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C
Cabinets, display
(See under Display Cabinets)

Cadillac
Started as the Henry Ford Company, but Henry Ford resigned to launch the Ford Motor Company. He was replaced as Chief Engineer by Henry Leland, who himself resigned in 1907 to create the Lincoln Motor Company.

The name of Cadillac was chosen after Antoinede la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit. Cadillac became part of General Motors in 1909.

Models exist from many manufacturers.

Cars
A particularly strong collecting area is cars, whether it be of the present day or from earlier times.

Current cars were very much a feature of the toy ranges of the 1950s and 1960s, with both Corgi Toys and Dinky Toys including a wide selection.

Today, British companies seem to prefer producing models of older cars rather than current production. No doubt this is to satisfy the basic collecting urge based on nostalgia.

Nevertheless, there are still models produced of current cars, but these tend to be from model manufacturers based overseas.

The most popular scale for cars remains 1/43rd. This may well find its origins back in the days of Dinky Toys which were originally produced to fit alongside the O gauge Hornby model railways, and so were approximately to 1/43rd scale.

Recent years have seen a greater interest in larger scale models, such as 1/18th and 1/25th, but in the main these tend to be of the more exotic cars.

Indeed, there is a keen demand for cars with an international appeal, particularly sporting and racing cars. In this respect, a market developed for models that compete in Formula One.

Models do exist in smaller scales: in particular on the Continent there is a strong demand for models in plastic that complement HO gauge model railways, in 1/87th scale.

Case
Agricultural machinery manufacturer from the United States (see Ertl).

Casting
The process of forming an object in metal (can include toys and models). In the context of model collecting, the most commonly found are die-casting whereby the molten metal is fed into a die which forms both sides of the component being formed. The second method is hollow or slush casting, by which only the outer surface is 'formed', the inner surface being smooth.

Cast iron
The American toy market at one time tended to favour large, heavy toys, so cast iron, steel and aluminium were often used in manufacture.

Among the companies noted for using cast iron were Arcade and Hubley.

Steel was used by Buddy L, while Dent preferred to work in aluminium.

Caterpillar
A name well known for its heavy construction and earth moving equipment. The company has in recent times licensed the use of its name and the modelling of its products. Companies which have the necessary agreement include Matchbox Collectibles, NZG, Norscot, Mattel and Classic Construction Models.

Chad Valley
A toys and games company based in Birmingham, it started life as a firm of printers, being founded by Anthony Bunn Johnson. A move to a site near a stream called the Chad gave the company the name by which it is best remembered.

It became noted for a number of tin plate toys, although production of these did not start until the end of the Second World War. It started producing vehicles, including delightful single and double deck buses, and a most appealing delivery van inscribed 'The Chad Valley Co. Ltd.'.

After the Second World War turned to die-casting; although many of the products were rather poor, there were reasonable double and single deck buses produced, the inspiration for which was clearly the London Transport RT.

Produced a range of 1950's cars for the Rootes Group, namely a Hillman Minx, Humber Super Snipe, Sunbeam Talbot and Humber Hawk.

Champion
A range of 1/66th scale sports and racing cars produced from 1969 to 1978 by the French company SAFIR. Included are various Formula One cars from the late 1960s.

Charbens
This north London company (based at Holloway) was founded by Charles and Benjamin Reid and originally produced lead toy soldiers and farm models. In the 1950s it moved into smaller toys similar to the Matchbox Series. It developed a range called 'Old Crocks', which included veteran cars, perhaps inspired by the popularity of the film 'Genevive'. The range included some unusual vehicles including a London bus and Stephenson's 'Rocket'. The 'Old Crocks' were produced from 1955 to the late 1960s. Care should be taken as these do tend to suffer from metal fatigue.

Later products (mid 1970s) included toys such as Batman and Superman.

Cherryca
A series of die-cast cars produced in the early 1960s by the Japanese company Taiseiya, and branded as Cherryca Pheonix or Micro Pet. Included were both American and European cars.

Chevrolet
Founded by Louis Chevrolet, a racing driver, and Billy Durant, who had previously been with General Motors. Their first car was launched in 1912. Chevrolet resigned in 1913, and Durant took the company to General Motors. For many years it vied with Ford for dominance in the American car market.

Many models exist of the Chevrolet marque.

Chipped
A model which has some of its paintwork damaged.

Chrysler
In 1921 the Maxwell Motor Company of Detroit was bought by Walter Chrysler, who in 1925 changed the name to the Chrysler Corporation.

In 1928 Chrysler bought the business established by brothers Horace and John Dodge, who started in the 1800s by building bicycles, then moved onto cars and later trucks.

Chipperfields
The idea of the circus dates back to the 1700s; the involvement of the Chipperfield's family has been almost as long.

During the 1960s circuses were extremely popular, so it was not surprising that during the years from 1960 to 1970 Corgi Toys should release ten Chipperfield's Circus models, plus four Gift Sets. All were produced with the co-operation of the circus itself.

These models proved to be highly collectable, so in 1994 Corgi Classics launched a new series of twelve Chipperfield's Circus models. Again these proved extremely popular at the time, so further additions were made.

Today circuses are less in favour, so there must be doubt as to whether any further Chipperfield's models will appear.

CIJ
A French toy company (Compagnie Industrielle du Jouet) which although it was started earlier by Marcel Gourdet, began making toys in 1928, at that time in tin plate. It produced its first die-cast toys in 1950.

Understandably the company tended to concentrate on French marques, not least a close relationship with Citroën, which it later gave up in preference for an agreement with Renault.

After the Second World War it produced an interesting selection of 1/43rd scale cars, many of French origin starting with the 4CV Renault, but also American and German. The range also included a number of Renault vans, and a selection of heavy commercials including an attractive array of petrol tankers. There were also tractors and farm equipment. A few aircraft were also produced in the early 1960s.

In 1964 there was a merger of CIJ and JRD, another French toy producer, but the combined company did not survive for long. There was a revival of the CIJ name, but toy vehicles were no longer produced. (See JRD.)

Circus
While the models relating to Chipperfield's Circus from Corgi will be foremost in the minds of British collectors, other famous circuses have been represented, including Billy Smart's.

For the French market, Corgi has produced a number of vehicles related to Pinder (Jean Richard).

From Solido came a delightful range of circus models for AMAR, in scales that vary from about 1/43rd to 1/50th. Included was a Big Top, and various animals and performers. Later these models were to re-appear under the Verem brand for Pinder.

Back in 1922 Hubley produced a delightful series of horse-drawn circus wagons.

Citroën
Founded by André Citroën, the company has been noted for its 'landmark' cars. Probably none was more so that the 2CV, launched in 1948, and designed as a car which the majority could afford. It saved the company after the financial difficulties created by the 'Traction Avante' series of cars; at this point the company was taken over by Michelin. The 2CV has been frequently modelled.

A revolutionary feature was the hydropneumatic suspension, launched with the 15CV, and later with the incredible DS19: again many models exist.

CLE
A French company, founded by Clément Gaget which entered the toy market in 1958, and concentrated on plastic. Its range included trucks and older cars (mainly of French origin), plus racing and sports cars. Scales varied from about 1/48th to 1/90th.

Coaches
An important part of the public transport scene, coaches have often been included in toy ranges, but it is only in more recent times with the advent of the 1/76th scale range from Exclusive First Editions and Original Omnibus Company that a wide selection of coaches has been available to the modeller.

Coca-Cola
The world-famous drink, there is much collecting interest surrounding anything associated with the brand. As a result, many models have been produced with the Coca-Cola theme, most of which, while inauthentic, nevertheless have a colourful appeal.

Codes
A system of distinguishing the exact nature of a model Code 1 refers to an item totally made by the manufacturing company, and placed on general sale. Other codes indicate that the model was limited in its availability (a small production run not made widely available) or which has been altered after leaving the original factory.

The generally accepted codes are:
Code 1 - models entirely produced by the company and made generally available, at least to the collector market.
Code 2 - models produced by the company, but in restricted numbers and consequently not generally available to collectors.
Code 3 - models which are subsequently altered by a third party (such as re-painting or adding new decals) but with the full permission of the original producing company.
Code 4 - models which are subsequently altered without seeking the permission of the original producing company.

Collector's Model
A series of 1/76th scale models of buses as used in Hong Kong. When launched, this range offered detail previously not found on mass-produced models in the scale, such as glazed lights, printed window details, and separately moulded fuel filler cap.

Commer
Commercial Cars Ltd (or Commer) was founded in 1905. From its headquarters in London, the company later moved to Luton in Bedfordshire. The company was acquired by Humber in 1926, and then by Rootes, along with Karrier, in 1928.

Models of Commer vehicles have featured prominently among the toy ranges. Perhaps the most extensive was offered in the Matchbox '1 - 75' Series, although Corgi Toys also provided various versions of the 'PB'.

Ironically, Matchbox had been considering a Commer for the Models of Yesteryear range (one was included in The Dinky Collection) at the time of the company's acquisition by Tyco: the project was apparently abandoned.

Commercials
To a certain extent interest in commercial vehicles is fairly recent. For example, when Matchbox first put commercial vehicles into its Models of Yesteryear range, there was possibly only one livery for each ever produced. Likewise Dinky Toys only ever offered a handful of liveries on its commercials, except, surprisingly, for the very early vans.

The turning point may well have been the Models of Yesteryear Talbot van in Lipton's Tea livery. The publicity surrounding the initial production run featuring the Royal crest, for which permission had not been given, created a demand for that and subsequent liveries. As a result the Talbot van, and the Model T Ford released soon after, appeared in a wide selection of liveries.

Nowadays manufacturers almost depend on being able to offer a wide selection of liveries, so commercial vehicles remain a popular choice to produce.

The most popular scales are 1/43rd for small commercials (vans - very much linked with the popular scale for cars), while the larger commercials (trucks and lorries) tend to be of 1/50th scale (in the United States 1/64th is the preferred scale).

There is a very strong interest in modern trucks, as well as the older vehicles.

Condition
Condition is very important when considering buying or selling. If an item started life as a toy, and has been played with, it may well suffer from paint chips. The more perfect the paintwork, the better the model. Of course, there is a need to be aware of repaints. Children would often customise their toys; equally well chipped toys are often stripped of their original paintwork and repainted. Often the quality can be very good, so care is needed to distinguish such repaints from originals.

Likewise transfers and similar decoration can easily be damaged, but replacements are often available, so care again is needed.

A toy or model may have originally been sold with separate fittings: are these still present, either as initially supplied, or perhaps subsequently affixed to the model?

Some parts are easily damaged, such as headlights or bumpers. Many companies produce spare parts for restoring models, so care again should be exercised.

Many are perfectly happy with restored or repainted models, but clearly such should not be sold as if totally original.

Great emphasis is often placed on the box. Again the state of the box is important: reproduction boxes are known in a few cases.

The condition of a toy or model will affect the price. However, one must use discretion. A toy or model in a particularly scarce variation, such as a rare colour, may only exist in less than perfect condition.

Conrad
A German company which produces superb models of heavy commercials, including construction equipment, in 1/50th scale. The wide range of vehicles offered includes those of MAN and Mercedes Benz.

The name of Conrad was first used in the late 1960s, being a brand name of the parent company Gescha, which had been founded in Nuremberg in 1923. Gescha had included die-cast models of heavy commercials within its range.

However, the Conrad brand name has also been used for 1/43rd scale, including cars and small commercials, including many by Audi and Volkswagen.

Construction
A number of companies specialise in models of construction equipment: some over the years have been granted licence agreements with companies such as Caterpillar. The manufacturers involved include Conrad, Ertl, Joal, NZG, plus the Corgi Classics 'Building Britain' series.

Cooper Bond Ltd
Based in Bermondsey in London, produced a few tin plate toys, with cars and vans, including a caravan and Royal Mail van. It is believed the company made the toys inscribed 'Minerva'.

Corgi Classics
The long and chequered history of Corgi Toys took another turn in 1995 when a financially-supported management buy-out separated the company from its then owners Mattel.

The deal involved all the dies to what had become the mainstay of the Corgi business, the Classics, and so the company took on the name of Corgi Classics. Also included were dies for the larger (generally 1/36th) scale toys, but not the small Corgi Juniors. The latter were retained by Mattel to incorporate with its own Hot Wheels.

The Classics continued, with cars and small commercials (1/43rd scale) and buses and large commercials (1/50th scale). There have been no further castings in 1/18th scale.

The Gold Star stockist system expanded, and a new concept of the Corgi Heritage Centre (at Heywood) was developed to provide a Corgi archive. A similar Corgi museum was later opened in Oxford (see Corgi Heritage Centre).

The Original Omnibus Company range has continued with a greater emphasis on modern vehicles. An interesting off-shoot has been the production of model buses specifically for the Far East (predominantly Hong Kong) market. These often involve dedicated castings, and in some cases the models concerned have not been placed on general sale in the United Kingdom. The same initials are used - OOC - standing for Oriental Omnibus Collection.

Indeed overseas markets have become important for Corgi Classics, with ranges produced specifically aimed at the American, French, German and Canadian markets. While these are available from specialist stockists in the United Kingdom, such overseas models are not made widely available.

Another departure from the 'Classic' tag came with the launch of Modern Trucks, to 1/50th scale.

In recent years many of the releases have been 'themed', such as Heavy Haulage, Building Britain, and so on. One such has been Vintage Glory (re-named Dinbah's Choice), dedicated to steam powered vehicles.

The company has also ventured into the area of model aircraft with the successful launch of the Aviation Archive series, providing models of aircraft spanning the years. It has also provided many military vehicles, particularly linked with the Second World War, and notably the D-Day landings.

The dies for the larger scale toys are being utilised to an ever greater degree, mainly offered under the brand of 'The Corgi Collection'. One of the most successful has been the 1/36th scale Mini, which has appeared in a wide range of racing colours.

The company in 1996 acquired one of the most famous names in the world of model railways, that of Bassett Lowke. After many months of development, the name has been revived to be used for live-steam O gauge locomotives.

In 1999 Corgi Classics was bought by Zindart Limited.

Also, at the end of 1999 the company acquired the name, goodwill and dies of Lledo, which had gone into receivership. At first efforts were concentrated on restoring the Lledo Vanguards range of 1/43rd scale cars, but with greater detail and selling at a lower price. Subsequently focus was placed on the 'Models of Days Gone' range, again being offered at lower prices.

Corgi Classics is based at Leicester, but all the manufacturing is undertaken in the Far East.

Corgi Heritage Centre
Situated at 53 York Street, Heywood (near Rochdale and Manchester), the Corgi Heritage Centre provides a potted history of Corgi, and Mettoy, a glimpse at how models are produced, and a preview of future releases.

A similar archive is on show at in Oxford. Auto Models in Golden Cross, Cornmarket Street, Oxford includes a Corgi Miniature Motor Museum.

Corgi Toys
The brand known as Corgi Toys was developed by a company called Mettoy (short for metal toys), created in 1933 by Philipp Ullman. Ullman had built up 21 years' experience in the toy industry in Germany with Tipp and Co, a company in which he had been joined by Arthur Katz from South Africa, who also came over to England.

Mettoy was based in Northampton, using the premises of Winteringham, an offshoot of Bassett Lowke. However, Ullman and Katz devoted their attention to the production of tin plate toys.

In the early years much of the production was exported to the United States. Business grew until the war, with manufacturing switching to support the war effort. As business grew so came the need to move to Swansea.

After the war, it was back to large mechanical tin plate toys. An order from Marks and Spencer for a range of long-lasting, sturdy toys without the dangerous sharpness of tin plate led the company into casting. Six toys were produced, in fact in Birmingham but finished in Swansea, but the range was short lived. However, they were also put on general sale, as Castoys, but in different colours and liveries.

Philipp Ullman's son, Henry, was keen to develop die-casting. As a result two cars were produced by Mettoy, a Standard Vanguard and a Rolls Royce. The company also moved into plastic.

There was another production for Marks and Spencer: a 1/18th scale Vanwall racing car, but again sales were poor.

A significant model was produced by Mettoy for the Co-operative Wholesale Society; it was a Karrier Bantam in CWS Soft Drinks livery. Later the same basic model, unbranded, was to be released as part of the Corgi Toys range.

The Corgi brand came in 1956. The name was chosen because it was short and simple, represented Wales, while the dog itself had gained popularity through its association with the Royal family.

The aim had been to produce toys of a constant scale at a uniform price: as has often been found, the two are not compatible. In the end, cost was seen as the overriding factor, with specifications adjusted to keep prices competitive. A band of scales was adopted.

The first seven releases were all cars, advertised as 'the ones with windows' as a direct challenge to Dinky Toys. One of the seven was a Ford Consul, previously produced by the company in plastic. Another follow-on from previous Mettoy products was that all seven were available, as options, in mechanical versions. However, these proved less popular, and the idea was quickly discontinued.

Nevertheless, other operating features were to be introduced over the years, including suspension, steering, opening bonnets, boots and doors, lighting and working windscreen wipers.

As the popularity grew so a Corgi Model Club was launched. Larger sized toys were given a separate 'Major' designation.

Variety was introduced into the range, including a hovercraft, the Proteus-Campbell Bluebird, and the Ecurie Ecosse Racing Car Transporter.

There was another link with Marks and Spencer in 1961 with a series of five gold-plated and mounted sports cars, known as Trophy Cars. However, once more they were not successful.

In 1964 Corgi introduced a London Transport Routemaster. At first this came with driver and clippie. Later a slightly larger version was produced which was to be a saviour to Corgi in the early 1980s.

In 1964 came the first step into producing Classic vehicles with five cars. However, at the time these were not popular, in sharp contrast to what was to happen about 20 years later. Planned at the time, but not released, was a Model T Ford van.

Nevertheless, the mid 1960s were to be boom times for Corgi, not least thanks to their film and television related toys. Now toys such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Yellow Submarine, among others, have become legendary, and indeed even today the present Corgi operation is still enjoying success with such items.

Most legendary of all has to be the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 which caused such furore when introduced.

In 1968 a new range was launched, developed from a series originally envisaged for sale through Woolworths. The new toys were comparable with the Matchbox '1 - 75' range and were known as 'Husky'. Later these became part of the general Corgi range as 'Corgi Juniors'.

The turning point in the Corgi story probably came in 1969. A fire at Swansea left the company without stock, unable to fulfil orders. Many retailers turned to Dinky Toys. Competition was coming from the United States with Mattel Hot Wheels, although Corgi did respond successfully with Whizzwheels and Rockets.

During the 1970s sales were declining. By the early 1980s the company was in great difficulty, only slightly alleviated by the sudden success of its Routemaster, offered in a variety of colours and liveries, most of which were inauthentic, but which nevertheless satisfied the latent yearning for model buses at the time.

In 1983 the company went into receivership. However, as a result of a management buy-out, the New Corgi Company was born on March 29, 1984. The same year the Corgi Collector Club was launched.

To some extent, all continued as before, but a significant development was to come: the launch (or possibly re-launch) of Corgi Classics. The first 'toe in the water' was the re-release of four of the cars produced earlier. There followed new castings, led by the Thornycroft (and Renault) van, with the popularity of the range being firmly established by the Bedford OB coach and Bedford Pantechnicon. 'Commissioned' models, which had proved a lifeline with the Routemaster, again brought much needed business to the company, albeit after a while there was concern at the number of 'commissions' being requested.

Despite, or possibly as a result of, the popularity of the Classics with collectors, more investment in tooling was needed. In 1989 the company was sold to the American toy manufacturer, Mattel. The pattern of releases continued, still with the Classics dominating. The love affair with commissioned models continued off and on: bringing much needed business at one level, but leading to exploitation at another.

To compete with Lledo's domination of the 'promotional' market, a range of small generic toys was produced called Cameos (later known as Motoring Memories).

However, the most significant change during this period was that production moved from Swansea to the Far East. As a result, in late 1990 the Corgi operation moved to Mattel's England headquarters at Leicester.

Perhaps mention should be made of the fact that the first versions of the 'Classics' Morris Minor van (in Royal Mail and Post Office Telephones liveries) were produced in Portugal by Vitesse: these two Portugal productions can be identified by the fact they have plastic baseplates. The dies were then brought over from Portugal, and all further production was at Swansea or the Far East.

To promote both the brand name and the collecting of models in general, several model shops were designated as Gold Star Stockists. The shop premises have been redecorated with new display cabinets installed in which can be displayed the full range of currently available Corgi products, and often with a glimpse of forthcoming releases. Such Gold Star stockists still operate.

Corgi collaborated with a model shop in Heywood, near Rochdale (and later with a similar venture in Oxford), to establish a special Corgi centre where enthusiasts can see much archival material, including earlier, and now obsolete, often scarce, Corgi Toys and Corgi Classics.

A step was taken in 1/18th scale with the MGB and MGF, but has been taken no further.

The most significant move came in 1994 with the launch of the Original Omnibus Company (OOC) producing model buses and coaches in 1/76th scale (compatible with OO gauge model railways): the range initially included mainly classic vehicles.

In 1995 a further management buy-out took place, with Corgi again becoming independent and operating under the name of Corgi Classics. The buy-out involved all the dies for the 'Classic' models and the larger size toys. However, Mattel retained the dies for the smaller toys, the 'Corgi Juniors', as these blended in well with Mattel's own Hot Wheels range.

More details of the new company, which continued to operate from Leicester and manufacture in the Far East, will be found under 'Corgi Classics'.

Creative Master Northcord
Producer of 1/76th scale model buses, including vehicles seen in Hong Kong and also for the British market. The focus is on modern vehicles.

Crescent
The Crescent Toy Co Ltd was founded in 1922 by Henry Eagles and Arthur Schneider, initially producing various lead toys. After the Second World War, in 1949, the company moved from south Tottenham in London to Wales, but much of the production was poor, although this period did see an interesting series of die-cast military equipment.

Crescent for a short time from 1947 to 1949 distributed the products of Die-Cast Machine Tools Ltd (see under DCMT).

The main items of interest to collectors are a fine Scammell Scarab articulated petrol tanker in Shell/BP or Esso livery, and a series of ten racing cars. The cars were produced from 1956 to 1960, were of approximately 1/41st scale, and were priced competitively with Dinky Toys. The cars included were a Mercedes, BRM, Ferrari, Connaught, Cooper Bristol, Gordini, Maserati, Aston Martin, Jaguar and Vanwall. These are highly collectable, and come in attractive boxes. However, reproductions do exist, made by Copycat Models.

While Crescent produced other toys, most are of such poor quality as to be disregarded by collectors.

Crossley
Crossley Motors was formed in 1910 as a company by two brothers, although they had previously been engine builders. Their outputs included both trucks and buses. After the Second World War the company was taken over by AEC.

The main model of a Crossley appeared in the Matchbox Models of Yesteryear series, released initially as an RAF tender, and subsequently with various loads.

Cursor
A German manufacturer which has produced in both plastic and die-cast. The ranges have included historic German vehicles in addition to the more familiar selection of vehicle types including heavy commercials.

 

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