Collecting Tin Toys: METTOY

Company Name/s: The Mettoy Company Ltd.

Name Derivation / Meaning: Metal toy.

Location/s: Head Office - Queensway, Fforestfach, Swansea, Wales. Engineering Department - Harlestone Road, Northampton, England. London Office & Showroom - Finsbury Pavement House, 120 Moorgate, London, E.C.2, England.

Trade Mark/s:

Dates: Founded in 1932 - Dissolved in 1984.

Notes: Registered as a private company on 31st August, 1932. The company was founded by Philip Ullmann and Arthur Katz. Both Ullmann and Katz were Jewish, moving to Britain following Hitler's rise to power in 1933. Ullmann was originally managing director and then sole owner of Tipp and Co., a company set up to manufacture mechanical tin toys and located in Nuremburg, Germany.

Locations, 1933 - Winteringham Ltd., St Andrews Street, Northampton. Initially shared the workshops of Winteringham Ltd. (a model engineering company closely associated with Bassett-Lowke). February 1936 - moved to larger premises in Stimpson Avenue, Northampton. 1937 - moved to larger premises in Harlestone Road, St. James End, Northampton.

Mettoy Head Office In Northampton

Mettoy Factory In Swansea

Checklist For Mettoy Tin Toys (links lead to images in my photo-gallery).

COMPILING NOW - (Last Updated 07/01/2022).

Mettoy Catalogue 1952

Mettoy Catalogue 1953

METTOY CATALOGUE 1953 AND CATALOGUE SUPPLEMENT

METTOY CATALOGUE 1953 - CONTENTS (Tin Toys Only).

916 - Sparking Racer (9.50 inches long) - Friction, with spark.
3306 - Saloon Car (5.50 inches long) - W/U.

3039 - Giant Racing Car (15.25 inches long) - W/U, brake, steering.

3102/3 - Fire Engine (11.75 inches long) - W/U, extending ladder.

3110/2 - Fire Engine (15.00 inches long) - W/U, extending ladder.

3114/1 - Petrol Tanker, Shell (8.50 inches long) - W/U, plastic cab.

3118/1 - Articulated Lorry, Speedy (8.25 inches long) - W/U, plastic cab.
3262/1 - Farm Tractor (7.50 inches long) - W/U.
3262/3276 - Tractor & Trailer set (19.25 inches long) - W/U. With driver.
3262/2468 - Farm Tractor & Implements set (16.25 inches long) - W/U. With driver.
3264/1 - Giant Tractor (9.25 inches long) - W/U.
3276 - Farm Tip Trailer (12.00 inches long) - N/M.

3312T - Shooting Brake & Caravan (13.75 inches long) W/U.

3320 - Police Car (6.25 inches long) - Friction, siren.

3321 - Fire Tender (6.25 inches long) - Friction, siren.

3322 - Fire Chief (6.25 inches long) - Friction, siren.

3323 - Ambulance (6.25 inches long) - Friction, siren.
4315 - Mettype Junior Typewriter (11.25 inches long) - H/O mechanism.
5316 - Coronation Sparking Loco (10.00 inches long) - Friction, with spark.
5319 - Floor Loco & Tender (7.00 inches long) - Friction, with spark.

6133/3 - Sparking Tank (9.00 inches long) - W/U, with spark.

6201/1022 - Joytown Fire Station (8.25 inches long) - Fire Chief & Tender

6202/2023 - Flying Squad Station (8.25 inches long) - Police Car & Ambulance.
6412 - Sandy The Shunter (20.00 inches long) - W/U, track toy.
6435 - Tractor (5.00 inches long) - W/U.
6435/116 - Tractor & Trailer (11.50 inches long) - W/U, Fruit & Vegetables.
6438 - Caterpillar Tractor (5.00 inches long) - W/U.
6560 - Battleship (12.75 inches long) - Friction, with spark. Part plastic.
6600 - Clockwork Speed Boat (6.50 inches long) - W/U.
6602 - High-Speed Launch (7.25 inches long) - W/U.
6603 - Ocean Liner (7.25 inches long) - W/U.
6605 - High Speed Motor Boat (11.25 inches long) - W/U.
6607 - Cabin Cruiser (14.25 inches long) - W/U.

7101A - Dan Dare Ray Gun (21.00 inches long) - Winding mechanism with spark.

8110 - Model Racing Car (5.00 inches long) - W/U, steering.

8132 - Sparking Army Despatch Rider (5.50 inches long) - Friction, with spark.

8230 - Dan Dare Rocket Space Ship (8.50 inches long) - Friction, with spark.

METTOY CATALOGUE SUPPLEMENT 1953 - CONTENTS (Tin Toys only).

2006 - Space Patrol Aeroplane (13.75 inches wingspan) - Friction, with spark.

3001 - Police Car (4.50 inches long) - Friction.

3082/1 - Racing Car (7.00 inches long) - W/U

3147 - Army Motor Cycle (5.25 inches long) - Friction, with spark.

3306/1T - Car & Caravan (11.00 inches long) - W/U

6351 - Crazy Cowboy (6.25 inches long) - W/U.

WEMBLEY SHOOTING GAMES CATALOGUE 1970
(Added 03/11/2019).

Abbreviations Used.

N/M = no mechanism.
H/O = hand operated.
Friction = friction wound flywheel mechanism.
Crank = crank wound flywheel mechanism.
W/U = wind up / clockwork (spring) mechanism.
B/O = battery operated.
B&G = bump and go / mystery action.
R/C = remote control.
Name In Italics = exact name unknown (updated when I spot an original box or obtain an original catalogue).

Pinterest Board for Mettoy - Pictures and links to other pages with Mettoy tin toys. Includes items for sale on auction sites etc.

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE METTOY COMPANY LTD. I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.