This column first appeared in August 2012.
If you have ever raised a male child — or you are married to one — then you may already know that somewhere in their past there existed a box of toy cars. In many cases, when the man of our dreams moved in he brought the box with him. Now, these many years later, these “treasures” from childhood have found their way to the back of a closet or a dusty shelf in the basement. If this is the case at your house, it may be time resurrect that box and take a close look at it’s contents.
The toy car has been produced nearly as long as it’s full size counterpart. Built to scale with painstaking attention to detail, these cars of wood, tin, resin, steel, cast iron and plastic strike a nostalgic chord with the male population that has made them a highly-sought collectible.
Basically they are divided into two groups: Those made before 1940 and those made since, with the older cars being of most interest. The major difference between the old and new is the meticulous attention to detail in the manufacturing process. You will find them in a variety of forms including not only cars but also buses and trucks.
Model cars date back as far as the 1890s. These very early cars, mostly made in England, will be very lightweight as they were stamped from sheets of tin or steel. They will feature hand-painted designs or lithography.
In the early 1900s, Germany entered the market with their version of the tin car. Some were wind up (powered by tiny clock works) and others were push toys. Also from this early era, you will find cars that are slightly larger promotional models (1/8 and 1/11scale). These were produced in France by the Citroen Company.
Cars marked “Arcade Manufacturing Company, Freeport, Illinois” feature beautiful hand-painted bodies. These heavy gauge steel cars were the most accurately designed of all the American made cars from the 1920-1930 era. Early examples were marked with a decal which was replaced with a forged marking in later years. Most all cars from 1920-1930 are of value, especially if they are in good condition.
Tootsie Toys, made in Illinois, are a common find in the Mid-west. Production started in 1911. However, the company name did not appear on the cars until 1926, and on some models the company mark was not used until 1931. Identification of the early cars requires familiarizing oneself with wheel construction and style indicative of the era. Early unmarked Tootsie Toy cars can be of considerable value.
Due to the shortage of metal during the war years 1942-1945, toy car production ceased in the U.S. Many of the original bronze molds were melted down for the war effort, adding to the rarity of the early models.
In addition to Tootsie and Arcade, names to watch for include Buddy L, Audubon, Hubley and Dinky Toy.
While cars post-1940 are of lesser value, they can be a good investment and if you know what to watch for. Hot Wheels hit the market in the early 1960s and boys once again started collecting, making a large number available for purchase.
There is also a growing interest in die cast cars from the 60s and 70s made for advertising and promotional purposes. Commissioned cars marked with company names such as McDonald’s, Sears Roebuck, Kodak and Texaco were made by a number of companies both in America and abroad and will most always have a maker’s mark.
Since many of these cars have been saved in groups, even a small box full can garner you considerable bucks. So, you say you’ve been meaning to clean the closets? Now you have your motivation! Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett70@gmail.com