The Nuts and Bolts of Vintage Tin ToysBefore Game Boy and Play Station, there were tin toys. During their heyday, these whimsical toys amused children for hours. Today, these toys have great nostalgic appeal. Here's your guide to tin toys. The Players. In England, Wells, Hornby and Chad Valley were dominant players in the tin toy market. During the post-1930 period, these companies were at their peak and any of their work from this period is very desirable. In Germany, Märklin and Bing were the big guns. In France, it was Fernand Martin. Toys by any of these makers are desirable. How It Started. Before there were tin toys, children pLaid with wood and paper toys. Tinplating was developed during the Industrial Revolution. Its discovery made the tinplated toy industry possible. Tinplate was fashioned into boats, submarines, cars, planes, horse drawn carriages and more. Germany dominated the pre-WWI export market. The outbreak of WWI forced the rest of Europe, Japan and the US into the market due to wartime shortages and to counteract the German dominance. After WWI, Germany refocused their economy and regained market dominance in tin toys. But once again, war affected commerce when WWII resulted in shortages in raw materials and a battle-focused economy. Post WWII, when Germany and Japan received financial aid to revitalize their economies, the tin toy industry in these countries was revived. Just as tin toys were once the hot new toy replacing wood and paper toys, tin toys were usurped by plastic toys by the 1970s. These new plastic toys captured the imaginations of children since they were cheaper to produce, didn't rust and were sturdy. How They're Made. Tin toys were made from sheet iron that was plated with a protective layer of tin to prevent rusting. Before the Industrial Revolution, tin toys were stamped out, molded and hand painted. The Industrial Revolution led to mass production. Around 1875, lithography - a transfer printing process whereby a series of dots make up colors - was invented. This eliminated the time-consuming hand painting and increased production. Part of the charm of tin toys is that you wind them up and away they go. The clockwork mechanism (the mechanical part of a watch that makes it tick) is responsible for this action. In 1945, clockwork mechanisms were replaced by battery-operated mechanisms. Condition. If a tin toy looks brand new, works perfectly and is in a pristine box, it is considered to be in mint condition. Very good condition refers to a toy without spots or dents. Some fading is acceptable. Good condition means reasonable condition. Play-worn implies just that - a used toy which may have chips in the paint and missing parts. Keep any original boxes regardless of the shape because they help to authenticate the manufacturer and date. Paint Repairs. The lithography process makes paint repairs almost impossible to do. And a poor restoration job will lessen the value of a toy. How to Date Tin Toys - Part I. A little knowledge of lithography can help to figure out the age of tin toys. In older lithography - (1875 - 1960) each color was printed on a separate plate. Under a magnified glass, you'll see dots appearing in an irregular pattern. Newer lithography - (1960 to present) only four colors - black, red, yellow and blue are combined to make up all the colors in the rainbow. Under a magnified glass, dots will appear in a regular pattern. How To Date Tin Toys - Part II. From the end of WWII until 1950s, German toys were labeled "Made in US Zone" and items made in Japan were marked "Occupied Japan". After 1950s, Japan used "Made in Japan" and Germany used "Made in West Germany". Keep these two tips in mind when you're trying to figure out how old a tin toy is. Hot Toys. Japanese robots and exotic limousines from the 1950 - 1960s are desirable to serious collectors. Plus, any Batman and Disney tin toys continue to be popular. Spotting Fakes. Spotting fakes with tin toys is tricky. The marks on many new toys are the exact same as the marks used on old items because some manufacturers such as Paya, a Spanish company, continue to use the original moulds and dies. One thing for you to watch for is that newer models tend to be marked with "Limited Edition". Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium located in Toronto, Canada. He has appeared on a variety of television programs; does furniture restoration; caning and rushing repairs; appraisals and has taught courses on antiques at the Learning Annex. Martin can be reached at http://www.takeaboo.com
MORE RESOURCES updated Fri. April / 19 / 2024 The Temple 40et8 will host a craft show on April Cadillac News The nostalgic crafts that are making a comeback Yahoo Movies UK The Benefits of Gentler Hobbies Next Avenue New restaurant and new crafts store planned for Bradenton shopping center development Bradenton Herald 6 Craft Hobbies Everyone's Talking About In 2024 Country Living UK Crafts retailer Joann files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as consumers cut back on pandemic-era hobbies The Macomb Daily Town Info: Learn a new hobby with the BWG Library BradfordToday Lancaster Countians win PA Farm Show ribbons for crafts, hobbies, plants, square dancing LNP | LancasterOnline Craft and hobby classes in St. Louis St. Louis Magazine Having a hobby tied to happiness and well-being Harvard Health One Tank Trips | AdhDiy Craft Cafe KSHB 41 Kansas City News The Latest Craze in Hobby Crafting: Becoming a 21st-Century Blacksmith The New York Times 8 Craft Hobbies Set To Be Popular This Autumn And Winter Country Living UK Joann fabric and hobby stores enter bankruptcy; post-pandemic craft decline cited - The Mercury News The 20 Most Relaxing Hobbies to Try This Year Country Living UK The Alphabetical Guide To Craft Hobbies | A-Z List Of Crafts Country Living UK 4 Craft Hobbies To Try Out This Summer | Best Summer Crafts 2023 Country Living UK Second Saturday event at Factory attracts shoppers, crafts: in photos Columbia Daily Herald Hobby Supplies: How to Organize Your Hobby Room with ADHD ADDitude magazine Rug Tufting: An Old Craft That's New Again Next Avenue National Craft Month - March National Day Calendar Best new hobby deals for 2024: Lego kits, DIY jewelry making, ClassPass subscriptions, and more Mashable Union Township man nets 34 ribbons at Bloom Fair; locals get 156 ribbons Shenandoah Sentinel 8 new hobbies to try in the St. Louis area Ladue News Six Independent Craft Stores to Visit in Around Boston Boston magazine Meet Mike Larisey, owner of Maritime Hobbies & Crafts Ltd Downtown Halifax Joann craft retailer files for bankruptcy Globe Gazette The calming influence of crochet: How ASU students find relief from stress in the craft - The Arizona State Press The State Press Looking to pick up a new hobby? Indigo Studio is here to help. inputfortwayne.com New Year New Skills: 31 Hobbies To Pick Up In 2024 Outlook India Craft fairs, Hobby Con in Williams Lake this weekend Williams Lake Tribune Cobblestone Crafts listed for sale after four decades for $679K HollandSentinel.com The Heritage Crafts On The Brink Of Extinction Country Living UK London Named UK's Craftiest City | The Most Creative Areas Country Living UK Best craft classes for adults in Los Angeles Los Angeles Times OPINION: A love letter to arts and crafts Indiana Daily Student The Best Craft for Each Zodiac Sign Best Life The Hobby Lobby Controversy, Explained The Mary Sue How Crafting Saved My Life | Sutton Foster Maria Shriver As It Turns Out, You Don't Actually Need to Be Good at Your Hobbies Apartment Therapy Bored at home? Now’s the perfect time to pick up a new hobby CNN Underscored West Virginia Hobbies & Crafts: A 25-year success story Huntington Herald Dispatch Leny Handy Crafts: How a hobby became a business Manila Bulletin Business Intel: Crossroads Hobbies and Crafts Roanoke Times Endangered Crafts and the Destinations Keeping Them Alive (Published 2019) The New York Times Handicrafts and hobby store giant Milbby to open its first branch in the province on the Costa del Sol Surinenglish.com Yo! Easter offers skills, sports and hobbies for everyone | City Of Wolverhampton Council Wolverhampton City Council Best craft kits for kids that could inspire a new hobby Evening Standard Hobbies and Crafts Theme Cruises Cruise Critic Hobby Lobby vs. Michaels: Which craft store is better? Business Insider The 16 biggest controversies in Hobby Lobby's five decade history Business Insider 30 Best Hobbies for Women - Creative Activities to Fill Your Free Time Good Housekeeping Lost trades: The industrial origins of crafts and hobbies National Science and Media Museum Druid City Makerspace offers room for people who create arts, crafts Tuscaloosa Magazine Business Intel: Salem Hobby Shop Roanoke Times Nobel prizes most often go to researchers who defy specialization – winners are creative thinkers who synthesize ... The Conversation Indonesia Crafts & Hobbies City of Aurora Arts and Crafts Are Experiencing Surge in Popularity Amid COVID-19 Smithsonian Magazine
|