Jack Odell

Odell (on the right) (http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_01/matchboxDM_468x337.jpg)

I first became aware of Jack Odell searching for a hero who liked to create things for others to enjoy. I found that Jack had invented the matchbox car for his daughter. After reading a few articles I found that the reason he made the car was because at the school Jack’s daughter Anne attended, they were only allowed to bring toys to school if they fit in a matchbox. Anne would bring Spiders in her matchbox and scare the other children. So, Jack made the car to fit in her matchbox, and all the other kids began wanting them, and they became very popular. What I find attractive about his career is the joy he created for so many people when it was all not intended to make millions and billions of dollars; it was just for his daughter’s entertainment. He truly did something, made something for others to enjoy and they still do today even after his death which I find heroic. I think it is a great way to make a lot of money, because he didn’t really do too much, but made a lot for a lot of people. He made small yet affordable cars for children and sold them, over the years he sold many. He retired in the 80’s and then came out of retirement a little while after and just continued working, to me, that is another thing I find heroic.

Matchbox car (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gb-JVVPbQkU/Rp_-tW66f0I/AAAAAAAAARA/8tf-6AqTMEw/s320/17odell.600.jpg)

Jack Odell is a toy creator/designer, however, this was not intentional. The car he made for Anne was made in a factory he worked in, in the factory they had planned to make parts for cars, and they still did, except they were matchbox cars instead. In some places now a days you probably need more education. Jack however, attended school until he was kicked out at the age of thirteen, which is when he began working. I am not positive about how much Jack’s salary is or was, but I do know that over the many years those matchbox cars helped make Odell the man he was.

Matchbox car (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gb-JVVPbQkU/Rp_-tW66f0I/AAAAAAAAARA/8tf-6AqTMEw/s320/17odell.600.jpg)

I am unsure if Odell really had a path he was following. I don't believe early in life he had a path. Odell was kicked out of school at an early age. From there he went from job to job. He drove vans, sold real estate, and worked as a movie projectionist. He found himself working in a factory where he had planned to make car parts, the same factory where he ended up making the matchbox cars, the start of his career. The career Odell would work in for many years.

Matchbox car (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wAETpohuUBI/Rp7hySE0J3I/AAAAAAAAAxE/Q3KGOVIKQcs/s400/4ab8_3.jpg)

The way I believe that Odell contributed to society was through the matchbox cars, as I stated before creating things for others to enjoy. So many children enjoyed those matchbox cars. Favorite toys to some Children and they were pretty affordable. that is the way Odell contributed.

Jack Odell (http://www.matchboxmemories.com/Lesney%20History/85450033-10.jpg)

If Want a career like Odell's, I would just have to look up what kind of a college I would need to go to, and what classes to take. Jack didn't need that because the job kind of came to him. I don't know that I want to become a toy maker/designer/creator, However I do know that I would like to create things for people to enjoy because I believe that is a great quality for a hero, and even if you aren't considered a hero, it is a nice quality regardless.