The company's name came from the forenames of its founders Leslie Smith (1918 - 2005) and Rodney Smith (1917 - 2013). They were not related, but had been schoolfriends and also served together in the Royal Navy. With another partner, John Odell, they started making die-cast products and then moved on to model cars. Their breakthrough came when they produced a model of the royal state coach for the coronation in 1953 which sold over a million.
Odell designed a model for his daughter, (who was only allowed to bring toys to school which fitted into a matchbox) and the brand name was born. The range was phenomenally successful and the company received the Queen's Award for Industry in 1966. By the early eighties though, the economic climate forced the company into bankruptcy.
Trying to locate the factory we found that this 1960 map has a 'Factory' marked on the west side of the canal between the B112 and A106. Whereas the Matchbox cars sculpture is north of the B112 and the Lesney Products plaque is a long way south of the A106. Then we found photos of the Lesney factory being demolished, which confirm it was at the location of the sculpture. It is shown on the map, but not labelled as 'factory'.
This British Pathé film shows the little cars being made - delightful.
2024: Spitalfields Life published the 'Matchbox 1966 Collector’s Guide & International Catalogue'.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
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