The size of the models allowed Matchbox to occupy a market niche barely touched by the competition the associated price advantage made the toys affordable and helped establish "Matchbox" as a generic word for small toy cars, whatever the brand. This enabled them to make models with surprisingly high levels of detail, despite the small scale. To make such miniatures, the designers took detailed photographs of the real models, even obtaining some original blueprints. As the collection grew, it also gradually became more international, including models of Volkswagens, a Citroën, and American makes. The company decided to sell the models in replica matchboxes, thus yielding the name of the series.Īdditional models continued to be added to the line throughout the decade, including cars such as an MG Midget TD, a Vauxhall Cresta, a Ford Zodiac, and many others. A dump truck and a cement mixer completed the original three-model release that marked the starting point for the mass-market success of the Matchbox series. This toy ultimately became the first of the 1-75 miniature range. Her school only allowed children to bring toys that could fit inside a matchbox, so Odell crafted a scaled-down version of the Lesney green and red road roller. Lesney co-owner Jack Odell then created a toy that paved the way for the company's future success which was designed for his daughter. Their first major sales success was the popular model of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation coach, which sold more than a million models. The name Lesney was a portmanteau of Leslie and Rodney Smith's first names. The Matchbox name originated in 1953 as a brand name of the British die-casting company Lesney Products, whose reputation was moulded by John W. See also: Lesney Products A 1953-55 Lesney-Matchbox Road Roller, one of the first toys to be produced under the Matchbox name History Early years: Lesney, the origin of the Matchbox name and the 1-75 series Products currently marketed under the Matchbox name include scale model plastic and die-cast vehicles, and toy garages. By the 2000s, the box style packaging was re-introduced for the collectors' market, such as the 35th Anniversary of Superfast series in 2004 and the 50th Anniversary of Superfast in 2019. The brand grew to encompass a broad range of toys, including larger scale die-cast models, plastic model kits, slot car racing, and action figures.ĭuring the 1980s, Matchbox began to switch to the more conventional plastic and cardboard " blister packs" that were used by other die-cast toy brands such as Hot Wheels. The brand was given its name because the original die-cast "Matchbox" toys were sold in boxes similar to those in which matches were sold. Matchbox is a popular toy brand which was introduced by Lesney Products in 1953, and is now owned by Mattel, Inc, which purchased the brand in 1997.
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