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Dinky Toys history
Dinky Toys are die-cast miniature model cars and trucks. They first appeared in early 1934 when Meccano Ltd of Liverpool, England introduced a new line of "modelled miniatures" under the trade mark "Meccano Dinky Toys". The first announcement for the new line was made in the April 1934 issue of Meccano Magazine .
In the early 1950s a Dinky Toy craze hit the United Kingdom and it seemed that all boys (and some adults) had collections. Their dual role as toy and model had no peers at the time. Most of the models were in a scale of approximately 1:48, which blended in with O scale railway sets, but many buses and lorries (trucks) were scaled down further so that they were around 4 inches long. Larger models (Dinky Super Toys) were not scaled down, and started to have more action features. Notable favourites are the Coles Mobile Crane and the Horse Box (with opening doors). In 1954 , the Dinky line was reorganized: cars were now sold in individual boxes, and there were no series of models differentiated by a letter. A separate line of models were also made in France . Both English and French Dinky Toys were exported to the United States .
Nowadays there is a healthy trade in old Dinky Toys, particularly the earlier models. Condition is all important. A mint-in-box car from around 1960 can easily command 10 times the price of a played with (used) one. The post-war cars themselves are all but indestructible, although the tires disintegrate with age, and the paint chips. Pre-war vehicles used a weaker alloy and can suffer from metal-fatigue, and thus models from the 1930s in good condition are particularly rare and sought after. Having the original box increases the value considerably - the boxes by themselves sometimes command prices comparable to the models. Some collectors even collect the "trade boxes" that were never meant for customers, but were the packing for the models to go in to the store. There is nothing on the market now that share the two roles of model and toy car as well as the Dinky Toys of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
The most valuable collectible Dinky Toy ever sold was the 1937 Dinky Bentalls store delivery van. It was sold for $19,355 at Christie's, London, England on October 14 , 1994.
Other Dinky Toys resource: sinanju dinkypage | Dinky Toy Club of America | Aaron's Recoveries | Keith Harvie's Dinkymania | MK - Model Car Parts | Maestro's Hobby Corner | Steve Flowers Site | Julian Hayward's Collection | Diecast Plus (Nigel's Site) | Christiaan Boland's Dinky Links
