Social History — 1952
Toy coach
This miniature coronation coach was one of the best known early products of the Hackney toy firm, Lesneys. Lesney’s was founded in 1947 by Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith as a die-casting firm. In 1947 they began to make die-cast toys, as an alternative to industrial components, and moved to a factory in Hackney. By 1952 they had an 8-strong workforce and a range of 13 or so toys. Their miniature coronation coach was a runaway success, selling over a million and enabling Lesney’s to expand and launch their now famous range of ‘Matchbox’ toys.
- Category:
- Social History
- Object ID:
- 52.146
- Object name:
- toy coach
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Lesney
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1952
- Material:
zinc alloy (Mazac), paper
- Measurements/duration:
- H 55 mm, L 300 mm, W 50 mm (model) (max), D 78 mm, L 342 mm, W 68 mm (box)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.