Matchbox
The early days of (Lesney and) Matchbox Toys can be traced back to a 1947 vacant London pub where entrepreneurs Leslie and Rodney Smith (no relation) decided to begin a diecasting business. They began by manufacturing zinc ally compounds for the military and industry. Before long they were experimenting with a few toy products as well. The earliest toys included a walking Jumbo the Elephant tin windup toy and a puppet known as Muffin the Mule as well as a horse-drawn "rag and bone" cart including a driver, bicycle frame, bed frame, and assorted cast-offs. Other early vehicles included a soap-box racer, a road roller, Caterpillar tractor and bulldozer, a Massey Harris tractor, a Prime Mover truck, and a cement mixer. A Historical Coach Lesney made British history with the release of the Coronation Coach in 1953. A large and small version were produced to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Matchbox series of toys were introduced in 1953 with the Number 1 Diesel Road Roller; Number 2 Dumper; and Number 3 Cement Mixer. Each vehicle was a smaller version of earlier Lesney toys. Since 1960, the Matchbox Miniatures has featured 75 models each year. An exception did occur in 1981 when numbers 76 through 79 were issued in Japan. These models featured miniatures of popular Japanese cars. The other exception to the 1-75 series was a set of vehicles issued with Roman numerals I through to X. In 1982 Lesney sold the Matchbox line to the Universal Holding Company of Hong Kong. Universal also purchased the Dinky brand of England in 1987 and incorporated it into the Matchbox product line. Also acquired and briefly incorporated into the Matchbox line was Kidco's "Burnin' Key Cars". "Matchbox Toys Intl." and "Matchbox Toys Inc." replaced the Lesney bases on all toy models. In October, 1992, Matchbox was sold to Tyco Toys and then again in 1997 to Mattel. Matchbox continues to produce new models and update older ones to replace existing models of the 1-75 series. I have to say its all very complicated & frankly a bit beyond my passing interest, but it helps to fill the page up. I take no credit for the information on this page, its plagiarism at its very best.
Best go have a butchers at Lesney & Dinky whilst your at it.
Matchbox Models of Yesteryear Fire Engine Series 1:43 1952 Srs I Landrover Auxiliary
Matchbox Models of Yesterday Fire Engine Series 1:43 Srs II Royal Navy Rescue Truck
Promotional Matchbox Ninety Bacardi Rum 1:62 & Seafire speedboat on trailer (mislabelled as a Jeep)
Matchbox Defender 90 "Best of British"
 |
 |
|
Matchbox Ninety Park Ranger
1987 1:62
|
Matchbox Ninety K9 Patrol
1:62
|
Matchbox 97 Defender 110 1:62
Matchbox Superkings 110 FRANKFURT FLUGHAFEN (LHD)