Dinky Toys

Dinky Toys was a British brand of small die-cast models created and produced by Meccano Ltd., the Liverpool company best known for its Meccano construction sets and Hornby model railways. Its products were principally made from zamak, a zinc-based alloy, and represented cars, commercial vehicles, military equipment, aircraft, ships, railway accessories, traffic signals and road signs. The range became one of the defining British toy-model marques of the twentieth century and is now strongly associated with vintage die-cast collecting. The name emerged from Meccano's railway-accessory program. In 1933, the company introduced small trackside and railway-related accessories for its O gauge Hornby trains. These items initially appeared under the description Hornby Modelled Miniatures, but the name Meccano Dinky Toys was used in the April 1934 issue of Meccano Magazine. By August 1935, Meccano had dropped its name from the marque, leaving DINKY TOYS as the principal branding. The range broadened rapidly beyond railway accessories. Early releases included generic cars, vans, trucks, tractors, tanks, figures, aircraft and ships, while later models increasingly reproduced identifiable real vehicles with more accurate proportions and details. The pre-war range included the first numbered vehicle series, beginning with models designated 22a to 22f, followed by the model numbered 23 and the larger Series 24 and Series 30. Commercial vehicles often carried the liveries of recognizable companies, giving the toys an early connection with real-world transport and brands. In 1937–1939, Meccano added a substantial military range, including tanks, artillery tractors, reconnaissance vehicles, anti-aircraft equipment and trailers. Aircraft and ships were also important parts of the early assortment. A Spitfire model was sold in a special presentation box in connection with the Spitfire Fund, helping raise money toward an aircraft for the Royal Air Force. Production stopped as a normal toy activity during the Second World War. The Binns Road factory was used for war work, while Meccano's French operation was affected by occupation. A limited number of pre-war models continued to be sold from existing stocks, but no ordinary new Dinky Toys production took place between 1941 and 1945. Manufacturing resumed after the war with military reissues and new civilian vehicles. The post-war 40 series, consisting largely of British saloons and sports cars, marked a major improvement in accuracy, finish and alloy quality. These models are often regarded as the classic or golden-age Dinky Toys range. Meccano also developed a larger commercial-vehicle line called Dinky Supertoys in 1947. It included delivery vans, heavy haulage equipment, television-service vehicles, railway-related vehicles and military transporters. The Supertoys designation was discontinued after Lines Brothers acquired Meccano Ltd. in 1964; the larger models were subsequently marketed as Dinky Toys. The brand continued to evolve during the 1950s and 1960s, adopting new numbering systems, individual packaging and increasingly detailed models of contemporary European, British and American vehicles. Aircraft production declined around 1968 but returned in 1971 with larger models, including Second World War aircraft, modern jet fighters and a Sea King helicopter. Some of these products had been developed by Airfix and were manufactured by Meccano after Airfix's acquisition of Meccano. Ship production was much stronger before the war, although additional larger maritime models appeared in 1976. The main English production era ended in 1979. Surviving examples, packaging, variations, factory errors and unreleased or rare castings have made Dinky Toys an important field of collecting. Early models are particularly affected by zinc pest, a form of alloy deterioration that can cause cracking and disintegration.

Dinky Toys developed from Meccano Ltd.'s effort to supply small accessories for its Hornby model railway system. Meccano had been founded by Frank Hornby in 1908 and had expanded from construction sets into model railways. In 1933, it issued small railway and trackside objects in support of its O gauge trains. These products were initially described as Hornby Modelled Miniatures, but the Dinky Toys name appeared in Meccano Magazine in April 1934. By August 1935, the Meccano part of the name had been removed. The earliest Dinky products were not consistently accurate scale models. They included figures, railway workers, passengers, signs, traffic lights and generic vehicles, generally cast in lead before the broader adoption of zamak. Initial vehicle releases included six models numbered 22a to 22f, followed by a sports car based on the MG Magic Midget and the Series 24 range. Series 28 expanded commercial vehicles, while Series 30 introduced recognizable subjects such as Chrysler, Rolls-Royce, Daimler and Vauxhall saloons. By the middle of the 1930s, the range also included aircraft, ships and small trains, with commercial vehicles sometimes decorated in company liveries. The pre-war period also produced significant military, maritime and aviation ranges. Between 1937 and 1939, Meccano introduced military models numbered 151 to 162, including tanks, trucks, artillery equipment, searchlights and trailers. Some were reissued after the war, while military subjects remained part of the brand until the end of production. Aircraft included both civilian and military types. A model Spitfire was sold in a special box connected with the Spitfire Fund. Ships were generally produced in small scales and included both commercial and naval subjects. The period from 1938 to 1941 exposed a serious materials problem. Impure zinc alloy could deteriorate through zinc pest, causing castings to crack, swell or crumble. This disproportionately affects surviving pre-war models and explains why some apparently ordinary releases are now scarce or difficult to find in good condition. Normal toy production stopped during the war. Meccano's Liverpool works were used for war-related manufacturing, and the French factory was occupied. Some older stock was sold, but new Dinky Toys production did not resume fully until after 1945. The post-war revival began with military jeeps and then moved toward a more ambitious civilian range. The 40 series of British saloons and sports cars used better alloy and offered substantially improved modeling and finish. These cars, produced in the late 1940s and 1950s, are widely considered the brand's classic period. In 1954, Meccano reorganized the British catalogue around three-digit model numbers and increasingly sold cars in individual boxes rather than trade packs. Commercial vehicles became a major pillar of the business. Introduced in 1947, Dinky Supertoys used the familiar Dinky scale for larger lorries, vans, heavy transporters and specialist vehicles. The line included Guy and Bedford vans, television production and camera vehicles, military transporters, test chassis, horse boxes and heavy-haulage models. Lines Brothers acquired Meccano in 1964, and from 1965 the Supertoys label was largely abandoned in favor of Dinky Toys. A French trademark, Super Dinky, was used only briefly. During the 1950s and 1960s, Dinky modeled an expanding range of British, European and American cars, as well as buses, trucks and military vehicles. The company also issued increasingly elaborate play features, including opening parts, articulated equipment, removable loads and movable guns or searchlights. Aircraft production declined by 1968, then returned in 1971 with larger models, including powered propeller aircraft and modern military helicopters. Some of this later aviation work was associated with Airfix-developed models manufactured by Meccano after Airfix acquired Meccano. Ships had been most prominent before the war. A post-war French model of the liner France was followed by a further group of larger maritime releases in 1976. The main English Dinky Toys production period ended in 1979. Today the brand is chiefly known through surviving vintage models, packaging, catalogues and collector variants. Its historical importance rests on its role in popularizing small die-cast representations of real transport and on its influence on later British model-toy brands.

• 1979

  End of principal English production

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  The principal Dinky Toys manufacturing era in England concluded.

• 1976

  Larger ship models are added

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  Five additional maritime models appeared in larger scales after a long period in which ship releases had been limited.

• 1971

  Large aircraft range returns

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  The brand added a renewed group of larger aircraft, including powered propeller models and modern military subjects.

• 1965

  Supertoys designation is dropped

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  After the Lines Brothers takeover of Meccano, larger commercial models were marketed under Dinky Toys rather than Dinky Supertoys.

• 1954

  Catalogue numbering is reorganized

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  The British range moved to unique three-digit model numbers and individual car packaging became increasingly standard.

• 1947

  Dinky Supertoys launches

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  Meccano created a larger commercial-vehicle line under the Dinky Supertoys name.

• 1946

  Post-war production resumes

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  The first significant English post-war release was a U.S. military jeep, followed by new civilian and military models.

• 1941

  Regular production stops for war work

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  The Liverpool factory shifted to war-related production and regular new Dinky Toys output ceased.

• 1937

  Military range introduced

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  Meccano began issuing a substantial group of military vehicles and equipment, numbered mainly from 151 to 162.

• 1935

  Meccano name removed from the marque

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  The product line became branded simply as DINKY TOYS, while the range expanded to roughly 200 products by the end of the year.

• 1934

  Dinky Toys name appears

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  The name Meccano Dinky Toys was used in Meccano Magazine and became the defining name for the miniature range.

• 1933

  Railway accessory range begins

  [1]Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org

  Meccano introduced small railway and trackside accessories for its O gauge Hornby trains, creating the product base from which Dinky Toys developed.

Detailed, accessible miniature representations of real vehicles and transport infrastructure, positioned between railway accessories and collectible die-cast toys. Over time, Dinky Toys moved from simplified generic castings toward more accurate and highly finished models of recognizable British, European and American subjects.

• Early die-cast vehicles · 1934

  Series 22 and 23 vehicles

  The earliest numbered Dinky vehicle groups included a sports car, sports coupe, truck, delivery van, farm tractor and tank. The separately numbered 23 model was based on the MG Magic Midget and helped establish Dinky's vehicle identity beyond railway accessories.

• Model cars and service vehicles · 1935

  Series 30

  Introduced in the mid-1930s, Series 30 was an important step toward recognizable vehicle modeling. Its subjects included Chrysler Airflow, Rolls-Royce, Daimler and Vauxhall saloons, as well as an ambulance and breakdown vehicle. Commercial and service models increasingly used real-world styling and liveries.

• British cars · 1938

  Series 36

  Series 36 comprised British saloons, coupés and sports cars such as Rover, Bentley, Armstrong-Siddeley, British Salmson and Humber subjects. Many were introduced before the war and some continued into the post-war period.

• Military vehicles · 1937

  Military series 151–162

  This pre-war and wartime-oriented group included light and medium tanks, an Austin military car, six-wheeled trucks, reconnaissance vehicles, searchlight lorries, anti-aircraft guns, artillery tractors and specialized trailers. Military models remained a recurring part of Dinky's range after the war.

• Post-war British cars · 1946

  40 Series

  The 40 Series represented Dinky's post-war move toward more accurate and better-finished passenger cars. It included Armstrong Siddeley, Lagonda, MG, Sunbeam, Austin, Morris, Triumph and other British subjects. Improved alloy quality and two-tone finishes contributed to the series' lasting collector reputation.

• Commercial vehicles and heavy equipment · 1947

  Dinky Supertoys

  Introduced in 1947, Dinky Supertoys covered larger lorries, vans and specialist commercial equipment. Subjects included Guy and Bedford vans, television control and camera vehicles, military transporters, test chassis, horse boxes and Thornycroft heavy-haulage vehicles. The designation was later replaced by the Dinky Toys name.

• Model aircraft · 1934

  Aircraft range

  Dinky produced civilian and military aircraft from its early years, including a specially presented Spitfire model and later jet aircraft. Aviation output declined in the late 1960s, then returned in 1971 with larger models, battery-powered propellers and subjects such as modern fighters and a Sea King helicopter.

• Model ships · 1934

  Ship models

  Ships formed a substantial part of the pre-war range and included civilian liners and military vessels. Early examples were made in small scales and often suffered from the same alloy deterioration as other pre-war models. After the war, the French liner France and a later group of larger ships were among the notable maritime releases.

• 1939Spitfire Fund presentation model

  United Kingdom

  A Dinky Spitfire was sold in a special presentation box as part of the Spitfire Fund, linking the toy with a public effort to raise money toward supplying a real aircraft to the Royal Air Force.

  Outcome. The model became a notable wartime-era Dinky release and an example of the brand's connection with national fundraising.

  Source

• 1965

  Retirement of the Supertoys labelStrategy

  Background

  Lines Brothers had taken over Meccano Ltd. in the preceding period, and the brand architecture was revised.

  Action taken

  The Dinky Supertoys designation was discontinued in favor of using Dinky Toys for the larger models.

  Aftermath

  Only limited use was made of the later French Super Dinky trademark before production ended.

  Source

• 1954

  Catalogue and packaging reorganizationStrategy

  Background

  The expanding range used older number-and-letter combinations and was often sold in trade packs.

  Action taken

  Meccano reorganized the British range around unique three-digit numbers and increasingly sold vehicles in individual boxes.

  Aftermath

  The system made the growing range easier to identify and supported a more retail-oriented presentation.

  Source

• 1947

  Creation of Dinky SupertoysProduct launch

  Background

  Post-war Meccano sought to expand beyond small railway-associated models into larger commercial vehicles.

  Action taken

  The company launched Dinky Supertoys for lorries, vans, heavy transporters and specialist equipment.

  Aftermath

  Commercial vehicles became one of the brand's major post-war categories.

  Source

• 1935

  Dinky becomes the standalone marqueStrategy

  Background

  The miniature range had originated as an accessory program for Hornby trains and was initially called Meccano Dinky Toys.

  Action taken

  Meccano dropped its own name from the product branding and used DINKY TOYS as the principal marque while broadening the assortment.

  Aftermath

  The standalone name supported expansion into cars, trucks, aircraft, ships and military models.

  Source

1. 1Dinky Toysen.wikipedia.org