Brand record
Dinky Toys
Dinky Toys was a range of miniature vehicles made by Meccano Ltd in Britain and France. The line began in 1933 as Modelled Miniatures for Hornby 0-gauge railway layouts and took the Dinky Toys name in 1934. It included cars, commercial vehicles, aircraft and ships, with French production featuring vehicles suited to French and European markets. Models were made by die-casting metal, then trimming, cleaning, enamelling or painting the castings. The toys moved from railway accessories to a range collected in its own right.
- Founded
- 1934
- Countries
- France, United States
- Locations
- Liverpool, England · Bobigny, France
- Founders
- Frank Hornby
The story of Dinky Toys
The story of Dinky Toys began under the roof of Meccano Ltd in Liverpool, England, pioneered by Frank Hornby in 1934. Originally, the miniature toys were meant to complement Hornby's 'O' gauge model trains, but little did he know the worldwide fame his new brand would attain. Dinky Toys were initially made in Liverpool, England, and after World War II, production expanded to Bobigny, France. Some noteworthy facts about the brand would be that during World War II, production was temporarily halted due to metal shortages, and the brand actually produced military-themed toys to boost civil morale. The brand has changed hands multiple times, with the Carnation Group taking over in 1996. Through the years, the charm of Dinky Toys has endured, yielding vintage collections sought-after by enthusiasts around the world.
Collectors’ Corner
Posts about this brand
Literature & HistoryDinky’s N.C.B. van and the electric delivery roundElectric delivery vehicles were already part of everyday working transport long before the present generation of electric cars.…KallisToys♥ 2 · 0 replies
Literature & HistoryThe Citroën Dyane was newer, but the 2CV outlived itThe Dyane arrived in 1967 as a more modern and practical development of the Citroën 2CV. It was…KallisToys♥ 3 · 0 replies
Literature & HistoryJensen FF: four-wheel drive in a luxury coupéIn 1966, the Jensen FF combined four-wheel drive with Dunlop’s Maxaret anti-lock braking system. Those initials stood for…KallisToys♥ 4 · 0 replies
Literature & HistoryWhy the Mercedes-Benz 230 SL became the “Pagoda”The Mercedes-Benz 230 SL’s nickname came from its roof. The removable hardtop had an inward curve that recalled…KallisToys♥ 3 · 0 replies
Literature & HistoryRenault 16: the family car with unequal wheelbasesA Renault 16 has a longer wheelbase on one side than the other. The difference is seven centimetres,…KallisToys♥ 2 · 0 replies
Literature & HistoryThe Opperman Motocart: three wheels and a standing driverThe driver of Dinky’s Opperman Motocart stands behind a single front wheel, with a broad load bed immediately…KallisToys♥ 2 · 0 replies