A History of Diecast Model Cars
There is quite a long history of craftsmen building detailed miniature models of transport vehicles and machinery, but it was not until nineteen thirty-four that die cast model cars and lorries appeared on the scene in any great numbers.
In those days the replica cars and trucks weren’t regarded as collectible items in their own right – they were produced to lend added realism to model trainsets.
Since the early 1920s Frank Hornby had made ever more complex train sets. One of the sets, Meccano Set No 21, came with six die cast models, consisting of a motor truck, a sports coupe, a delivery van, a sports car, a farm tractor, and an Army tank. These were the first Dinky models, issued under the “Meccano Modelled Miniatures” label, as Set No. 22.
These early diecast cars were pretty crude by modern standards, being cast from an alloy with high lead content which did not lend itself to a high level of detail. What’s more they did not try to depict genuine cars, although the sports car bore a resemblance to the SS1, a popular make at the time and a fore-runner of the Jaguar.
In terms of scale, they were not well suited to the railway sets which they were intended to complement.
It soon became apparent, however, that there was a healthy market for such models, and it was not long before individual die cast models based on real cars and trucks were produced and sold separately. Dinky Set 30 was based on the Rolls-Royce, Set 36A on the Armstrong Siddely, 36B a Bentley, and 36F was a Salmon sports car.
With the passing of time the quality of detail and reproduction hugely improved. The Dinky sets had diecast alloy bodies and tin-plate radiators and rubber tyres. The later replicas also had drivers and passengers. The Armstrong Siddely had a footman and chauffeur. Just before World War Two some superb military models were produced, including tanks with rotating turrets and catterpillar tracks.
Few replicas from that period have survived in acceptable condition, and items in good condition are extremely collectable – pre-war Dinkies can command prices up to one thousand dollars in auction.
In the 1950s, new production methods introduced a new era in the history of diecast model cars. Lesney, renowned for their splendid Coronation Coach, and Corgi, (”the ones with the windows”), came into the market to provide competition to Dinky.
This new generation of diecast vehicles, with better detail, finer running gear, and better colour finish, leads up to the present day, where millions of finely-detailed die-cast replica models are produced, at very reasonable prices for collectors. For example, just take a look at these diecast aircraft models. The die-cast model car industry has come a long way since the nineteen thirties.
And, let’s not forget, eBay can be a terrific source for those hard to find, rare die cast models: classic diecast auctions.
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