Author: Spree, Alan
Social & cultural history
Published on 15 March 2026 by Amberley Publishing in the United Kingdom.
Paperback | 96 pages, 180 Illustrations
234 x 165 | 305g
Frank Hornby established Meccano in 1901 to make metal erector construction sets and produced these at the Binns Road factory in Liverpool, and later also produced Hornby Train sets and accessories named Modelled Miniatures, which later became Dinky Toys in December 1933. The Binns Road factory closed in November 1979 which signalled the end of the ‘proper’ Dinky Toy. This book features, in numerical order, the sets issued by Meccano Ltd as Dinky Toys or earlier as Modelled Miniatures. The sets cover the majority of the range of models produced, including aeroplanes, model figures, trains, army vehicles, commercial vehicles, railway signals, road signs, racing cars, emergency vehicles, Star Wars spaceships, motor cars, television vehicles and even doll’s-house furniture. Many of the boxes that the models were originally sold in are also pictured and captions detail wherever possible the dates of production, length or height of the model as relevant, particular features, price at the time of issue and reissuing number information.
Packed with rare and interesting examples, this is an essential read for both enthusiasts and those who are nostalgic for the Dinky Toys of their youth.
