REFUSE TRUCKS IN THE “MATCHBOX SERIES”
Utility vehicles have always featured strongly in the “Matchbox” 1-75 range and have proved to be excellent models in terms of play value.
38a Karrier Refuse Collector
The first Refuse Truck to be included in the range was No 38 in August 1957; based upon the same Karrier Bantam 2 - tonne design used for No 37 the Coca Cola truck released in the same month. The model was an accurate representation of the real vehicle except a dustman would have raised one of the six covers, before emptying a dustbin over his shoulder into the truck. When full the two rear doors would have been opened to enable emptying to take place.
The body on 38a was a one piece casting with the addition of a separate rear body insert plugged in to form a tight fit. Sometimes this insert could fall out or be forced out and so it’s not uncommon today to find models lacking a rear end.
The first models were painted in an odd grey-tan colour, quite different from any other colour used by “Matchbox” and it is presumed that once stocks of this shade of paint were exhausted, no re-ordering took place. Models in this grey – tan shade are now very difficult to find and it is considered to be a rare colour variation. The normal colour for the Karrier Refuse Truck is grey but just before this model was withdrawn from the range a colour change to silver occurred.
All models carried side decals advertising “Cleansing Department” but whilst decals on earlier models were orange yellow, later decals were plain yellow. As it was possible for these decals to be badly fitted, decal ridges were added to both sides of the body. This casting modification took place after the model had been in production for a short time. A second modification quickly followed, concerning the area between the rear of the cab and the front end of the body. Early models had a flat topped brace which was in line with the bottom of the cab windows; the casting change featured an extension of the brace to a triangular point just below the roof of the cab. The third and final casting modification took place on the last of the silver models, when a brace was added on either side at the rear of the body.
The wheels were originally metal and the end of the axles crimped. Around 1959 grey plastic wheels superseded metal wheels and shortly afterwards rounded axles were introduced. This variation with silver wheels is considered to be very rare (Black wheels were never fitted to this model). Silver trim was applied by hand to the headlights, grille and front bumper, but was later applied to the grey models by automated spraying machines. The Karrier Refuse Truck was replaced in May 1963 by a Vauxhall Victor Estate Car and a new type of refuse truck was to join the range in November 1963.
15c Dennis Tippax Refuse Collector
The Dennis Tippax Refuse Collector replaced the Rotinoff Super Atlantic Tractor as No 15 to become 15c. However, it was not the first Dennis model in the range, for the distinction belongs to the 9a and 9b Fire Engines. Its full description is a Dennis Pax 11 chassis onto which is a Tippax refuse collection body is attached. It was a considerable improvement on the first refuse truck, in that it featured not only a tipping container with a hole for the rubbish to be dumped through, but also an opening tipping door.
The cab base and chassis were always painted deep blue whilst the container and door was painted pale grey. Side decals advertising “Cleansing Service” with a “City of London” shield were fitted, originally shaped to match the lines of the container in that they were rounded off at the front and angled to the rear. Later these were replaced by rectangular decals with squarely cut ends. The final models had labels affixed.
The base of the chassis originally terminated behind the rivet but this was soon altered, such that a brace connected both fuel tanks. The container is usually found with a hole in the front but some of the earliest models did not have this hole. All models were fitted with black plastic wheels but earlier models had knobbly examples whereas later versions had fine or very fine tread ones.
The Tippax Refuse Truck remained in the range for five years until it was replaced in November 1968 by the Volkswagen 1500 saloon. By that time a Ford Refuse Truck had been included in the range for almost two years.
7c Ford Refuse Truck
The Ford Refuse Truck first appeared in November 1967. When the loader was pulled backwards the plastic container automatically opened to empty the contents and would remain in the tipping position.
It maintained its colour scheme of orange cab and chassis, grey plastic container and silver metal loader even during its transition to Superfast wheels, when most vehicles were subjected to a colour change. Perhaps the fact that the model was to be replaced by the end of 1971 influenced the decision to keep the regular wheel colour scheme. Although the orange body colour is subject to slight colour shades, a red-bodied variation is believed to be pre-production. The one-piece grill and base was left unpainted.
Although there are minor casting changes to the container hinge plate, the major modification concerned the metal side plate. Finally a tow slot was included for the last regular wheel models.
With the change to Superfast wheels there had to be modification to the area around the axles to enable the thinner low-friction axles and wheels to be fitted. The axle covers were usually black plastic, although examples are known with red plastic. The earlier narrow 4–spoke wheels were superseded by wide 4-spoke wheels, while another casting change occurred to the opening for the metal loader bar which altered from rectangular to T-shaped.
Look out for the promotional pack for ‘SPECT’ children’s throat lozenges including the refuse truck and a packet of sweets — what more could you ask for…?
If the trucks were re released today, we are sure they would be accompanied by the ‘Bottle Bank Truck’, the ‘Paper Recycling Truck’ and the ‘Garden Waste Truck’
Click here to see the ‘rubbish’ Matchbox toys we have…
