Tin Toys

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This is a representative sample of the tin toys in my collection. Most of the older pieces are from Japan, with the exception of the noise makers, many of which were made in the good old U.S.A. Although most modern tin toys are made in China, many are still made in Japan and also the Eastern Bloc. Japanese tin is the most prized . . . and of course, the most expensive. Tin Toy History Just CLICK on a thumbnail to view it . . . then click BACK to return here.
1	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1940's & 1950's U.S.A. & Japan (small horns) US Metal Toy Manufacturing Company & Unknown Japanese Manufacturer Lithographed tinplate party horns.
2	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1940's & 1950's U.S.A., Japan (middle) & Italy (round one at far right) Kirchhof & US Metal Toy Mfg Co (USA), Unknown (Italy & Japan) Lithographed tinplate noisemakers that make a clacking sound as you twirl them.
3	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1940's & 1950's U.S.A. & Japan (clowns) US Metal Toy Mfg Co (USA) & Unknown Japanese Mfg Lithographed tinplate noisemakers that make a clacking sound as you twist the handle or twirl them.
4	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1940's & 1950's U.S.A. & Italy (second from left) Kirchhof & US Metal Toy Mfg Co (USA) & FCB (Italy) Lithographed tinplate noisemakers that make a clanging sound as you shake them back and forth.
5	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	2000 China made for Department 56 Hand painted tinplate Halloween noisemakers with front & back detail & a hand painted wooden handle. The eyes are on wires and clang against the eye sockets - very cool
6	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1940's & 1950's U.S.A. LTL Mfg Corporation (left) & T. Cohn (right) Lithographed tinplate noisemakers that make a loud rattle as you shake them.
7	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1940's & 1950's U.S.A. US Metal Toy Mfg Company & Kirchhof (2 far left & 2nd from right) Lithographed tinplate noisemakers that rattle when shaken.
8	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1950's Japan Masudaya - identified by the Modern Toys trade mark Masutoko K.K.Toy Factory, Tokyo Lithographed tinplate battery powered train with whistle, forward and backward motion. Overland Express No. 3140
9	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1950's U.S.A. All Metal Products Company, Wyandotte, MI Lithographed tinplate dart pistol with rubber tipped suction darts.
10	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1950's & 1970's (large tank) Japan & China (large tank) Suzuki (medium tank), others unknown Lithographed tinplate: Small - friction motor, Med - push with sparks at gun, Large - friction motor with moving gun and hatch.
11	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1950's & 1990's Japan & China (2 far right) Unknown Lithographed tinplate noisemakers that make a clicking sound when the bottom lever is pressed.
12	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1950's & 1990's (large helicopter) Japan & China (large helicopter) Unknown Lithographed tinplate planes and choppers with friction motors. Blades spin on the choppers.
13	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1950's & 1990's (right) Japan Masuya Toy & Rocket USA Inc. (right) Lithographed tinplate rockets w/friction motors. Standing rocket moves forward until it hits an object with it's noise, than an arm is released that causes it to stand up . . . very cool.
14	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1960's West Germany Lorenz Bolz Zirndore Painted tinplate crank music box.
15	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1960's Japan Unknown Lithographed tinplate crank machine gun with 10 bullet clip. Fires plastic bullets & makes a bang sound as you turn the crank.
16	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1960's Japan Unknown Lithographed stamped steel cars - ambulance, fire chief and police.
17	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1960's Japan Taiyo Lithographed tinplate battery powered cars that move to the edge of a table then turn around and go to the next edge, etc.
18	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1960's & 1990's (Japan) China (silver) & Japan Unknown Lithographed tinplate space guns with sparks & noise. The silver one has a tube on the top to enable you to replace the flint.
19	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1990's Czech Republic Kovap Lithographed tinplate steamroller wind-up with a back and forth movement.
20	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1990's Czech Republic Kovap (tractor & trailer distributed by Schylling) Lithographed tinplate wind-up tractor with trailer and other farm accessories. 3 forward speeds and reverse.
21	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1990's China Distributed by Schylling Lithographed tinplate battery powered Robot. He walks, body rotates, chest doors open and guns fire and spark.
22	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1990's China Distributed by Schylling (red hats), others unknown Lithographed tinplate wind-up robots. All walk and the large green one also sparks.
23	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	2002 U.S.A. Schylling Toys Lithographed tinplate windup of Roy & Trigger with rocking action causing the rope to swing in a circle. #4,969 of 5,000.
24	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	2000 Japanese company - made in China Young-Epoch Company Japan under license from Disney Lithographed tinplate windup Mini, Mickey, Donald and Pluto. Mickey walks and moves his upper body left & right, Mini hops forward, Donald waddles left & right and Pluto rolls forward and moves his head left and right.
25	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	2000 China Unknown - under license from Schylling Lithographed tinplate version of a 1920's toy called the San Francisco Express. The Plane and train circle the city.
26	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	2000 Russia Unknown - under license from Schylling Lithographed tinplate Russian train and car wind-ups
27	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	2000 China Xonex in Cleveland, OH under license from Harley Davidson Lithographed tinplate friction power motorcycles with engine spark
28	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	1998 China Unknown - for Fabri-Centers of America in Hudson, OH (owners of Jo-Ann Stores) Lithographed tinplate toys. Friction Dog - you push down on the tail and he rolls forward. The windup Duck on a Bike goes in circles as the wings of his hat spin.
29	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	2000 China QSN - I could not find any information on this manufacturer Lithographed tinplate windup motorcycle with sidecar. Goes in a circle.
30	CIRCA COUNTRY MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION	2000 China Unknown - under license from Schylling Lithographed tinplate windup Elephant on a bike. Ball and Tassels spin as the elephant rolls

Tin Toy History

Lithographed tin was introduced to toys in the 1880's whereby various colors and detail were printed on flat sheets of metal by a lithographic press; the various pieces were then formed by dies and assembled with small tabs. The sheet metal for tin toys and noise makers is made of steel that is rolled into thin flat sheets or plates. First toy usage for tin plate in the United States dates back to 1895.

In the early decades of the 20th century, Germany was the leading producer of tin toys in the world. German tin toys were innovative and well made. They dominated the market up to the outbreak of World War II. When peace returned, toy makers everywhere had a great deal of lost ground to recover. However, once the toy industry was back in full production, Japan assumed the lead and began to control the market with the addition of many new novelties. Not just wind-up and friction driven, some Japanese tin toys were powered by batteries and able to provide flashing lights and sounds. In the 50's and early 60's, the Japanese had flooded the market with many appealingly designed tin toys and a large percentage of them were aimed at the USA with items familiar to Americans. But despite the initial resurgence of tin toy popularity in the post-war era, tin toy manufacturing was faced with steadily increasing difficulties. They included changing consumer demands, new safety regulations and competition from plastic toy makers. By the 70's, Japan had reduced the tin toy output so dramatically that many factories had ceased production altogether.

China began to produce tin toys in the early 20's. They were primitive and poorly made. After Japanese tin toy manufacturing was in decline, China assumed the role of the leading tin toy maker in the world. Early Chinese toys were noted for their cheap prices, which often reflected in their quality. Nowadays they are made to a much higher standard, yet retain the edge of being very affordable.

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This site was last updated 01/06/08 by Marvin Mackey