| |
| |
|
Crafts & Hobbies Information |
|
|
|
The Nuts and Bolts of Vintage Tin Toys
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
MORE RESOURCES:
Hobbies - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What Do I Need to Start Scrapbooking? The best thing about scrapbooking is that although there are a plethora of scrapbooking supplies available on the market, you really don't need a lot to make your very first scrapbook. Basically, all you need to scrapbook is an album, some glue, a pair of scissors, and some photographs or newspaper clippings. Gourd Enthusiasm Growing Around the World Gourds played an essential role in the daily life of early cultures. Commonly used as containers and vessels, they were also used for musical instruments. Woodworking Tools: Right Selection And Care Will Save You Money, Part 6 Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 6 - Finishing EquipmentA civilization's maturity and intelligence is judged, in part, by the diversity and sophistication of its tools. When it comes to woodworking, the human race is quite advanced. Use Tags and Embellishments to Give Your Scrapbooks that Personal Yet Professional Touch Tags are a little added touch of professionalism that adds to the overall well thought out look to your scrapbook. Tags can be used for accents, captions, and thought bubbles as well as dedications. Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make Christmas is a time of giving and receiving. Even kids would want to get into the picture. My Greatest Stamp Find I have been involved with stamps nearly my entire life. My first collection was as a ten-year old boy collecting with my neighborhood buddies. World Skills & Learning About Old World Skills There was once a time when almost everyone acquired, or knew how to do a practical skill of some kind, they were special skills, which most people used throughout life. They just became second nature. Treasure Hunting - The Unusual Ways When you think of treasure hunting, maybe gold coins and precious stones come to mind, but it doesn't end there. You can start in your own attic to see what treasures you find. Comic Book Supplies, Necessities of the Serious Collector If you want to keep your comic book collection in tiptop shape, comic book supplies will become part of your collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed there are natural environmental forces going to work to try and destroy the ink and the paper. Embroidery Designs Digitizing Software Embroidery Magic 2 software program was created with multiple function lettering, editing and digitizing features for embroidery designs and was designed for those who have home embroidery machines and software. We have also have had customers purchase this embroidery software who have well established commercial embroidery businesses but have found that it creates better lettering than any other program they have purchased, regardless of price! However, in regard to the EM 2 price, it should be understood that you will not get the full features of a high end digitizing program with a lot of "bells and whistles". 10 Slam-Dunk Crafts For Little Kids -- And Bigger Kids Too! Crafting with young children really isn't about creating something in particular. Most young children don't have the foresight to see what a project is going to be. Floral Arranging as a Hobby Flower arranging has become increasingly popular as a hobby, for people of all ages and backgrounds.Have you ever put flowers in a vase and they just don't sit right? By learning a few basic principles you will be able to create attractive floral designs for your own home. Be Your Own Way, but Still Use the Safe Tools It is so often that people are not aware with the tools they use when doing their home improvement. Sometimes they use wrong tools just because they want something quick to be done. Organize That Stash! Do you control your stash or does it control you? I have become the master of my stash. When my husband found out that his sock drawer had become yet another place for cross stitch supplies, it was either get it under control or end up in divorce court. Soap Making For Beginners - Melt And Pour Process As you will learn, soap making can be simple or complex. Some people enjoy the challenge of going all out professionally, which is fine. Antiques - The Modern Day Treasure Hunt In today's world, everything that's old can be described as antiques and generally speaking that's quite true. A product is considered to be an antique if it is over a hundred years old or is rare enough to have some value. Easy Crafts for Kids - Help with Learning According to the research on child cognitive development, making use of basic easy crafts for kids can stimulate their mental growth and enhance the learning process. Since early times, mankind has always known that early crafts for kids taught some important lessons. Money Making Hobby - Do You Have One? Everyone has a hobby. We love all kinds of music, sports, movies, books. Stress-Free Scrapbook Journaling Ideas Do you find it intimidating when you come to journal your scrapbook pages?You are not alone! Many scrapbookers find it hard to get started when it comes to adding journaling to their scrapbooking layouts.If you are one of those people who go blank at the thought of having to journal, don't worry. Making Hemp Jewelry Is Fun and Easy Making our ideas come to life and creating them with our own hands is a great source of satisfaction for many of us. Handicrafts such as making hemp jewelry have been and continue to be very popular among both hobbyists and would-be entrepreneurs alike.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |