The Nuts and Bolts of Vintage Tin Toys
By Martin
Swinton
Editor's Summary: This articles provides some tips on
dating vintage tin toys. The article starts with a little history
of the tin toy and how they were made. Various definitions of conditions
are also discussed. Tips for spotting fake vintage tin toys are
also included.
Before 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 played 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
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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