Mechanical Toy
1950s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Tin toys cover a vast array of subject matters, ranging from the space age to domestic objects. This fire engine was made in Japan. It was not until the 1950s that Japanese firms began to make their own original designs. They were mainly concerned with the American market, meaning that the toys they produced tended to reflect American culture in some way.
Japanese tin toy production was at its peak in the 1960s. After this, increasing labour costs and demand for die cast models affected the production of tin toys, and contributed to a decline in both their quality and quantity. Plastics began to be used more widely as a material for toys, which was cheaper and considered safer than tin.
Japanese tin toy production was at its peak in the 1960s. After this, increasing labour costs and demand for die cast models affected the production of tin toys, and contributed to a decline in both their quality and quantity. Plastics began to be used more widely as a material for toys, which was cheaper and considered safer than tin.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Colour lithographed tin-plated mild steel, pressed |
| Brief description | Fire engine, mechanical tinplate toy, Usagiya, Tokyo, 1950s. |
| Physical description | Friction-powered toy vehicle, a bright red fire engine with a yellow ladder on top, made from colour lithographed tin-plated mild steel. It has a silver platform at the back with a fireman figure standing on the back in a dark blue suit and silver helmet. There is another fireman seated at the front of the truck, driving. The engine has a silver front and clear windscreen. Other equipment, such as a hose and taps, are printed on the side. It has four big wheels which are black with red in the middle. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'No. 105 / F.D' |
| Credit line | Given by Alexandra Buhler |
| Object history | This object was donated by Alexandra Buhler from the Michael Buhler collection. Buhler collected a vast array of tin toys and published a book on the subject called 'Tin Toys 1945-1975'. His collection covered a variety of subject matters ranging from space toys to more domestic objects. The collection contains tin toys from around the world including Japan, Europe, India and the USA. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Tin toys cover a vast array of subject matters, ranging from the space age to domestic objects. This fire engine was made in Japan. It was not until the 1950s that Japanese firms began to make their own original designs. They were mainly concerned with the American market, meaning that the toys they produced tended to reflect American culture in some way. Japanese tin toy production was at its peak in the 1960s. After this, increasing labour costs and demand for die cast models affected the production of tin toys, and contributed to a decline in both their quality and quantity. Plastics began to be used more widely as a material for toys, which was cheaper and considered safer than tin. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.97-2010 |
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| Record created | September 21, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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