The newsagents shelves may be filled with similar magazines and comics today but in the 1930’s, when D C Thomson launched the Beano, it’s style was innovative, fresh and amusing, raising it above the staid publications of the day such as ‘Funny Wonder’ and ‘Jester’. read more...

Rio Models, for those not familiar with them are MODELS, not toys. They are made specifically for Collectors and there is no way they could be considered toys, their detail and construction merits being handled with care. The finish of the paint work is excellent and reflects some of the beautiful classic cars of the era, which are included in the range. The company boasts three guiding principles, those being research and selection of models, respect for authenticity and perfection in quality. read more...

Have you ever wondered what happens after you place your order? If so read on… read more...

When it hit the TV screens on 30^th July 1968, it was the first programme made for newly formed Thames TV for ITV.
Lewis Rudd, had been was charged by Thames with coming up with a ‘new’ concept for a children’s show, he then delivered ‘Magpie’. Many have hinted that the name is a tongue in cheek explanation of how Rudd got his inspiration. read more...

The next part of the story looks at the releases in the last couple of decades. It is an interview from 1995 with Adrienne Fuller, the Research and Development Designer for the Company and the person responsible for the more recent Chipperfield’s range, at Mattel Corgi in Leicester. read more...

One of the longest associations between a toy manufacturer and a private enterprise must be Corgi and the Chipperfield’s family circus. Much has been written in the past on this very popular subject, but no one article has given the collector a definitive listing of all the variations available in the entire collection. This article will hopefully provide the Chipperfield’s collector, old and new, with a basis on which to form their collection or check the items they still need and what better place to publish this knowledge than on this new and enthusiastic web site! read more...

Utility vehicles have always featured strongly in the “Matchbox” 1-75 range and have proved to be excellent models in terms of play value. read more...

Not quite as exciting as the Camberwick Green music box or as memorable as the Trumpton clock, the start of the third in the ‘Trumptonshire Trilogy’ seems to reflect this series – a little of an anti climax.
Whether it was budget restrictions, lack of creative freedom or too much of a good thing, Chigley always seems destined to be the poor relation. read more...

Meccano Ltd first produced die-cast toy vehicles in 1934 as railway line-side accessories naming them “Modelled Miniatures”. They were so successful that the company very soon re-launched the product under the brand name of DINKY TOYS, and as we all now know, the range enjoyed popularity until 1979 when the Liverpool factory finally closed its gates. read more...

It seems everyone’s favourite archaeologist is back – not that he has much completion, how many good looking archaeologists do you know....?

The ‘midas’ duo of Spielberg and Lucas returns with the final piece of the jigsaw – Harrison Ford having dusted off the moth balls from his battered leather jacket. read more...

Back in 1959, The Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Company (Midland Red) took advantage of the opening of the first full-length British Motorway. The M1 then only covered about 70 miles, starting from the outskirts of London and ending a little short of Coventry. Special coaches based on the company’s recently introduced C5 model, were turbocharged and fitted with toilets. They became known as CM5T, the T indicating a toilet. read more...

June 19^th 2008 sees the 30^th Anniversary of the opinionated, lazy, rotund, pasta loving, caustic, marmalade coloured feline created by Jim Davis. One of the inspirations for Garfield came from Davis own Grandfather who apparently shared many of the same traits, along with certain aspects of Davis own life which parallel Jon’s character in the strip. Davis was brought up on a farm in Indiana but having asthma meant he was unable to help with many of the day to day routines, resulting in Jim spending many hours indoors sketching and doodling. read more...

Looks like a normal description in a specialist teddy sale. Who would have thought this innocuous paragraph would be the beginning of an international career and stardom?  It may have been his Royal connections, his rare colour, his sentimental story or just his irresistible expression that pushed the price of this teddy bear from the initial estimate the hammer price in excess of £12,000.

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And so began the second instalment in what has come to be known as the Trumptonshire Trilogy. After the initial success of Camberwick Green, Murray expanded the theme moving from the country cousin to the sophisticated action of the big smoke named Trumpton. read more...

When the subject of figures collecting arises the name of Britain’s inevitably is mentioned, however they were other producers of good quality hollow cast and solid figures, one in particular the German company of Heyde.

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