Dinky Toys
Die-cast models from Meccano Ltd., made in Liverpool from 1934 to 1979.
Dinky Toys were small-scale vehicles and accessories made from a zinc alloy called zamak, produced by the British company Meccano Ltd. The toys—which included cars, trucks, aircraft, military vehicles, and ships—were manufactured at a factory on Binns Road in Liverpool from 1934 until 1979.
Meccano Ltd. was founded in 1908 by Frank Hornby to produce metal construction sets. The company later added O gauge clockwork trains in 1920. In the early 1930s, Meccano made various tinplate and metal cars, often sold as kits. In 1933, the company began producing railway and trackside accessories to complement its Hornby Trains sets. These were first called "Hornby Modelled Miniatures," but by April 1934 they appeared in Meccano Magazine as "Meccano Dinky Toys." The "Meccano" part was dropped in August 1935, and the brand became simply DINKY TOYS, a name that lasted until 1971. That same year, the "Dinky Builder" sets also appeared—flat metal pieces that could be hinged together to form buildings and vehicles.
The origin of the name "Dinky" is uncertain. One story says it came from a nickname a friend gave to Frank Hornby's daughter. Another claims that when one of Hornby's daughters-in-law first saw the models, she called them "dinky," a Scottish word meaning "neat" or "fine."
The first six vehicles, released in the mid-1930s, were designated 22a through 22f and included a sports car, a sports coupe, a truck, a delivery van, a farm tractor, and a tank—all cast in lead. Soon after, the first individual Dinky model car, a sports car based on the MG Magic Midget, appeared as number 23. A series 24 (a–h) followed, featuring a generic ambulance (produced into the late 1940s), a grand sports open four-seater, a grand sports two-seater, a coupé, and a limousine. This series was also made in France. Smaller vehicles were produced alongside model track workers, passengers, and other O scale accessories. Early cars were inaccurate representations, with die-cast metal bodies and chassis and rubber tires. By August 1935, the range included about 200 different products, among them die-cast ships, aeroplanes, and small trains. Cars were sold in trade packs of six; individual boxes did not appear until 1952.
Commercial vehicles grew with Series 28, which included many delivery vans.
Quick Facts
- Currentowner
- Mattel (1997–)
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Introduced
- in Liverpool
- Related
- List of model car brands
- Markets
- Worldwide
- Previousowners
- Meccano Ltd (1934–1964) / Triang (1964–1980) / Matchbox (1980s–1997)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Frank Hornby established Meccano Ltd. in 1908 to make metal construction sets, later moving into model railways with O gauge clockwork trains in 1920. In the early 1930s, Meccano produced tinplate and other metal cars, mostly in kit form. In 1933, the company issued a series of railway and trackside accessories for its Hornby Trains sets, first called 'Hornby Modelled Miniatures'. In April 1934, the name 'Meccano Dinky Toys' appeared in Meccano Magazine, and by August 1935 the marque became DINKY TOYS, lasting until 1971. The origin of the name is uncertain: one story says it derived from a nickname for Frank Hornby's daughter; another says a daughter-in-law called the models 'dinky', a Scottish word meaning 'neat' or 'fine'.
Reader's Guide
Dinky Toys are significant for being among the first widely produced die-cast scale model vehicles, establishing a standard for accuracy and variety that influenced later manufacturers. The brand's early models, such as the Series 30 introduced in 1935, featured accurate likenesses of specific vehicles like the Chrysler Airflow and Rolls-Royce. Pre-war models suffered from zinc pest, caused by impure alloys, which makes surviving examples from 1938–1941 rare. Military vehicles introduced between 1937 and 1939 were later reissued after the war. Aircraft models included the Spitfire, sold in a special presentation box for The Spitfire Fund to raise money for the Royal Air Force. Production of Dinky planes resumed after the war and continued until 1968, with a resurgence in 1971 featuring battery-powered propellers. The brand's legacy is tied to its long production run, the variety of subjects, and its role in popularizing die-cast collecting.
Did You Know?
- Pre-war Dinky Toys used thin 1.626 mm axles, while post-war axles were 2.032 mm.
- The Dinky Spitfire model was sold between 1939 and 1941 as part of The Spitfire Fund to raise money for a real Spitfire.
- Some post-war aircraft models were given generic names like 'Heavy Bomber' and 'Two Seater Fighter'.
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