Corgi Toys – ‘the ones with windows’ were the toy cars to have in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s. This is the ideal introduction to these toy vehicles, made in Swansea until 1983.
The rise, fall and rebirth of Corgi Toys is explained and illustrated with hundreds of color photos of toy models and memorabilia never before seen in print. The smaller Husky and Corgi Juniors lines are also covered. Most importantly, this encylopedia presents the most complete variation listing and values guide for Corgi toys published to date.
Although the name "Corgi Toys" was not introduced until 1955, the roots of the original holding company, Mettoy, go back to 1932 when a German toymaker called Philipp Ullmann arrived in Britain to form a new toy manufacturing company. This company produced many types of toys, both before and after the Second World War, mainly in tinplate. In the 1950s Mettoy began to produce diecast metal toys and hence, in 1956 the first Corgi Toys were released to the children's toy market and proved an immediate success. Over the next 30 years hundreds of miniature vehicles would be modeled on contemporary vehicles such as Vauxhalls, Rileys, Hillmans, Standards, Commers and ERFs. Corgi also made daring and successful ventures into film-and-TV related toys with their versions of James Bond, The Saint and Batmobile cars selling millions. Life-long collector David Cooke explores the history of Corgi Toys, describing the various models and illustrating how these simple children's toys became valuable collectables. He also charts the recent financial problems faced by the company, and their resurgence based upon Limited Edition collectors' models sold direct to an adult market.
Corgi Juniors and Husky Models brings together the story of these small-scale model cars and other toys into one book for the first time. This widely collected line of diecast toy cars and trucks are examined in every detail. Over 500 full color photos and well-researched text presents the entire history of these cars, from the introduction of Husky Models in 1964, to the Corgi Classics of today. Here are Corgi Juniors, Corgi Rockets, Husky Toys, Whizzwheels Conversions plus many more variations. Included is never before published information on prototype, pre-production, and promotional models, plus an extensive cross-reference section which provides easy access to model numbers and current values.
The surge in the market for Corgi die-cast collectible toys has caused a demand for accurate, updated information on them - with Collecting Corgi Toys, readers will find everything they're looking for. This reference documents the history of the company and the evolution of its products from 1956 to 1984, and provides essential data and pricing for every toy produced in that time.Over 600 listings for toys and full sets include catalog number, year of introduction, last year produced, colors, identification notes, and current market value in British Pounds and U.S. Dollars. Corgi fans will find all their favorites inside, including racecars, service vehicles, military models, film and TV models, special models and much more. Nearly 150 full-color photos detail the most rare Corgi toys and sets on the market.·
Farming in Miniature is an essential guide for collectors of British toy models interested in farm tractors, farm horses and associated agricultural equipment. The manufacturers / brands are arranged alphabetically. Each manufacturer has its own chapter introduced by an account of its history. These introductions cross-refer to the captioned photographs that follow and which make up the bulk of the chapters. In their general introduction the authors say that they have attempted to illustrate all significant variations of colour and packaging, particularly of rare or unusual models, so as to make the book as comprehensive as possible. The three authors, all leading authorities, have drawn on their extensive past experience coupled with another five years to research, write and prepare photographs.
The bestselling 'Great Book of Corgi' has been fully revised and updated with over 100 new colour photographs; this book will be an essential addition to the library of all model collectors.
For fifty years, Britain made the best toy cars in the world, expertly shrinking every kind of reallife vehicle and producing them in their countless, die-cast millions. Dinky Toys were the 1930s pioneers, then in the 1950s came the pocket-money Matchbox series, followed by Corgi Toys bristling with ingenious features and movie stardust. But who were the driving forces behind this phenomenon? And how did they keep putting the latest, most exciting cars into the palm of your hand year after year? In this illustrated and expanded edition of Britain's Toy Car Wars, Giles Chapman reveals the extraordinary battle to dominate Britain's toy car industry, and the dramas and disasters that finally saw the tiny wheels come off ...