Help understanding an old box

DB361

Hope you guys can help me learn about a nice little find I had at a car boot at the weekend. I came across a wooden box with quite a substantial quantity of vintage Lego. A variety of pieces including eight 10x20 plates, standard bricks, corner pieces, windows, transparent bricks and lettered printed bricks amongst other little bits. Unfortunately three of the baseplates have sustained substantial damage to the sides, but apart from that the rest of it looks in pristine condition. A little bit of yellowing here and there, but nothing much. One or two more modern bricks might have found their way into the set, but literally only one or two.

The box itself again looks original and in remarkable condition. There's no graphics of any sort which makes me think either it was a large sticker that was applied to the lid that has long gone, or the lid is a replacement. The lid has a tiny bit of what appears to be water damage, but nothing much, and again possibly shows that it has age rather than being a recent replacement?

A fairly brief bit of research suggests that, even if this was originally sold together, there isn't such thing as a set ID for wooden boxes, so I'm not looking for a specific answer. Nor am I looking for a value as I don't intend to resell yet, although I will say I paid all of £20 for it. Rather, just any general information or history lessons on what I might have would be much appreciated!

Istokg

@DB361  Who says there's no ID for wooden box sets?   :)

A more correct statement would be... "there's no good online source of info on wooden box sets"....  :o

.... except of course for my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide.... computer desktop 2800 page document... where Chapter 14 - Wooden Box LEGO Sets (1950-78)... would answer all your questions.... I have over 80 wooden box sets identified, many with Contents List.... that magic sheet of paper that has the set number on it, and once lost (it's always the first thing lost) renders the wooden box set "numberless".

Since you live in the UK.... you have a 700K wooden box set (not the same 700K as sold in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, or Denmark)....

Since there are no traces of LEGO wheels/tyres or axle bricks in your box... that dates it from 1960-62 (UK 700K was sold in several box top designs from 1960-66).



From top to bottom are the 1960, 1961 and 1962 box top designs for the UK 700K set.



These were the original contents to 1960-62 700K sets.  Only 2 10x20 baseplates came in this set, and some specialty parts.... a pair of flags, Esso Sign/Pumps, Road Signs, Printed Bricks, and a garage baseplate/door.

It looks like your set is missing some of the more desireable specialty parts, and has a lot of extra parts (baseplates/bricks).  Your set probably has several added spare parts packs worth of bricks and alphabet bricks... added.

The removable inner tray appears to have the 8 partitions missing as well.... 

And it looks like the top was original, but repainted.  Which of these 3 designs was originally on it may never be known.

TigerMoth

From the pictures, I'm guessing that the lid is made of hardboard? And therefore mean it's been replaced.

DB361

Thanks very much for the help guys.

@TigerMoth - yes, it is hardboard rather than wood. Doesn't surprise me in the slightest that it's a replacement.

@Istokg - Many thanks for the in depth reply! Not being an expert in vintage Lego, that does at least help me understand what I've got - lots of common pieces, and none of the, as you say, desirable signs, flags etc. By something of a fluke, from a different boot sale, I did manage to pick up a couple more bags of vintage Lego, including a couple of those original trees, so that's one part found! And still very happy with my purchase!

Istokg

@TigerMoth , @DB361
If by "hardboard" you mean "Masonite" (as it's called in many countries).... then that is indeed either the 2nd or 3rd box top.   All the LEGO wooden boxes with a paper top... had the top made of Masonite.  In fact the little nails that you see holding the front lip of the top to the main sheet... is virtually identical to the 3rd box top with the same little nails.

I've seen many wooden LEGO boxes with the top ruined.... get repainted years later.  I have pics of these "repaints".