Perhaps the most interesting, however, was produced by Budgie Toys, of an AA Mobile Control Office.

Hyman A. Abrahams and Sons
A company which after the First World War offered a limited range of toys including a single deck bus, a tram and a Royal Mail van.

ABC
Producer of 1/76th scale Hong Kong buses, incorporating several additional features, such as an opening rear bustle to reveal a detailed engine. For a short time the company produced British buses, but problems led to changes, an outcome of which was the separate operations of AsianBus and Britbus.

AC
The company AC, which took its name from 'Auto Carriers', was founded by John Weller and John Portwine in 1903, and started producing cars in 1913. Acquired by Charles and Derek Hurlock in 1930, AC was sold in the 1980s. Models exist, such as the Dinky Toys AC Aceca.

AEC
AEC started life in Walthamstow in north London as a subsidiary of the London General Omnibus Company. The aim was to build motor buses that would replace the horse-drawn type. Following a prototype, the 'X', a successful bus was launched, the 'B' Type. Later, of course, the close relationship between AEC (Associated Equipment Company) and London Transport was to see the development of both the RT and the Routemaster.

The first AEC van was the 'Y' Type. Over the years the company was to be a major player in the bus and truck market, with names such as Regal and Regent, Matador, Mercury, Militant, Monarch and Mammoth.

During its life the company (or rather Associated Commercial Vehicles Ltd - ACV - as the parent company was known) took over a number of other manufacturers including Crossley, Maudsley, Thornycroft, Park Royal Vehicles and Charles H. Roe.

In 1962 the shares of ACV were acquired by Leyland, and the factory at Southall gradually moved over to the production of Leylands.

Models of AEC buses and trucks are available from a number of manufacturers. The AEC radiator style has a pleasing, modern look on the Orion-bodied buses produced in 1/76th scale by both EFE and OOC (Corgi). Models also exist of the RT and RM (Routemaster).

Models of the trucks feature prominently in the Corgi Classics, Dinky Toys and EFE ranges.

Agriculture
The area of farming is a popular one, although relatively few companies have specifically specialised in this area. The most noted are Ertl, which has produced particularly fine models of tractors, Britains and Siku. Farming implements have been included among other toy ranges.

Aircraft
At the time Dinky Toys were at the height of their popularity, aviation was developing at a fast rate. Understandably boys in the immediate pre- and post-war years were fascinated by aircraft, and a large selection was provided in the Dinky Toys range. Indeed, aircraft were being added to the range from 1934 right through to the demise of Dinky Toys in 1979. Only the war years discontinued production.

Some of these Dinky Toys were later to appear as Nicky Toys (see Nicky Toys).

The French were equally spell bound by the romance of flying, so it was inevitable that aircraft would be included within the French Dinky Toy range. French Dinky Toys first appeared in 1934; the first aircraft came in 1935.

Also in France, Solido produced both Constructional Planes from 1933, which needed to be bolted together, and die-cast from 1955. It also produced a fine selection of helicopters from 1979.

Aircraft have been included in most toy ranges over the years, while in more recent years the trend has been to provide more detailed models. Here is a selection of some of the more interesting ranges.

Toys of some of the earliest attempts at powered flight came from a company called SR, based just outside Paris.

In the late 1920s Britains introduced military aircraft into its range, with a monoplane, biplane and Autogiro.

Tootsietoys also included aircraft in its range of toys, both pre- and post-war. With aviation seeing its roots in America, it is not surprising that Tootsietoys included some of the most significant aircraft in the history of flying.

A Hong Kong based company, Cragstan, produced three 1/72nd die-cast aircraft of World War One vintage: SE5, Fokker D VII, and SPAD.

Various German aircraft were produced by Lehmann in the 1930s.

A brand known as Skybirds offered 1/72nd scale aircraft kits: in the 1930s two of the aircraft - Caudron C.460 and Percival 'Mew Gull' - were offered ready-built.

In the mid-1940s Timpo produced a range of wartime planes.

In the 1950s the Italian manufacturer Mercury produced an interesting range of aircraft.

In the mid-1950s, under its brand name of Lone Star, DCMT produced a range of five aircraft, which it called TWO-FIVE-O because of the scale of 1/250th (see Lone Star).

In 1956 Schuco started to produce aircraft, some, such as the 1/200th Piccolo series, being simply toys. However, later the detailing became more intricate and there was greater accuracy. After financial problems in 1976, the Schuco aircraft dies were taken over by Schabak.

Schabak has continued to provide an excellent range of well detailed model aircraft.

From the mid 1960s to 1980s, EKO of Spain produced a series of aircraft, manufactured in plastic.

Edison Air Lines H.F. of Italy produced three series in the early 1970s, to 1/72nd or 1/84th scales. The series were known as Heroes Wings, Italian Sky: Aces of World War I, and Records in the Sky. The aircraft modelled were either bi-planes or sea planes. Later these models were re-issued by a company called Pyranglo, which subsequently changed its name to Toy Way.

Ertl entered the model aircraft market in the 1970s, selling the products of Lintoy of Hong Kong, before launching its own ranges of war planes in 1987, and of jet aircraft in 1988.

Likewise most of the aircraft marketed by Corgi Toys were also the products of Lintoy of Hong Kong (although some were actually produced in Singapore). However, Corgi manufactured their own version of Concorde. The Corgi Toys range has also included helicopters.

From 1973 Matchbox offered aircraft, the most significant range being known as Skybusters.

While marketed as toys, the products of Siku are highly regarded, and from the mid 1980s have included helicopters and airliners.

In the early 1990s Revell produced a short series of model aircraft called Air Aces, but the range did not last long. The scales varied.

In the area of die-cast model aircraft, the most significant introduction of recent times has been the 'Aviation Archive' from Corgi Classics. Initially all the releases were to 1/144th scale, but later 1/72nd and 1/32nd scales were added.

In white metal several aircraft have been offered by Western Models.

A famous brand of model aircraft that could 'Fly Right Off the Ground' were those of Frog. The idea came from Charles and John Wilmot, who were joined by Joseph Mansour. The product was first shown in 1932, with mixed results, so soon after an approach was made to Lines Bros (Tri-ang) who took on the range, with production from its Merton factory. In 1935 the model aircraft were made available as 'constructional kits', still capable of flying. In 1936 plastic kits (non-flying) were added, under the brand name of Penguin.

Plastic kits have always been popular, especially those of Airfix and Revell. However, ready-built plastic aircraft are also produced, including those by Wooster and the excellent Herpa Wings range.

Airfix
Best known for its plastic kits which first appeared during the 1950s. The range included aircraft, ships, plus vehicles and figures among other items. Airfix was bought by Palitoy in the early 1980s. Some of the kits remain in production.

Albedo
German manufacturer, founded in 1980, of 1/87th scale models in plastic, concentrating mainly on heavy commercials.

Albion
The Albion Motor Car company was formed by T. Blackwood-Murray and M. O. Fulton in Glasgow around 1900. Their first commercial vehicle appeared in 1902 and from then onwards manufacture was steady, with the inevitable production for the armed forces during both the First and Second World Wars.

The company was absorbed by Leyland in 1950, but the Albion name remained, and indeed the later LAD cab refers to Leyland/Albion/Dodge. The name ceased to be used in 1972.

Models are few and far between, although the position has been redressed by Corgi Classics. The original truck from Albion, the A3, formed part of the Charbens 'Old Crocks' range, while a Chieftain appeared as a Blue Circle cement lorry in the Matchbox '1 - 75' Series. Albion LAD cabs appeared in both the Dinky Supertoys and Budgie ranges.

Ambulances
There is much interest in collecting models of ambulances, although there are complaints that many manufacturers simply place a Red Cross on the side of a van and classify the result as an ambulance.

There have, of course, been a number of authentic ambulance models produced, which include the Dinky Toys Daimler DC27, as used by the LCC (London County Council), and at one time the most familiar ambulance on the roads. The Dinky Toy remained in production from 1950 to 1964. More recently Corgi Classics has included the legendary Daimler ambulance in its 1/50th scale range.

The Tri-ang Spot-On ambulance was the BMC Morris with Wadhams bodywork; it remains one of the most sought-after from the Spot-On range.

In the Matchbox '1 - 75' Series with regular wheels, number 14 was originally a Daimler ambulance, being replaced by a Bedford Lomas ambulance.

One of the most appealing of the early toy ambulances is possibly that from the Tri-ang Minic series, being a tin plate toy with LCC markings, complete with opening rear doors and a stretcher.

Other producers of a Daimler DC27 have included Morestone/Budgie and Zebra Toys.

There are, of course, countless other ambulance toys and models, but many, as in real life, have been adaptations of standard vehicles, or have simply been van models with some sort of 'ambulance' decoration on the sides.

American Toys
In the past it has seemed that American children preferred cheaper toys, so the toy industry tended to favour cast iron, steel or even aluminium for its products.

The major American toy producers have included Arcade, Buddy L, Lionel, Marx and Tootsietoys.

Another keen interest in America has always been kits, especially those in plastic.

However, in the early 1960s there was a strong British die-cast influence on the American market. There is no doubt that the success of Matchbox caused great concern, and led to Mattel developing its 'Hot Wheels' range.

Mattel has also over the years acquired Corgi (various items focused at the American market are still produced by Corgi Classics) and more recently Matchbox, including the Matchbox Collectibles range.

Another major American company is Ertl, which now incorporates the British company of Britains.

Arcade
An American company which started life as the Novelty Iron Works in 1868, the name being changed to Arcade in 1884. It entered the toy market with little success until a deal was arranged with Yellow Cabs: the first such toy appeared at the end of 1921.

The company went on to produce cast iron toys, including a range of Mack trucks, farming equipment, and versions of the Model T and Model A Fords.

Armour
A range of military models with particular emphasis on aircraft and tanks.

Armstrong Siddeley
Armstrong Siddeley Motors came about in 1919 by the merger of Armstrong Whitworth and Siddeley Deasy. Models of these distinctive cars have come mainly from Dinky Toys, but also Tri-ang Spot-On and the Pathfinder white metal range.

In the 1950s the company merged with the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

Art Model
A brand name from Italy which concentrates on 1/43rd scale models of Ferraris, produced to an extremely high standard.

Aston Martin
The first Aston Martin was built by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin in 1914. Financial problems hounded the company, which passed through several owners: Frazer Nash, L. Prideaux Brune and R. G. Sutherland, until the company was bought in 1947 by David Brown who in 1972 sold to Company Developments Ltd. After a period of mixed fortunes, Aston Martin was acquired by Ford in 1987.

Models of the cars exist from a number of manufacturers such as Dinky Toys.

ATC
Japanese toy producer (Asahi Toy Company), which initially used tin plate, and then moved into 1/43rd scale die-cast.

Atkinson
The Atkinson story is really two-fold. Formed by Edward Atkinson in 1907, its first vehicle appeared in 1912, the early products being steam-powered. Problems set in during the 1920s, but in 1933 the company was re-formed as Atkinson Lorries Ltd.

Based at Preston, it produced various ranges such as the Omega, Knight, Borderer, Searcher and Defender.

In 1970 there was a merger with Seddon Vehicles Ltd: Seddon-Atkinson resulted, taken over by International Harvester in 1974.

There is a model of a steam wagon in the Matchbox 'Models of Yesteryear' range, while the Silver Knight has been offered by Exclusive First Editions and more recently by Corgi Classics.

Auctions
An increasingly popular method of buying and selling collections and individual models The traditional form of auction provides a catalogue listing the items on offer with an estimate of the anticipated realisation. Potential buyers can submit bids by post or attend personally. It is usual for a commission to be charged to both buyer and seller.

Increasingly attention is being focused on auctions being held online on the Internet. A leading organisation is this up-and-coming form of buying and selling is e-Bay (which can be found at eBay.co.uk).

Austin
The Austin Motor Company was founded in 1905 by Herbert Austin: the factory was at Longbridge in Birmingham.

The company became noted for offering a wide variety of reliable vehicles, whether it be cars or commercials. In 1952 came the merger with Morris, MG, Riley and Wolseley to form the British Motor Corporation. Later both Jaguar and Leyland were to join the corporation. Austin ceased as a separate name in the late 1980s.

One of the most delightful models of Austin trucks is the K4 as offered by Dinky Toys. In the Dublo Dinky Toys series came the Loadstar.

The sweeping lines of the A40 van was also offered by Dinky Toys, and repeated in The Dinky Collection from Matchbox. There was also a Tri-ang Minic version, but was rather poor. The A35 van has been offered by Lledo Vanguards.

Perhaps the most famous of the Austin vans is the Minivan. A number of models exist, notably those from Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys, and a 1/35th scale version from Zebra Toys.

When it comes to larger vehicles, the Austin offering was the Loadstar. The best models come from Tri-ang Spot-On, but there are also examples from Budgie Toys and a small toy from Lone Star.

The Austin name was also very much connected with military vehicles, with good examples found from Matchbox Toys and Dinky Toys (including the Austin Champ), and with taxis, the Austin FX3 and FX4 being prominent in toy terms.

Austin cars have appeared from, among others, Dinky and Corgi Toys, and more recently as part of the Lledo Vanguards range.

Donald Healey revealed his Healey 100 in 1952: production was undertaken by Austin, the car being known as the Austin Healey 100. Equally famous is the Austin Healey Sprite.

AWM
A German company producing plastic models in 1/87th scale.

 

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, Y, Z.