Tinplate Toys

Tinplate toys, tin toys or tin lithograph toys, are toys made out of tinplate that are made to be mechanical, either by clockwork or battery operated. They are usually colourfully painted and made to resemble vehicles or characters which children find aesthetically pleasing. Tinplate toys became increasingly popular in the early 20th century as their light weight enabled them to be easily shipped at a lower price than the heavier cast iron toys of the time. Around this time, Germany was the major producer of Tinplate toys; the most famous names being Lehmann and Marklin - CIJ French Alfa Romeo P Twos are always popular. Following the Second World War, Japan became a major manufacturer of Tinplate toys and began producing many classics; most notably, Robots.

Nice examples of Tinplate toys command very good prices at auction, and we are always looking for consignments to be added to our sales. If you have a collection of tinplate toys or a single item which you wish to have valued, please do not hesitate to contact us!