Matchbox 1a; Aveling-Barford Road Roller

This is the first Matchbox toy that fitted into a matchbox, It is number 1a the Aveling Barford Diesel Road Roller which was made from 1953 to 1956. It is tiny, less than 50mm in length.

There are two original versions and three original colours. The more desirable version has an arched underside to the ends of the canopy and is only found in dark green, this version varies slightly in that some models have strengthening braces at the top of the canopy supports. The other version, with the flat underside to the canopy is in dark green, a lighter, yellowish green or pale green.

In any version this is a hard to find and sought after model. The models with a curve to the underside of the canopy are very valuable and extremely hard to find. Of the later type roof with the flat underside the pale green and yellowish green models are harder to find and worth good money. The most commonly found version is dark green with the flat underside to the canopy.

The blue version was released in 1992 as a 40th Anniversary of matchbox model