| Matchbox started the 1950's in a world with a | | | | motor car production and from this stockpile of |
| new war looming in Korea. At the start of this | | | | zinc a large profit was made for Lesney. |
| conflict the metal "zinc" was banned by the | | | | With the end of the zinc ban Lesney started to |
| government for use in toys. This was a serious | | | | produce for Moko a model called Muffin the Mule |
| setback for Lesney as zinc is an ingredient of the | | | | which was based on a very popular British TV |
| mazac metal used in die cast toys and | | | | puppet of the same name. |
| consequently the company fell on harsh times. | | | | The royal state coronation coach was then |
| The irony was that the company had stockpiled | | | | produced and this was their biggest selling die cast |
| tons of zinc but could not use it. | | | | model to date and sold over a million units of the |
| It was at this time that Rodney Smith, thinking | | | | miniature coronation coach. This catapulted the |
| that the die cast toy business was on the way | | | | company to the forefront of British diecast toy |
| out, decided to leave the firm and he offered his | | | | manufacturers. |
| part of the company to the two other partners. | | | | The idea of holding the toy cars in match boxs |
| He was bought out by Leslie Smith and Jack Odell | | | | came from the fact that Odells oldest daughter |
| for the sum of £8000 ... a large sum in | | | | could only bring one plaything to school providing |
| those days. | | | | that the toy would fit in to a match box. |
| After Rodney had left the company something | | | | Jack discovered that his new small toys could fit |
| had to done to use the tons of zinc the company | | | | quite snugly in to a matchbox from the Norvic |
| had stockpiled so Odell, using his contacts, secured | | | | Match Company Ltd from Czechoslovakia ... and |
| a contract to produce castings that were used in | | | | the name 'Matchbox' was born. |