Matchbox 9a/9b; Dennis Fire Engine

This is a model of the Dennis F2 Braidwood Pump Escape from 1948 or so. It holds both the 9a and 9b slots in the Lesney range. The first one, 9a came out in 1955 and was replaced by 9b in 1958 which was in turn replaced in 1959 by the Merryweather unit.

If you can see daylight under the driver's legs it tells you that it is probably 9a the first version, if you can see daylight between the drivers arms and under his legs tells you it is from the early days of 9a. Later on these are closed. The easiest way to tell them apart is that 9b has detail on the grille and a front bumper, 9a has neither. You will also find 9b with either metal or plastic wheels, they are always metal on 9a. Generally 9a is easier to find than 9b, hence the rather battered examples of 9b shown below, it is usual to find these with the wheels missing from the ladder..

In 1993 when Matchbox re-issued some of their earliest models to celebrate 50 years of the brand they chose the 9b Fire Engine to be one of the re-released toys. It is found with red or yellow wheels on the ladder.