Tank
1960s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a friction driven tin toy, made in China. When pushed the wheels engage a large flywheel inside which stores the kinetic energy of the initial acceleration and propels the toy forward after it is released. This kind of mechanism was very popular in toys from the 1960s to 1980s. The style of this tin toy, designed to resemble a military tank, was very common just after the Second World War because of the interest in military themes. Production of tin toys was developed in the Far East post-War, particularly Japan, as a way of boosting the economies in this area through low profit, high labour manufacturing. Tin toy manufacturing moved to China after cheaper plastic toys began to dominate in the 1960s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Offset printed stamped tinplate, with internal friction drive motor and rubber wheels, assembled by hand |
| Brief description | Tinplate friction drive tank, China, 1940s |
| Physical description | Tinplate friction drive military tank toy with movable turret. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a friction driven tin toy, made in China. When pushed the wheels engage a large flywheel inside which stores the kinetic energy of the initial acceleration and propels the toy forward after it is released. This kind of mechanism was very popular in toys from the 1960s to 1980s. The style of this tin toy, designed to resemble a military tank, was very common just after the Second World War because of the interest in military themes. Production of tin toys was developed in the Far East post-War, particularly Japan, as a way of boosting the economies in this area through low profit, high labour manufacturing. Tin toy manufacturing moved to China after cheaper plastic toys began to dominate in the 1960s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.215-2011 |
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| Record created | March 9, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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