Mario Besana

Born in Barzano, Italy, in 1925 Besana started out as a bookseller before founding Mebetoys (Mechanical Besana Toys) with his brothers Martino and Ugo. Initially producing toy guns, they soon added toy cars in 1/43 and 1/24 to the product range and found great success during the 1960's heyday of Italian diecast. The company became so successful that it was sold to Mattel in 1968, after which Besana started Bburago (the first "B" standing for Besana, and rest of the name coming from the region where the toys were produced.) Besana died in 2009, aged 84.

Subject ID: 2797

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Born in Barzano, Italy, in 1925 Besana started out as a bookseller before founding Mebetoys (Mechanical Besana Toys) with his brothers Martino and Ugo. Initially producing toy guns, they soon added toy cars in 1/43 and 1/24 to the product range and found great success during the 1960's heyday of Italian diecast. The company became so successful that it was sold to Mattel in 1968, after which Besana started Bburago (the first "B" standing for Besana, and rest of the name coming from the region where the toys were produced.) Besana died in 2009, aged 84.

Subject ID: 2797

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