Lesney
It all started just after the end of WW2 when two young, demobbed men were looking for work after returning home. Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith (not related) met up and decided to start their own business. They decided on die casting as Rodney was an engineer with DCMT previously. They decided to call themselves 'LESNEY' from a composite of their names and added PRODUCTS on the end as they were still unsure about what they were going to make. The company came into being on January the 19th. 1947 - go see Matchbox for a bit more blurb.
Lesney "Matchbox" Series No 12 Safari
Matchbox Lesney No 57 Firetruck
Lesney Srs II No 12
Lesney Srs II (missing driver ?)