Lone Star Toys
British diecast toys from toy guns to Impy cars and trains.
Lone Star Toys was the brand name of Die Cast Machine Tools Ltd (DCMT), a British company based in Welham Green, Hertfordshire, north of London. DCMT began producing die-cast toys for children as early as 1939. The "Lone Star" name was adopted due to the popularity of toy guns and rifles inspired by Western films then showing in British cinemas. The company later produced licensed toy guns for James Bond films and *The Man From U.N.C.L.E.* television series.
Harry Eagles, a son of Crescent Toys co-founder Henry George Eagles, was known by the nickname Harvey. After Crescent moved to South Wales in 1949, Eagles stayed in London and started the Harvey Toy Company, which made hollowcast metal figures. He sold his trade name and designs to Lone Star, which then sold plastic soldiers from 1955 to 1976.
Interpreting the base of a Lone Star vehicle can be tricky; some Impy Toys models read "Lone Star Road-Master Impy Super Cars." To compete with Corgi and Dinky, Lone Star launched its Road-Master series of die-cast vehicles in 1956. Early castings, though attractive, were cruder than rivals'—for instance, the double-deck bus had a casting line running down the centre of its roof. Most early Lone Stars also had simpler bumpers, grilles, and body details compared to Corgi or Dinky.
The Impy line arrived in 1966 with bright new packaging, while the larger Road-Master series was discontinued (though the "Roadmaster" name lingered). These smaller cars, about three and a half inches long and similar to Mini-Dinkys, were marketed as "the cars with everything." The 1963 Chrysler Imperial, not offered by any other die-cast maker, featured opening doors, hood, trunk, working steering, and jewelled headlights. The Impy Jaguar Mark X outshone the simpler Matchbox version with four jewelled headlights and opening everything. However, having so many features on a small car could look unsightly—cut door lines broke the smooth sides of the Imperial, and on the FIAT 2300S Ghia coupe, the cast line was rough and uneven from fender to door to fender. Door fit was sometimes poor, and overall accuracy was a step below Corgi or Dinky.
Lone Star was the first toy maker to respond to Hot Wheels' low-friction wheels. In 1968, less than a year after Hot Wheels launched, Impys were refitted with sporty "Flyer" wheels.
- Founded
- 1939 (earliest known production)
- Location
- Welham Green, Hertfordshire, England
- Parent company
- Die Cast Machine Tools Ltd (DCMT)
- Key series
- Road-Master (1956), Impy (1966), Flyer (1968), Tuf-Tots (c. 1968–1969)
- Scale
- OOO scale (2mm to the foot) for trains
- Notable designer
- Stuart Goss (train line designer)
Lore & Background
Lone Star began as a maker of die cast toy guns and rifles, later producing tie-in toy guns licensed from James Bond films and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. TV series. The company also entered the toy soldier market when Harry Eagles, a son of Crescent Toys co-founder Henry George Eagles, sold his trade name and designs to Lone Star; plastic soldiers were sold from 1955 to 1976. In 1956, to compete with Corgi and Dinky, Lone Star launched its Road-Master series of diecast vehicles. Early castings were cruder than competitors, with visible casting lines and simpler detailing. The Impy line, introduced in 1966, brought smaller three-and-a-half-inch cars with many opening features, such as the 1963 Chrysler Imperial with opening doors, hood, trunk, working steering, and jewelled headlights. However, cut door lines and rough castings sometimes marred the appearance. In 1968, less than a year after Hot Wheels' debut, Lone Star refitted Impys with low-friction 'Flyer' wheels, making it the first toy producer to respond to that trend. Around 1968–1969, the company introduced Tuf-Tots, approximately two-inch-long vehicles without opening parts, similar to Tootsietoys. Lone Star also produced OOO scale push-along trains from 1957, followed by 'Treble-O-Lectric' electric locomotives in 1960, along with track, rolling stock, and scenic accessories.
Reader's Guide
Lone Star's significance lies in its broad product range and its responsiveness to market trends. The company was an early entrant in diecast toy guns, capitalizing on Western film popularity, and later secured licensed tie-ins from James Bond and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. In the competitive diecast vehicle market, Lone Star's Road-Master series attempted to rival Corgi and Dinky, though its castings were less refined. The Impy line, with its 'cars with everything' approach, offered features like opening parts and jewelled headlights on a smaller scale, sometimes at the cost of visual smoothness. Lone Star was notably the first toy producer to respond to Hot Wheels' low-friction wheels, introducing the Flyer series in 1968, a year before competitors like Johnny Lightning and Cigarbox cars changed their wheel styles. The Tuf-Tots line provided simple, small-scale vehicles comparable to Tootsietoys. In model railroading, Lone Star's OOO scale trains and Treble-O-Lectric electric locomotives offered a compact system with British and American outlines. The intellectual property of the 'Lone Star' name is owned by the Heinrich Bauer group, and toy guns continue to be sold under the Sohni-Wicke Armforces und Spielwarenfabrik division.
Did You Know?
- The Impy Jaguar Mark X had four jewelled headlights and opening 'everything', outshining the spartan Matchbox version.
- Lone Star's Tuf-Tots line included a Citroen DS convertible, a '68 Dodge Dart, a Corvette Stingray, and a Mercedes-Benz 280 SL.
- The company's Treble-O-Lectric trains included a Class 23 'Baby Deltic' diesel locomotive and an American Baldwin 0-8-0 steam locomotive.
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