Jack Odell Dead

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Jack Odell, the inventor of Matchbox Toys, has died in London at the age of 87.

Odell's son-in-law, Josh Walsh, said the inventor died July 7 after a battle with Parkinson's disease, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

The inventor concocted the first Matchbox vehicle, a steamroller, as a gift for his daughter in 1952, and the toy led to the creation of a business that has produced 3 billion tiny vehicles in 12,000 models.

Odell started the company in 1953 with two partners in London. The first Matchbox car -- the product the company is most known for -- rolled off the production line in 1954 as the 19th vehicle created by the company, the Times said.

Odell is survived by his wife, Patricia, two daughters, three stepdaughters and a brother.

In my obituary, Odell said in 1969, I want it said I was a damn good engineer.

credit: moldova.org