Matchbox Cars

A die cast toy that puts on happy smiles in children's faces.

Did you know that some toys were originally modeled in size and style to boxes of matches?  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 success.