[REVIEW] Lesney Matchbox Karrier Bantam Refuse Collector

Lesney Matchbox time has arrived again, and time again for another unusual old vehicle that one might wonder if it really existed, or was just for a model. Today we examine Matchbox 38a, the Karrier Bantam Refuse Collector. This casting entered the range in 1957, and remained until 1963. As one can see, this is definitely an example of where the Matchbox line was at the time:

I don’t believe many garbage trucks have been reviewed yet. As one can see, this is classic old school Matchbox. No glazing, no interior, nothing opens - those were all a few years off when this model entered the range, and it never gained those luxuries (few castings were updated in this manner). However, the casting is still well-detailed, with plenty of fine casting lines, and decals on the sides. Scale is tough to estimate, but I suspect it is around 1:75 - somewhat small, as it made to fit in a box, and the full size vehicle isn’t small. From all angles, it is a charming period piece, showing the mellow quality had by Lesney Matchbox products at the time:

Front and rear have similar detail:

Like most heavy vehicle Matchbox models of the era, this is a hollow cab casting (see also: 37a Coca-Cola truck), and has ample identifying data on the bed section:

This model is lucky enough to live in its original crisp Type B box. With this B2 box, metal wheels (perfect for scratching wood surfaces), and hand-applied silver trim (which also appears untouched by time), this was made in 1957 or perhaps early 1958:

I am definitely happy to have this in my collection. It is a somewhat quirky funky truck, definitely needed for a representative collection of early Lesney Matchbox, and is in time-warp condition:

A 1:1 from pbase.com, and a couple of examples of original literature from autolit.com, one showing how the sliding cover worked on the covered bed, and how the bed tipped. The split windshield Matchbox truck is assumed to be just before this late 50s material: