The company
was fonded in 1947 by the
unrelated Leslie and Rodney Smith who combined theirs names
form “Lesney Product Ltd".
The most famous of the various products for first series,
was the "Coronation Coach", which was specially created to
celebrate the coronation of the Queen, Elisabeth II, in 1953.
During the 1950s the
company developped the hightly succesful Matchbox “ 1-75”
series and “Model of Yesteryear” range.
Lesney
Products issued their first diecast toys in 1948.
Whilst production
ceased during the Korean war period (1952-59), the models
produced formed the basis from wich the “1-75” series was
launched in 1953.
They were sold in
boxes under the name “MoKo” who were ultimately to also market
all the early “1-75” series models.
Following a difficul
trading period “Lesney Products Ltd” was bought in 1982 by the
“Universal Toy & Co” of Hong Kong.
Today certain models in
the 1-75 series are highly sought after and fetch high prices
on auction.