Hubley Manufacturing Company
American toy maker known for metal car kits and promos.
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The Hubley Manufacturing Company was an American producer of cast-iron toys, doorstops, and bookends, later expanding into diecast zinc alloy and plastic toys. It is best known for its detailed scale metal kits of classic cars in about 1:20 scale, and for participating briefly with Detroit automakers as a plastic promotional model maker starting in 1960.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1894
- Founder
- John Hubley
- Location
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- First toys
- 1909
- Key material
- cast-iron, later diecast zinc alloy (mazac) and plastic
- Acquisition
- 1965 by Lido Toy Company
- Ceased operations
- mid-1970s
Facts from the source article.
Background
Hubley was incorporated in 1894 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by John Hubley. Its first toys appeared in 1909, made of cast-iron, featuring horse-drawn vehicles, dogs, tractors, steam shovels, and guns.
Early toys were noted for complexity, such as an 11-inch Packard Straight 8 and a steam shovel with working arms. In the late 1930s, the company shifted to diecast zinc alloy (mazac) molding, introducing the Kiddietoys name used until the mid-1950s. Household objects like doorstops and bookends were also produced, but vehicles became the mainstay.
Around 1960, Hubley introduced lines for different age groups, including the Real Toys pre-assembled line (called Real Types in Canada) in about 1:50 scale, competing with British Corgi and Dinky Toys. The company also made plastic promotional models in about 1:24 scale, some for foreign automakers, and contracted promotional models for station wagons and four-door configurations not covered by other manufacturers. Hubley was acquired by Lido Toy Company in 1965 and was out of business by the mid-1970s.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Hubley Manufacturing Company (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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