Dinky Toys was the brand name given to a range of die-cast zinc alloy scale model vehicles, traffic lights, and road signs.
Summary
The models were produced and the brand owned by British toy company Meccano Ltd who made Dinky Toys at their factory in Binns Road, Liverpool, UK between 1934 and 1979.
Dinky toys pre-dated other popular British die-cast brands such as Corgi, Matchbox and Mattel’s Hot Wheels and were among the most popular die-cast vehicles ever made.
During it’s 45 year run Dinky produced toy cars, trucks, aircraft, warships and of course the highly collectible
Captain Scarlett,
Space 1999
and Thunderbirds ranges.
Where Did They Go?
Changing fashions in the toy industry, international competition and the switch to cheap labour in lower wage countries meant that the days of British-made toy vehicles like Dinky Toys were numbered.
Following attempts at simplifying the products as a means of saving costs, the famous Binns Road factory in Liverpool finally closed its doors in November 1979. This spelt the end of Dinky as a British brand.
By comparison, Corgi Toys managed to struggle on until 1983. Matchbox was taken over by Universal International of Hong Kong in 1982, ending the era when UK-made die-cast toy models were dominant.
Not Really Dinky
Whilst Dinky Toys officially ceased production, as a British brand Dinky was a trusted name and the brand itself changed hands many times before ending up as part of Matchbox International in the late 1980s which itself became part of US giant Mattel in 1997.
Commercial Break