Lots of fun for girls and boys, what have you got? Isn't it obvious, tin plate toys

 

Since the end of the 18th century tin has been toy makers metal of choice. The durability and ease of crafting has made tin an inexpensive material loved by toy makers, children, and collectors alike. Many different tin toys have been crafted over the years such as wind-up cars, robots, spaceships and even ice cream vendors like the one pictured here. Whilst most tin toys are completely tin, some have plastic parts such as heads and wheels.  

Some toy companies print designs directly on to the tin before it is shaped and crafted, whereas others use skilled workers to spray and enamel with stencils.

There have been many companies over the years, pre world war I makers include Märklin and Bing, Karl Bub, Ludwig Lutz and Hilpert.

Whilst the 1920’s gave birth to England’s tin toy evolution toy makers such as Frank Hornby, William Britain and Lines Brothers were crafting tin toys in the mid to late 1800’s. Frank Hornby was most famous for his clockwork tin train and toys sold under the name Meccano and William Britain was renowned for his soldiers but also made tin toys back in the 1880’s.

Here we have a varied selection of tin toys to be sold in our upcoming Antique, Interiors and General Sale on Wednesday 24^th March.