Hovercraft
1972 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Matchbox is a die cast toy brand introduced by Lesney Products in 1953 and currently owned by Mattel, Inc. Matchbox was used as their name due to the original models being packed in boxes similar in size and style to boxes of matches. The series became so popular that the Matchbox name was once widely used by the public as a generic trademark for all die cast toy cars measuring approximately 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) in length, regardless of brand. In the 1970s, Matchbox switched to the more conventional, plastic and cardboard "blister packs" used for other die cast cars such as Hot Wheels, although the box style packaging was re-introduced for the collector market in recent years, particularly successfully with the release of the "35th Anniversary of Superfast" series in 2004.
The Matchbox/Lesney factory was a major employer in Homerton, East London, before the company relocated to Rugby in Warwickshire in 1990.
This particular hovercraft is one of a few designed by Matchbox. This was part of the Superfast collection that Matchbox made during the 1970s. This specific design was made between 1971 and 1977.
The Matchbox/Lesney factory was a major employer in Homerton, East London, before the company relocated to Rugby in Warwickshire in 1990.
This particular hovercraft is one of a few designed by Matchbox. This was part of the Superfast collection that Matchbox made during the 1970s. This specific design was made between 1971 and 1977.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Plastic and metal |
| Brief description | Hovercraft, miniature, plastic and metal, manufactured by Matchbox, England, 1972. |
| Physical description | Miniature metal and plastic hovercraft toy made by Matchbox. The top of the hovercraft is painted white metal and the underside is black plastic. The top of the hovercraft has moulded windows in the metal with blue plastic inside to make it look like glass in the windows. There is a red plastic propeller mould on top. Two plastic stickers have been placed on both longsides of the hovercraft with the Union Jack on it and 'SRN6'. The underside of the hovercraft has 4 plastic wheels on metal axes. It is in good condition, there is only a slight discolouration to the stickers. This model is called Matchbox 1-75 Number 72c Hovercraft. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Markham Henry Bailey |
| Summary | Matchbox is a die cast toy brand introduced by Lesney Products in 1953 and currently owned by Mattel, Inc. Matchbox was used as their name due to the original models being packed in boxes similar in size and style to boxes of matches. The series became so popular that the Matchbox name was once widely used by the public as a generic trademark for all die cast toy cars measuring approximately 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) in length, regardless of brand. In the 1970s, Matchbox switched to the more conventional, plastic and cardboard "blister packs" used for other die cast cars such as Hot Wheels, although the box style packaging was re-introduced for the collector market in recent years, particularly successfully with the release of the "35th Anniversary of Superfast" series in 2004. The Matchbox/Lesney factory was a major employer in Homerton, East London, before the company relocated to Rugby in Warwickshire in 1990. This particular hovercraft is one of a few designed by Matchbox. This was part of the Superfast collection that Matchbox made during the 1970s. This specific design was made between 1971 and 1977. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.205-2010 |
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| Record created | July 13, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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