Smith-Miller
10 years in operation (1944–1954)
About Smith-Miller
Smith-Miller produced some of the finest and most accurate pressed-steel and cast-aluminum toy trucks ever made. Their Mack L-Line trucks were faithful replicas of real commercial vehicles with detailed cabs and working components. Smith-Miller trucks are extremely valuable collector items today.
Founding
Alfred Smith and Clifford Miller, who founded the company in Los Angeles in 1944 — the name is generally shortened to Smitty Toys in period advertising.
History of Smith-Miller
Smith-Miller made the best American toy trucks ever produced, and it made them for ten years. The construction is the point: cast aluminium cabs and pressed-steel bodies, rubber tyres on cast hubs, correctly proportioned to real Mack, GMC and other prototypes, and finished to a standard that put them well above the pressed-steel trade.
The Mack L-Line and B-Mack tractors, the aerial ladder fire truck, the Bekins Van Lines moving van and the livestock trailer are the pieces collectors pursue, and the commercial liveries — real haulage and moving companies — give them the same appeal that liveried Dinky Supertoys have in Britain.
They were expensive, which is why the company lasted a decade. Smith-Miller ceased original production in 1954. The tooling was later revived and Smith-Miller trucks have been produced for the collector market since, which makes distinguishing original 1940s and 1950s production from later reproduction the central question in this field.
Timeline
- 1944Smith and Miller found the company in Los Angeles
- 1947Cast-aluminium and pressed-steel Mack and GMC trucks establish the range
- 1950Commercial liveries including Bekins Van Lines are the best-known models
- 1954Original production ends
- 1978The tooling is revived for collector-market production under the Smith-Miller name
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Smith-Miller Mack L-Line truck
- Smith-Miller B-Mack truck
- Smith-Miller Aerial Ladder fire truck
- Smith-Miller Bekins Van Lines truck
- Smith-Miller livestock truck
Identifying & Dating Smith-Miller Toys
- Look for "Smith-Miller" or "Smitty Toys" cast into the cab or chassis, or on a decal, with "Los Angeles" or "Calif."
- Original production uses cast aluminium cabs on most models; later collector-market production differs in casting and finish detail.
- Livery decals are the identification for specific models and are frequently reproduced.
Collector's Notes
- Original versus later reproduction is the essential question and the price difference is large. Learn the casting and decal differences, or buy from a specialist who states which it is.
- Completeness matters: trailers, load accessories, ladders and the small parts are commonly missing, and reproductions of all of them are available.
- Aluminium castings can suffer white oxidation under old paint. Original paint with legible original decals is the premium; restored examples are common and sell well but for less.
Currently for Sale on eBay
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Categories
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Smith-Miller founded?
Smith-Miller was founded in 1944, based in Los Angeles, CA.
Is Smith-Miller still in business?
No. Smith-Miller ceased operations in 1954, after 10 years in business.
What is Smith-Miller best known for?
Smith-Miller is best known for Smith-Miller Mack L-Line truck, Smith-Miller B-Mack truck, Smith-Miller Aerial Ladder fire truck, among other toys.
Where was Smith-Miller located?
Smith-Miller was based in Los Angeles, CA.
What kinds of toys did Smith-Miller make?
Smith-Miller is categorized under pressed steel, trucks, cast aluminum.
Who founded Smith-Miller?
Alfred Smith and Clifford Miller, who founded the company in Los Angeles in 1944 — the name is generally shortened to Smitty Toys in period advertising.
How can you identify genuine Smith-Miller toys?
Look for "Smith-Miller" or "Smitty Toys" cast into the cab or chassis, or on a decal, with "Los Angeles" or "Calif." Original production uses cast aluminium cabs on most models; later collector-market production differs in casting and finish detail. Livery decals are the identification for specific models and are frequently reproduced.
Are Smith-Miller toys valuable?
Original versus later reproduction is the essential question and the price difference is large. Learn the casting and decal differences, or buy from a specialist who states which it is. Completeness matters: trailers, load accessories, ladders and the small parts are commonly missing, and reproductions of all of them are available. Aluminium castings can suffer white oxidation under old paint. Original paint with legible original decals is the premium; restored examples are common and sell well but for less.