Mattel Toys was founded by Harold Matson and Elliot Handler in 1945 in Hawthorne, California, USA. It started its journey with picture frames, but soon started making dollhouse furniture from picture frame scraps. From then on, the company began to sideline into toy manufacturing, steering the course for a booming future. Perhaps the most renowned achievement is the invention of the Barbie doll in 1959 by Ruth Handler, co-founder Elliots wife. It came about when Ruth noticed her daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls, imagining them in grown-up roles. Another milestone was the 1968 production of Hot Wheels, a 1:64 scale die-cast toy car line, which turned into a massive hit among children and collectors alike.