Penny toy

Most penny toys were manufactured in Germany and were originally sold to wholesalers by the gross for 8 shillings allowing the seller, often street peddlers to sell them for a substantial profit.

[1] Typically the toys were miniatures, that is; under 10 cm and often included elements that facilitated movement, adding to their charm.

Examples include; London omnibuses and ambulances destined for the British market; French postal delivery vans for Continental Europe and American locomotives intended for sale in America.

[5] Types of penny toys included toy dolls, whistles, trains, motorcars, public transport and emergency vehicles, trucks, soldiers, animals and even a small Bible.

Shapes were machine-cut and stamped and then assembled by unskilled workers, sometimes in cottage industries.