There is a fairly 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 market in any great numbers.
In those days model cars and lorries were not looked on as collectable items in their own right - they were produced to lend added realism to model train sets.
Ever since the early nineteen twenties Hornby had made ever more complex train sets. One of the sets, Meccano Set No 21, was embellished with six die cast models, consisting of a sports coupe, a motor truck, a sports car, a delivery van, an army tank and a farm tractor. These were the first Dinky models, issued under the “Meccano Modelled Miniatures” label, as Set No. 22.
These early diecast cars were pretty simplistic by modern standards, seeing as they were cast from an alloy containing high lead content which didn’t lend itself to a high level of detail. What’s more they didn’t intend to depict real vehicles, although the sports car bore a resemblance to the S.S.1, a popular make at the time and a forerunner of the Jaguar.
In terms of size, they weren’t very 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 wasn’t long before individual die cast models based on real cars and lorries were produced and sold separately. Dinky Set 30 was based on the famous 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 reproduction and detail hugely improved. The Dinky sets came with die cast alloy bodies and tin plate radiators and rubber tyres. The later models also had drivers and passengers. The Armstrong Siddely had a footman and chauffeur. Just prior to World War II some excellent military models were produced, including tanks with catterpillar tracks and rotating turrets.
Few models from that era have survived in good condition, and models in good condition are extremely collectable - pre war Dinky models can fetch prices up to $1000 at auction.
In the nineteen fifties, new production techniques heralded a new era in the history of die cast replica cars. Lesney, famous for their splendid Coronation Coach, and Corgi, (”the ones with the windows”), entered the market to compete with Dinky.
This new generation of die-cast vehicles, with better detail, finer running gear, and better color finish, leads up to the present day, where millions of exquisitely detailed diecast replica models are produced, at very reasonable prices for the collector. For example, just take a look at this beautiful model of the original 1907 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Or this chevy diecast 1946 suburban ambulance. The die-cast model car industry has come a long way since the 1930s.
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