Rodney Smith

Rodney Smith (August 26, 1917 – July 20, 2013).  Co-founder of Lesney Industries along with his old school friend Leslie Smith (no relation) whom he served with during the war as members of the Royal Navy.

Although a founding father of the company, Rodney wanted to pursue other interests and sold his shares in the fledgling company to his two partners Leslie Smith & Jack Odell in 1951 and took shares in a pig & poultry farming business.  This however did not work out and in 1954 he took on Lesneys outdated equipment and returned to the field of diecasting, producing his own range in competition to Matchbox. This range became the Budgie range of toys which he remained with throughout takeovers until 1968 when the company folded.

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