POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Toy Matchbox TP-1 Mercedes trailer

Object No. 85/1177-3

This is the Matchbox Mercedes trailer, with red and yellow 'Transcontinental Haulage Co.' livery and removable canopy, made by Lesney in England in 1976. It was sold separately or together with the Mercedes covered truck in the first of the Matchbox 75 "Two" Packs, TP-1, sets. The Mercedes trailer was first produced in 1967 as an addition to the Matchbox Mercedes truck, Model 1e, and was coloured green with an orange canopy. It was briefly produced as a metallic gold Superwheels version in about 1979 and was resurrected as a military trailer in the Matchbox "Two" Packs, TP-15, set. The trailer had a turntable incorporated into the front axle so that it steered while being towed. Although Mercedes manufactured high-performance semi-trailers, no specific information on a full-size Mercedes trailer, similar to the toy, has been found. It is somewhat similar to the full-size K„ssbohrer 2-axle drawbar trailer, used for example by the British army, with or without a canopy. Dinah Hales, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences volunteer, under the supervision of Margaret Simpson, Curator January 2015.