000 dollars, as only few have variations. 

1960s 

By the 1960s, Matchbox was a well-know brand worldwide and grew in popularity in the United States. Because of their small size, Matchbox was able to occupy a niche in the market. The cars were small and affordable for children to purchase. They were also available at a large number of stores. The brand had virtually zero competition either.
Matchbox toys were also becoming more sophisticated as the brands popularity grew. By 1968, Matchbox was the biggest selling toy car company worldwide. The average model featured plastic windows, interiors, tires, and occasional accessories, including spring suspensions and opening parts. This is now known as the “Golden Era” of die-cast cars.

King Size models transporter, trucks and cars 1960s






Matchbox Service Stations - Esso(Exxon) BP, Fire Station 1960s  






1970s 

In 1970, the popularity and sales of Matchbox Toys was in decline. American toy company Mattel introduced Hot Wheels in 1968. They quickly grew to be a favorite with their wild colors and low friction racing wheels. Hot Wheels were marketed aggressively in the United States, making Matchbox somewhat obsolete and boring.
Lesney took action relatively quickly as popularity declined. Matchbox came out with the new Superfast line by the early 1970s.



 Large model Speed Kings with superfast wheels early 70s

Large transporter models Super Kings early 70s

Matchbox Battle Kings 


The Superfast models came in new vibrant colors and low-friction wheels. Matchbox also introduced racetracks to compete with Hot Wheels popular orange tracks

By the mid 1970s, Matchbox was once again a force in the die-cast market, having updated its models.



1980s 

Due to the deteriorating economic climate in the United Kingdom in the late 1970, the Lesney company was facing many economic difficulties. Despite the popularity and success of the brand, Lesney filed for bankruptcy in 1982.
The Matchbox brand was sold to David Yeh and renamed Matchbox International Ltd. Although the brand was no longer British, much of the production was done in England until the mid 1980s. Much of the production was then moved to Macau and the popular Models of Yesteryear was renamed Matchbox Collectibles.

 Matchbox Models of Yesteryear 1936 Auburn Speedster


Matchbox Voltron TV Robot Diecast Lionbot  1980-85

Chogokin Diecast Taiwan Version 1980



 Voltron collectors gift set



1990s 

In the 1992 Matchbox was purchased by Tyco Toys, which was then bought out by Mattel in 1997. Matchbox was now owned by the maker of its longtime rival Hot Wheels. Under Mattel, the Matchbox International Ltd. name was terminated. Matchbox’s new ownership worried collectors that Matchbox was going to turn Matchbox into a Hot Wheels style or terminate the brand all together. Mattel assured collectors that Matchbox would continue to develop its own product line independent from Hot Wheels and Matchbox would focus on “real” vehicles and Hot Wheels would focus on “fantasy” vehicles.


2000s and Today

By 2003 Matchbox broke “real” cars philosophy of the 1990s by introducing a completely revamped “Hero City” line. Matchbox collectors were not impressed and sales plummeted. The toys were so unpopular that the line was discontinued after one year. A new team was tasked with returning the brand to its roots, creating realistic, well-detailed cars. Matchbox also created a special Superfast series with collectible boxes to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Superfast line.

Following the Hero City fiasco, Mattel has been focused on reviving the Matchbox brand. In 2008 Matchbox expanded the 1-75 line to 100 in the United States, although it remains 1-75 in most other markets. 
In 2013 Matchbox introduced a line of special cars to celebrate the brands 60th anniversary.