Non-exhaustive inventory of China tin toys
Non-commercial site. No sales, only information
Toys designed in China since 1958
Friction MF - Spring MS - Battery ME
More than 1000 China tin toys created in the 60s, 70s, 80s
indexed by mode of operation, number, category, estimated price and rarity.
Focus on truck MF 936
It is a small friction toy (17 cm long) very simple. It has not been available in various colors,
it is always red.
It is directly inspired by the truck Huanghe JN150, Yellow River in English that is officially known
as ‘China’s first domestically made heavy truck’.
Huanghe JN150 was designed in China in the early 1960s, with the help of engineers from the Czechoslovakian firm Skoda. The first trucks left the factories in 1963, 30 vehicles in the first year. Production stopped during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) but continued afterward on full steam right until 1985
Classification
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Alpha-numeric code : MF, MS, ME and a number (from 1 to 999)
Some codes are not identified, they are replaced by a UN code (unknown) and a number
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Category : toys are classified by groupe in 19 categories
Type : it specifies the kind, especially in Animal
Name : name indicated on the box
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Rarity and Price : estimated price range based on online sales,auction sites and personal blogs in many countries over the last 10 years.
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A little history
In China
1920's to 1950's : In Shanghai, Kang Yuan Toy Factory, China Can Toy Factory...
1949 : People's Republic of China
Since 1958 : tin toys have been produced whith no brand, and no reference to dates or locations.
Only a code, 2 letters 3 numbers assigned without any specific rule.
In 1962, the largest factory of tin toys in Shanghai produced 3.5 million toys mainly for export.
For 25 years, Mr. Marvin Chan (Chen Guotai) has been the main collector
and historian of Chinese toys.
He has published 4 reference books and created the Saint John brand.
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Elsewhere in the world
1860's : First tin toy factory in Germany : Bing, Marklin, Ester Lehmann
1889 : In France Charles Rossignol invents the stapling system of the tinplate
which replaces tin welding.
1890's : Development of lithographic printing of tinplates, before stamping,
less costly than painting.
Invention of the electric battery in the USA.
From 1905, the tin toy industry develops all over the world, especially in :
Germany : Schuco, Marklin, Blomer & Schuller, Kohler, Ester Lehmann, Arnold...
Japan : Ichiko, T.Nomura, Bandaî, Yonezawa, Yoshiya...
U.S.A. : Lineman Toy, Louis Marx & Co...
France : Joustra, Rossignol...
Spain : Rico, Paya...
Czech Republic : Kovap...
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From the 1980s, plastic has replaced metal, and tin toys have become collector's items.
