Dinky Toys

As the summer gets fully under way, and the offspring, now free from the fetters of education, fly the nest, many parents will be tearing down the teenage posters, all too keen to paint the walls a fetching shade of magnolia, ready to transform their teenagers’ bedroom into something more suitable for the occasional visitor to sleep in.

It is also likely, that whilst too good to throw away, old and much loved toys will be packed up and stored in the loft, ready for the next generation to arrive.

Amongst them may well be Dinky Toys passed down from previous generations. They may be small but they remain big business for collectors, so before climbing up to the attic, sorting through them could reveal treasures worthy enough to fetch thousands of pounds; enough to pay for the re-decoration perhaps?

Dinky Toys is one of the most famous names. Started by Meccano, they were originally miniature models of vehicles, made at their factory in Liverpool, England from 1935 to 1979.  

Initially six vehicles were produced, all cast in lead (series 22, designated from a to f); a sports car, sports coupe, a truck, delivery van, a farm tractor and a tank. Thereafter different series soon began to appear as they increased the range of models.

These early versions were inaccurate representations, with die-cast bodies, chassis and wheels with rubber tyres. By the end of 1935 there were around 200 different models, including ships, aeroplanes and small trains, available in packs of six. Individual boxes were not introduced until 1952, which is useful to know when trying to date your finds.

Company liveries began to be used to decorate the vehicles, although production was halted for the factory to concentrate on the war effort between 1941 and 1945.

There were also problems in the early days with zinc pest, causing the metal to crumble prematurely, so it is rare to find surviving examples from this time that are in good condition. 

Unboxed items in good condition can still be bought for a few pounds, but rare models can go for thousands, as a look at their official site shows. Super toys and commercials are especially sought after. An early delivery van from 1937 sold for £10,000 in 1994.

There are so many different types of Dinky Toys to collect that most collectors prefer to focus on one particular area, which could be planes, military, TV collectables or sports cars.

Although the internet is a good source, many collectors though still favour swapmeets that allow the models to be examined more closely before buying. Technology, along with innovation and competition from abroad, meant that well-produced traditional British toys like Dinky Toys were destined to meet their eventual demise. The factory finally closed its doors in November 1979, with other well known companies such Corgi Toys and Matchbox, eventually following suit, as the companies were sold to foreign investors.

The History of British Dinky Toys 1934-1964 by Cecil Gibson is a must have for serious collectors, but even in its paperback form a new copy, if you can find one, will set you back £50.