Matbro was set up by 2 brothers after the war, to trade in army surplus machinery and latter they started to build industrial handling machinery under the Matbro brand. In 1949 they developed a rough terrain forklift based on a Fordson E27N Major tractor skid unit, the US Army surplus forklift they used in the yard kept getting stuck on the rough surface. This machine was demonstrated to the press in 1950 and put into production. The option of petrol or Perkins P^ power for the Fordson E27N Major unit was offered, as well as a choice of wheels. The machine had a 2 ton lift to a max of 9 ft height. When the Forsdon was updated the MkII was introduced in 1953. They Built them in a 10000 sqft factory that there father rented to them and produced up to 9 a week.