Author Archives: Simon Epton

Early Mettoy Plastic Petrol Truck – cigarette dispenser novelty

The picture shows a plastic Mettoy NATIONAL Petrol Truck with a lift-off lid to the top of to the petrol tanker suggesting it was a novelty cigarette dispenser, known to have been produced by the company c.1954

Mettoy Plastic Toy History

In 1933 Philip Ullman a Jewish settler who owned Tipp & Co, settled in Britain to set up the Mettoy Company and was joined six months later by fellow Tipp & Co worker Arthur Katz, a similar Jewish settler (originally from South Africa). With a factory based in Northampton within two years they were employing 50 staff however the onset of WWII in 1939 meant production shifted from toys to tin plated armaments, land mines and gun magazines as instructed by the Ministry of Defence, who in turn supplied Mettoy with a much larger factory in Swansea to be able to meet the increasing need for munitions production. Being situated further west it was more secure from German air attack, another bonus was the availability of local raw materials and labour.

 

By 1946 with a much increased factory, which was now over 200,000 square feet in size, toy production resumed however with premises too large for the original tin plate toy production they looked towards the successes of both Meccano with its Dinky Toys range and Tri-ang (and its subsidiaries) who were producing toys from a different materials in particular heavier pressed steel models and plastics. So the business venturing into new areas and in 1948 produced their first diecast models, an exclusive range for Marks & Spencer which was to be the forerunner for the Mettoy CASTOYS range (out of which Corgi Toys grew).

In 1952 the factory installed a plastic injection moulding facility and was experimenting with plastic friction toys which it launched the following year within a shell company called Playcraft Toys Ltd.

For more information see our Corgi Toys Price Guide

Mettoy Tin Plate History – Joy Town Fire Station

The picture shows a Mettoy Joy Town Fire Station made c.1949

Mettoy Tin Plate Toy History

In 1933 Philip Ullman a Jewish settler who owned Tipp & Co, settled in Britain to set up the Mettoy Company and was joined six months later by fellow Tipp & Co worker Arthur Katz, a similar Jewish settler (originally from South Africa). With a factory based in Northampton within two years they were employing 50 staff however the onset of WWII in 1939 meant production shifted from toys to tin plated armaments, land mines and gun magazines as instructed by the Ministry of Defence, who in turn supplied Mettoy with a much larger factory in Swansea to be able to meet the increasing need for munitions production. Being situated further west it was more secure from German air attack, another bonus was the availability of local raw materials and labour.

By 1946 with a much increased factory, which was now over 200,000 square feet in size, toy production resumed however with premises too large for the original tin plate toy production they looked towards the successes of both Meccano with its Dinky Toys range and Tri-ang (and its subsidiaries) who were producing toys from a different materials in particular heavier pressed steel models and plastics. So the business venturing into new areas and in 1948 produced their first diecast models, an exclusive range for Marks & Spencer which was to be the forerunner for the Mettoy CASTOYS range (out of which Corgi Toys grew).

 

In 1952 the factory installed a plastic injection moulding facility and was experimenting with plastic friction toys which it launched the following year within a shell company called Playcraft Toys Ltd. By the end of 1955 the company had perfected the difficult technique of precision diecasting and the following year launched the Corgi range together with its famous ‘Corgi Club’, the success of which together with changing demand from children for harder wearing toys spelled the end of tin plate model production.

A History of Britains Herald Plastic Figures – Polar Exploration set

The picture shows the rare Herald Polar Exploration set

The term Herald plastic figures is synonymous with the word quality in miniature. First released in 1955, with a range of plastic farm animals the success of the range was in the quality of the detail of each figure and this is attributed to Roy Selwyn Smith, who started his career in 1947 moulding and sculpting plastic at Modern Packages a company owned by Myer Zang. Zang spotted the talent of Selwyn-Smith and left to his own devises produced a range of highly detailed plastic figures. In 1949 Selwyn Smith left Zang to join a company who made metal hollow cast moulds for the Timpo range of metal figures and models.

Spurred on by the success both companies had enjoyed through his endeavours, he sought funding to set up his own venture and in 1951 he established Selwyn Miniatures. Money was always tight on the venture considering it was only 6 years after WW2 and sadly Otto Gottstein, one of his main backers committed suicide leaving the business financially bereft. This lead to the moulds being sold to W. Britain Ltd and Selwyn-Smith rejoining Zang (in 1953), where he developed the Herald Miniatures range using Britains as a distributor.

The lower cost of polythene and moulding in brass moulds allowed plastic figures to have greater flexibility and quality over metal figures, and all this was starting to impact on the Britains range of hollowcast figures and in 1959 the Herald trademark was purchased by Britains from Zang.

Early figures are easily identified by a ‘trumpeter’ logo on the base; this logo exists on figures produced between 1955-1959. The 1959 Britains catalogue showed, for the first time, both ranges within the same catalogue and this was the start of a 5 year merger bringing the  figures under the Britains catalogue numbering system and over the period replacing the Herald ‘trumpeter’ logo with ‘Britains Ltd. England’ on the base.

More information can be found in our Britains Price Guide 2nd edition

Taylor and Barrett history and the Trolley Bus

Pictured left is a rare boxed London Trolley bus with conductor figure produced by Taylor & Barrett c.1939

The History of Taylor and Barrett

Two years after being demobbed from the Army following WW1, Fred G Taylor and Alfred Barrett set up Taylor and Barrett in 1920. Taylor (a former lift installer & repairer) and his brother-in- law Barrett (formerly a lead caster employed at W. Britain Ltd) were later joined by Barrett’s brother who similarly worked for W. Britain Ltd. followed by two of Barrett’s sons.

During the first ten years as toy makers their efforts were focussed on perfecting their technique so they specialised in the production of toy soldiers, farm and zoo animal figures for their own distribution and also for 3rd parties including Skybirds, Charbens, Kay, Tri-ang, retailers such as Selfridges and local wholesaler Whyte Ridsdale. During the 1930s they managed to perfect the very difficult fine diecasting process well enough on larger products so widened their range to include drawn carts and vehicles, the earliest of which are the Governess Cart & Pony and a Coolie Rickshaw. All pre war models were marked T&B.

In 1940 their Schofield Road, London, England factory was completely destroyed by an air raid resulting in the Taylor and Barrett partnership relocating to new premises, producing munitions for the war effort. All salvageable moulds were put into storage and following the war end, in 1945, the pair decided to split the moulds and go their own way, setting up as F.G. Taylor & Sons and A. Barrett & Sons, to help demobilize their own families and provide employment.

F.G. Taylor & Sons (who sometimes marked their toys For Good Toys rather than using their company name) and Barrett & Sons both remained in business until the early 1980s, though more as component part makers to industry rather than toy manufacturers.

Some of the most sought after pre-war Taylor & Barrett models include:

Elephant Ride set   –   Visitors to the Zoo set   –   Elephant Hunting set   –   Tiger Hunting set

Chimpanzee Tea Party set   –   Horse Drawn Milk Float   –   Mobile Animal Trainer & Vet

Chinese Coolie & Rickshaw (extremely rare versions are with an African figure)

Brewery Drayman with horse, cart & barrels   –   Trotting Pony Racer

Fire Engine with Turntable Fire Escape   –   Horse Drawn Water Cart   –   Trolley Bus

 

 

Hornby O Gauge Trolley Wagon – NE livery with brown base and unusual blue bolsters

The picture shows an unusual variation of the pre war Hornby O Gauge Trolley Wagon in NE livery with brown base and blue bolsters. This version was issued between 1927-30.

There are 5 pre war versions in the NE livery as follows:

1923 version – grey base, black bolsters, NE and 50 TON TROLLEY in white

1923-24 version – grey base, red bolsters, NE (on left side) and 50 TON TROLLEY in white

1923-24 version – grey base, red bolsters, NE (on right side) and 50 TON TROLLEY in white

1926-27 version – grey base, red bolsters, NE (both sides) in gold and grey buffers

1927-30 version – brown base, blue bolsters, NE (both sides) in gold

For more information see our Hornby Train Price Guide 2nd edition

Corgi 206 & 206M Hillman Husky

Pictured is a Corgi 206M Hillman Husky in grey issued in 1956 within the standard blue artwork box that was used throughout the life of this model/range.

Unmotorised versions (206) were introduced earlier the same year. Early issues have a WOW folded leaflet inside the box making them more valuable.

Known variations are as follows:

206 – brown, grey & metallic blue versions

206M – cream, blue (shade variations exist), turquoise & grey versions

For more information see our Corgi Toys Price Guide

 

Corgi 208 208M & 208S Jaguar 2.4 Litre

Pictured is a Corgi 208 Jaguar 2.4L in white issued in 1957 within the standard blue artwork box that was used throughout the life of this model/range.

The model was later introduced with a motorised version (208M) and later still with suspension (208S). Early issues have a WOW folded leaflet making them more valuable.

Known variations are as follows:

208 – white only

208M – metallic blue

208S – yellow (shade variations exist)

For more details see our Corgi Toys Price Guide

Dinky Toys 28 & 280 Series Delivery Van – Pickfords

Pictured is a very rare 1st type Dinky Toys 28b Delivery Van in blue Pickords livery which recently sold for £1800. This is the 1st type version cast in lead (and prone to fatigue) and is easily identified by its two piece casting.

Three casting variations of the 28 & 280 Series Delivery Vans exist, explained as follows:

1933-35 (1st Type) – two piece lead cast model; either HORNBY SERIES  or DINKY TOYS cast inside the cab roof, square diamond pattern tin plate radiator, brightly plated or coloured solid metal wheels. Measures 84mm

1935-39 (2nd Type) – one piece diecast model, vertical ridge shield shape radiator, smooth wheel hubs usually with white tyres, In general all 2nd type models show advertising. Measures 81mm

1939-41 (3rd type) – one piece diecast model, impressed squares within radiator, open rear windows, smooth wheel hubs usually with black tyres. In general all 3rd type versions show advertising. Measures 83mm

1947-54 (3rd type) – slight variation from above, the same one piece diecast model, impressed squares within radiator but with closed rear windows, ridged black wheel hubs with black tyres. No advertising. Measures 83mm

For more information see our Dinky Toys Price Guide.