jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

In the 1950s, if kids wanted to bring toys to school in England, they had to fit inside a matchbox. That led to the Matchbox cars, and they became an international success. Not to be outdone, Mattel went a few steps farther and introduced the Hot Wheels series. They became the most successful toys ever and caused Matchbox to shut down. Ironically, the company that forced Matchbox to close eventually bought the company, and it continues to offer the Matchbox cars today. It doesn't look like they come in the little matchbox, though.

- from the History channel

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Such is Life!!

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

In the late '50's my friend and I would play "war" with his Matchbox military pieces. He had the complete set from Sherman tanks to 105 mm howitzers. They were considerably bigger than the little Matchbox cars, though. I had a similar set of "Dinky Toys" which, I guess, was some company trying to compete with Matchbox. Just like my American Flyer trains, they'd be worth a mint, now, if I still had them.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, I remember all those toys, and the green "army men."

Dannj

How many times did I step on one of those %#*+ things😂😂😂

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Gotta love em!! I have them all around my place, I still find old ones in the yard when I dig for planting and such, and I have some bought for the HO train and slot car table. My son and his buddies were always playing with them.... I even have one that is a close copy of my 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV Veloce Coupe, and another of a Jeep Cherokee Chief, and a Grand Wagoneer, and a few others that sit on a shelf....Even have a couple I bought when I was young...

bamfordr Loc: Campbell CA

“Matchbox” probably dates a person as much as “carbon copy” - and, perhaps, “dial a number”.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Our oldest is now on the high side of mid-40's but I still remember the hordes of those tiny cars, trucks, tanks etc. In fact there are several of the storage boxes full in the garage right now. My mother worked for Sears and had a friend in the clearance section so he had an endless supply of open box and returned toys - mostly the "Match Box" style stuff and the "Transformer" type things, well there was a short time it was the horses and action figures all to the same scale. GI Joe looked a little strange riding a pinto but...

When he was a toddler I took him cross country LA County to my home town in Western Kentucky to meet his Great Grandmother and the rest of the family.
I had a four wheel drive Subaru wagon, Adults in the front seats, back seat packed with luggage in the foot well to level it off and then blankets and pillows to make it a little bedroom for him and the rest of the luggage in the back covered with an earth tone Navaho rug making hills etc. for him to run them over and up and down while we were on the interstate. Then he spread them all over "Grandma's house" along with his talking books and tape player. The family was astonished that a two year old could sit for hours looking at the books or playing with the little cars etc. while the tape player "read" to him.

chefdz Loc: Az

How many of us collected the new ford cars that came in Grape Nuts Flakes boxes? They were plastic and all one collar so of course we had to paint the trim and interior.
Chefdz

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

First car I ever owned, a Ford Zodiac Convertible, No. 39. Bought it brand new for 50¢.

(Download)

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Look at the patena on that baby...cool! It was probably very reliable!!! :

GEngel-usmc Loc: Spencerport NY - I miss Lakeland, FL

Just found my box of 50 yr-old ‘N’ Gauge Warbirds I used for an N-Gauge Airfield Train layout. Flying Tiger P-40 decals and all… Memories… sigh

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California