Matchbox History and Film

[MichaelB]

Found this on another site. There is a good history of Matchbox and at the end a very interesting film about making Matchbox (cars) products. Not many airplanes but a good look at "classic" UK production.
http://bestride.com/blog/your-first-car-the-history-of-matchbox-toys/31308/

[Tone]

Thank You!

I like British Pathé - the web site has some interesting footage of obscure aircraft such as a Steel Pier balloon acrobat, the 1927 Hamza home-made blimp and the 1930 Heinen air yacht.

[MichaelB]

Well, ya know, it was a "thing" - the Brits making Dinky toys. They become world famous and created a whole new market. Eventually all production moved to the Far East and the market would be flooded by cheap knock offs, killing the hometown industry.
The toys we buy today are grounded in the materials of Matchbox, and before them, Dinky.
I found it interesting that they polish their raw product in tumblers...just like is still done in the Far East. However - they knew nothing of CAD or stereolithography or tampo painting.
...how the time flies!
Michael