Jack and Nathan Benenson began manufacturing diecast toys at their foundry at 145 Gosport Road, Walthamstow, London E17 in the late 1940's. To begin with they traded under several names including 'Benson' or 'Benson Bros.' but in 1951 they settled on 'Benbros'. In 1954, perhaps in response to Lesney's Matchbox Toys which had appeared the year before, Benbros started a range of miniatures called the 'TV Series' because the boxes represented 1950's television sets.

 

Many of the early miniatures included little cast figures, horses or milk churns which Benbros had by then gained wide experience of making. In all there were 23 different models issued in the 'TV Series'.

 

Two years later In 1956 the Series was re-launched with new packaging and a new name, 'Mighty Midgets'. The boxes were bright red and yellow and the range of models was expanded until by 1958 it reached a total of 50.

 

The models in the 'TV & Mighty Midgets' collection covered a wide variety of vehicles and models. They were sometimes not of the highest quality in design and manufacture but with inclusion of the extra pieces they had good play value. And most of the models came in several different colours with a variety of wheel types. In fact, so many combinations can  be found that the full range is still being discovered so any guide will probably never be complete.

 

Boxes for the TV Series (TV) had the model name and colour picture on the 'screen'. The first boxes had no number (TV1), then a small number was added in the bottom right corner (TV2) until finally the boxes were printed with larger numbers (TV3). Occaisionally, boxes ran short so models were put into any box and a sticker put on the 'screen' for the model inside (TV4).

 

The bright red & yellow Mighty Midget (MM) boxes did not change in style but sometimes the line drawings of the models were not accurate especially with the articulated vehicles. The boxes carried the model name and number on each side with 'Benbros' on one side only. The end-flaps were left plain red.

 

Jack and Nathan Benenson sold their business in 1965 after which the production of Benbros diecast toys ceased.