Maker record
TPS
TPS (Tokyo Plaything Shokai), also known as Toplay, was a Japanese maker of lithographed tin toys. Its products included wind-up vehicles and track sets, battery-operated cars and aircraft, and mechanical novelty toys. Catalogued ranges from the 1960s and 1970s also included plastic or mixed-material robots, tanks and motorcycles. The TPS mark combined the company initials with a hand showing three fingers, a motif associated with the firm’s three founders. TPS toys were also made for export and could appear under importers’ names.
- Founded
- 1950
- Locations
- Unknown
- Founders
- Unknown
The story of TPS
TPS hit the scene in the vibrant world of Japanese toy-making in the 1950s. Japan was quickly establishing itself as a powerhouse in toy production post World War II and TPS led the charge. This brand amazed the toy industry with its brilliant combination of bright tin lithography and action features, making their products extremely satisfying to the eye and touch. From the lighthearted Karate Antics of 1965 to the delightfully whimsical Clockwork Mouse of 1962, TPS always sought to entertain and innovate.
