Our last Noel of the week, and this is Noel Harford, or Noel Sherwin Harford to be correct. He was born in August 1930 and he played, as it says on the card, for Central Districts - from 1953 until 1959. He made his test debut against Pakistan in 1955, and came to England in 1958, which was when our cards were issued. He is most remembered for two centuries, and perhaps for being injured when Fred Trueman hit him in the face with the ball. Whether due to that or not, he did not play another test, but he did change teams to Auckland, in 1959.
You will sometimes see a slightly different name on cards by this issuer, as in our case, where the word "Machine" is added. However most catalogues use the name we quote in our title. Master Vending was based at 82-106 Cricklewood Lane, London, NW2.
This set is sixteen large cards, measuring 95/96 x 65/66 m/m. There is no evidence that the difference in size is by home trimming as they do not vary enough for that. A special album was issued for them, and these cards tell us that they were obtained by writing to the firm and enclosing a shilling postal order. It also says "mentioning the series" so this must have been an album specific to this set, and the other sets possiby had their own albums too.
Anyone out there having any albums that they would like to show us, or more knowledge of the issuer, please write in