Moko Lesney Matchbox 7a Horsedrawn milk float

The Lesney model of the 7a milkfloat joined the Matchbox 1-75 series in 1954 and it was a unique model as it was the only horsedrawn model to appear in the entire 1-75 range.
It was always painted orange and usually had the driver, milk crates and lettering picked out in white,
It first appeared with metal spoked wheels of a type which were only found on this model, later grey plastic wheels were fitted.
It could have flat or dome head axles with crimped or rounded ends.
The first casting of the horse had a groove between the front legs giving the appearance of longer front legs when compared to the later issues. the horse was painted brown or chocolate brown and it had a white mane, tail and socks. It's harness was picked out in gold but the amount of trim detail was reduced as time went on.
Very early issues of the float were a different casting to the later, on the early float the left rear crate was cast very close to the back of the roof and the braces above the rear axle were large, The milkman was wide and his footrest was small,
On the next issue the crate was moved forwards, the axle braces were smaller, the milkman was narrower and the footrest was made larger.

A very short run were made with silver crates and silver trim to the top half of the driver, It is believed that these were trial pieces for the newly introduced system of mask spray painting because this is variation is the only example of a spray masked milkman, The mask sprayed silver did not give the milkman a good coverage of paint so the next issue had just the milkmans hat painted white by spray mask. The horse shafts were modified with the addition of a brace to the left side horseshaft and on the final issue a brace was added to the right horseshaft.
It was the last model to be issued in the type 'A' or moko 'script' box and is more usually found in the 'B' type box.
After a very long seven year stay in the range in it was deleted in 1961 to be replaced by the 7b ford anglia.

above: rare silver crates variation

above: left, early and, right later floats

above: left, early float with large brackets. right, later float with small brackets.

above: left, first type with no braces to the horse shafts. center,
braces to the left side. right, last issue with braces on both sides.

code number	general	wheel type	axle type	lettering	left rear crate	horse shafts	horse
code 1	brown horse, orange float white milkman & crates	8.5 x 15 grey metal	flat head crimped	white	to the rear	no braces	long front legs
code 2	chocolate brown horse, orange float white milkman & crates	8.5 x 15 grey metal	flat head crimped	white	to the rear	no braces	long front legs
code 3	chocolate brown horse, orange float white milkman & crates	8.5 x 15 grey metal	flat head crimped	white	forwards	no braces	short front legs
code 4	chocolate brown horse, orange float white milkman & crates	8.5 x 15 grey metal	flat head crimped	white	forwards	left side brace	short front legs
code 5	chocolate brown horse, orange float white milkman & crates	8.5 x 15 grey metal	dome head crimped	white	forwards	left side brace	short front legs
code 6	chocolate brown horse, orange float white milkman & crates	8.5 x 15 grey metal	dome head crimped	white	forwards	left side brace	short front legs
code 7	chocolate brown horse, orange float white milkman & crates	8.5 x 15 grey metal	dome head crimped	white	forwards	left side brace	short front legs
code 8	chocolate brown horse, pale orange float white milkman & crates	8 x 15 grey plastic	dome head crimped	white	forwards	left side brace	short front legs
code 9	chocolate brown horse, orange float silver milkman & crates	8 x 15 grey plastic	dome head crimped	orange	forwards	left side brace	short front legs
code 10	chocolate brown horse, orange float white hat & crates	8 x 15 grey plastic	dome head crimped	orange	forwards	left side brace	short front legs
code 11	chocolate brown horse, orange float white hat & crates	8 x 15 grey plastic	dome head rounded	orange	forwards	left side brace	short front legs
code 12	chocolate brown horse, orange float white hat & crates	8 x 15 grey plastic	dome head rounded	orange	forwards	braces on both sides	short front legs

box types	notes
A	none
B1	none
B2	thick black tyres without spokes
B2	yellow tyres with spokes
B2	thin black tyres with spokes
B2	thin black tyres without spokes
B3	none
B4	none
B5	with dots in wheel hubs
B5	without dots in wheel hubs

values

grey plastic wheels £60

silver crates and driver £600+

all other models £45

values are for mint models in mint boxes

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