Beginnings of Matchbox Cars
Toys Originally Modeled in Size and Style to Boxes of Matches
Oct 9, 2008
Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith (not related) were friends during their school days in Middlesex, England. After graduation, they went their separate ways. They found themselves together again in the navy during World War II. After the war, they decided to start their own company.
Lesney Products Launch
In 1947, the two launched Lesney Products, a die-casting business, in an abandoned pub called the Rifleman in East London. It was Rodney who had previous experience in die-casting, the process by which metal or plastic is poured into a mould.
A toy firm placed an order for component for a toy gun. This gave the partners an idea of manufacturing toys. Their very first toy, a steamroller, hit the stores in 1948, and by Christmas 1952, the company had 12 construction vehicles in its range.
Jack Odell Joins
Soon, the Smiths were joined by John 'Jack' Odell, one of Rodney's former colleagues and an extremely talented engineer and die-caster. Post-war was tough and as the company lacked a specialist niche they found it difficult to make ends meet.
As the story went, one day Odell returned home only to find his 5-year-old daughter in a miserable state. Her school had ruled that pupils may only bring to school toys small enough to fit in a matchbox. To pacify his daughter, Odell cast a miniature steamroller and as a poke at the school, he tucked the vehicle snugly into a matchbox complete with moveable wheels. The tiny truck was an instant hit in the school's playground.
Matchbox® Trademark
When Lesney Products created a replica of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation coach, they also produced a miniature version. The match-box-sized variety sold over million units. Having discovered an entirely new market, Lesney Products developed a range of small vehicles. Despite some skeptical store managers, they were a huge success, and in 1953, Lesney Products trademarked the name Matchbox®.
Mid-1950s
During these years, international exports grew and Matchbox became a household name.
Rodney Smith left the company in 1951.
The first vehicles in the Matchbox range appeared in 1953. They were a dump truck, steamroller, tractor and cement-mixer. Also produced were the first cars to hit the stores – an MG Midget TD, a Vauxhall Cresta and a Ford Zodiac.
In 1960, Lesney Products turned out some 50 million matchbox cars a year. Leslie Smith and Jack Odell become instant millionaires when Lesney Products was listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Beyond 1960
In 1968, Mattel, which also owns Barbie, introduced 'Hot Wheels.' Matchbox responded a year later with a range of miniature cars called 'Superfast Wheels,' but it couldn't compete with Mattel and lost heavily.
Mattel bought Matchbox in 1996, bringing Hot Wheels and Matchbox under the same ownership. Leslie Smith died on May 26, 2005 (age 87), and Jack Odell, on July 7, 2007.
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