W
War
The major wars naturally had their effect on production. Vehicle manufacturers had to turn to supplying war needs, while toy manufacturers found they were not allowed to use the raw materials needed, and in any case factories were used to produce other goods needed during wartime.

Thus, there was disruption during the First World War, and almost a total cessation of die-cast toy production during the Second World War.

Wells Brimtoy
Wells Brimtoy developed from two separate companies. The first was The British Metal and Toy Manufacturers Ltd, founded in 1914, and producing a number of tin plate toys, including train sets, under the brand name of 'Brimtoy Brand'. However, the company tended to buy its raw materials at high prices, and so manufactured at a loss. Bankruptcy followed. However, certain of the directors started a new company called Brimtoy Ltd in 1923, which continued in the production of toys, including a bonneted coach.

The second was A. Wells and Co Ltd, established in 1919, and which mainly operated from Walthamstow in north London. It produced a range of toys, starting with a crane, and was innovative in that all the components for each toy were produced 'in-house' (there was no sub contracting), and production was on a conveyor belt system. Among the items made by Wells was also a bonneted coach, but different and about half the size of the Brimtoy version.

In 1932 Brimtoy Ltd was taken over by Wells to form Wells Brimtoy, a name which was retained until 1970, when a further take-over occurred.

While tin was the main component, over the years plastic was gradually introduced. As separate companies, their ranges had been fairly wide with railway items, dolls house toys, vans, lorries, cars and buses. The vans appeared as ambulances and Royal Mail vehicles. There was also a fire engine and ice cream seller's tricycle.

The tin plate toys of Wells Brimtoy were extremely popular, but for most model enthusiasts it is the buses, trolleybuses and coaches which have the greatest appeal.

The buses and trolleybuses were clearly meant to represent London Transport vehicles, and indeed the double deck bus in its later years resembled a Routemaster.

One of the buses (possibly based on an RT) and the trolleybuses were produced in three sizes, the smallest being known as 'Pocketoys'. These toys came with either friction drive or clockwork mechanism, and there was a stop-and-go device, with a bell giving the necessary stopping and starting instructions.

Other buses produced were based on the London ST and LT, and, as previously mentioned, a bus with a Routemaster-style radiator.

The single deck bus came in both full cab and half cab versions, including versions with Greenline fleet name, and coach versions. A further coach closely resembles a Bedford SB of the 1950s.

While the S-Type generally comes in London colours, a few are known in W. Alexander and Sons blue livery. It also seems that the tooling for this toy may have been sent to India, as examples are known produced in that country.

Western Models
White metal company, founded by Mike Stephens, based in the West Country, which has provided a range of 1/43rd scale cars, including world land speed record breakers, but in more recent times has tended to concentrate far more on model aircraft.

Wheels
For many the most important aspect of a model is the wheels, possibly because in manufacturing terms this is often the part which is most neglected. To save on tooling costs, manufacturers often use the same wheel for several models, even if not always totally appropriate.

Equally the development during the 1960s of the 'fast' wheels meant that accuracy was frequently forsaken.

White
In 1859 Thomas Howard White started, with two others, the White Manufacturing Company, which for many years specialised in sewing machines. Around 1900 three of White's sons decided to start manufacturing cars, at that time steam-powered. Gradually the company moved into trucks, and by the end of the First World War cars had been discontinued. In addition to trucks the company has built buses. Financial problems in 1980 saw the creation of the Volvo-White Corporation in 1981, from 1988 part of General Motors.

White metal
A mixture of tin and lead, more expensive than the components used for die-casting, but with a lower melting point, thereby needing only rubber moulds. Thus white metal models require lower tooling costs, enabling shorter production runs to be undertaken, albeit the material costs are higher, so the final product will have a higher price than an equivalent die-cast model.

Whitely, Tansley and Co Ltd
Formed in 1914 in Liverpool by brothers Ernest and James Whiteley. Once thought to be the largest producer of mechanical toys in the United Kingdom, their range of tin toys included cars and trains. However, by 1925 they had ceased to produce toys.

Wiking
A leading German manufacturer of 1/87th scale models in plastic, covering a wide range of vehicles. The company has also produced in 1/43rd scale. (See also Siku.)

Windows
The inclusion of windows in toys perhaps more than any proved to be a turning point. For years Dinky Toys had not bothered: when Corgi Toys were launched, the publicity stated that these were 'the ones with windows'.

Over the years a major problem has been to make the glazing flush with the body sides, as would be the case with an actual vehicle. Gradually techniques have improved, and many models produced today do indeed have flush glazing.

The glazing can be prone to damage on toys, particularly the windscreens on open sports cars. Replacement windscreens are available for many of the main 'collectable' toy ranges.

Wolseley
Car production started in 1896, led by Herbert Austin, who was an engineer with the Australian Wolseley Sheep Shearing Company. Following bankruptcy, the name was acquired by William Morris in 1927, this marque then followed the same path as Morris. Models are not common, although the 1500 formed part of the Matchbox Series.

 

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