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 diecast model cars and trucks appeared on the market in any great numbers.
In those days model cars and trucks were not regarded as collectable in their own right – they were produced to lend extra realism to model train sets.
Ever since the early nineteen twenties Frank Hornby had been making increasingly complicated train sets. One of these sets, Meccano Set No 21, was embellished with six die-cast models, consisting of a delivery van, a sports coupe, a farm tractor, a sports car, an army tank, a farm tractor and a motor truck. These were the first Dinky models, issued under the “Meccano Modelled Miniatures” label, as Set No. 22.
These early diecast models were pretty simplistic by modern standards, because they were cast from an alloy containing high lead content which didn’t lend itself to a high level of detail. What is more they did not intend to depict real vehicles, although the sports car looked somewhat similar to the SS1, a popular make at the time and a forerunner of the Jaguar.
In terms of size, they weren’t very well suited to the train sets which they were intended to adorn.
It soon became clear, however, that there was a healthy market for models like this, and it was not long before individual diecast replicas 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 reproduction and detail greatly improved. The Dinky sets came with die cast alloy bodies and tin plate radiators and rubber tyres. The later replicas also had passengers and drivers. The Armstrong Siddely had a footman and chauffeur. Just before the Second World War some superb military models were produced, including tanks with catterpillar tracks and rotating turrets.
Few models from that period have survived in acceptable condition, and examples in good condition are extremely collectible – pre-war Dinky models can command prices up to $1000 at auction.
In the 1950s, new production methods heralded a new era in the history of diecast replica 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 die cast vehicles, with better detail, better running gear, and better colour finish, brings us to the present day, where millions of precision diecast replica models are produced, at quite reasonable prices for the collector. For example, just take a look at these movie diecast cars. The die-cast model car industry has come a long way since the nineteen thirties.
And, don’t forget, eBay can be a terrific source for those hard-to-find, rare diecast models: classic diecast auctions.
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