Ruth Handler of plastics, Lucite and Plexiglas. Ruth Handler suggested that he start doing this commercially and they began a furniture business. Ruth Handler worked as the sales force for the new business, landing contracts with Douglas Aircraft Company and others. Her husband Elliot Handler and his business partner Harold "Matt" Matson formed a small company to manufacture picture frames, calling it "Mattel" by combining part of their names ("Matt" and "Elliot"). Later, they began using scraps from the manufacturing process to make dollhouse furniture. The furniture was more profitable than the picture frames and it was decided to concentrate on toy
Maco (toy company) of products and did not operate in other countries. Competitors included Hawk Model Company, Applause Inc, and Louis Marx and Company. In 1955, the New York City Council passed a bill to "ban the manufacture, sale or possession of imitation revolvers that resemble the real article too closely". In a debate about the measure, an Army .45 caliber automatic manufactured by Maco was used as an example of a toy gun which was similar enough to the real model to be used as a weapon in a robbery. Maco (toy company) Maco Toys, Inc., was the name of a popular