Hubley Manufacturing
71 years in operation (1894–1965)
About Hubley Manufacturing
Hubley was one of the most respected American cast-iron toy makers. Their exquisitely detailed cast-iron motorcycles, fire trucks, race cars, and horse-drawn vehicles are masterpieces of American foundry craftsmanship. Hubley also produced iconic cap pistols of the 1950s cowboy toy era.
Founding
John Hubley, who founded the company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1894 — initially making cast-iron electric train equipment and hardware before turning fully to toys.
History of Hubley Manufacturing
Hubley became one of the great American cast-iron toy makers, and its range was enormous: fire engines, motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, aeroplanes, horse-drawn vehicles, banks, doorstops and cap pistols. The cast-iron Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles, with their police riders and sidecars, are among the most recognisable American toys of the period, and the Chrysler Airflow captured a real car's streamlining in iron.
Hubley made the transition most cast-iron makers failed to make. As iron gave way, it moved into die-cast metal and plastic, and it made cap guns — Hubley became one of the foremost American cap-pistol manufacturers, and its die-cast western revolvers, cavalry pistols and rifles were the standard equipment of the television-western era. The Roy Rogers guns are the most collected of them.
The company was acquired by Gabriel Industries in 1965 and the name later passed through further hands, eventually appearing on model kits. The cast-iron era, roughly 1900 to 1940, is where collector value is concentrated.
Timeline
- 1894John Hubley founds the company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- 1909Cast-iron toys become the principal product following a fire and rebuild
- 1930Cast-iron motorcycles, fire engines and the Chrysler Airflow define the range
- 1940Die-cast metal replaces cast iron; cap pistols become a major line
- 1955Television-western cap guns, including the Roy Rogers models, are the company's best sellers
- 1965Gabriel Industries acquires Hubley
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Hubley cast-iron Harley-Davidson motorcycle
- Hubley fire engine
- Roy Rogers cap pistol
- Hubley Chrysler Airflow
- Hubley Transcontinental bus
- Hubley die-cast cap guns
Identifying & Dating Hubley Manufacturing Toys
- Cast-iron toys carry "HUBLEY" cast in raised letters underneath or on a chassis rail, sometimes with a pattern number; some pieces are marked only with a number.
- Cap guns are marked "HUBLEY" cast into the frame together with the model name, and often "Made in U.S.A.".
- Die-cast vehicles carry "HUBLEY" and "Lancaster, Pa." or "Made in U.S.A." on the base.
Collector's Notes
- Cast-iron motorcycles are the headline items and are heavily reproduced. Compare weight, letter sharpness and the fit of the two body halves against a known original; recasts are slightly smaller and duller in detail.
- Cap guns are worth far more boxed than loose, and the box art is much of the appeal. Check that the grips are original and uncracked and that the mechanism cocks and fires.
- Original paint on cast iron is the value driver, and repainting is endemic. Look inside wheel castings and behind fittings, where an overspray line is hardest to hide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hubley Manufacturing founded?
Hubley Manufacturing was founded in 1894, based in Lancaster, PA.
Is Hubley Manufacturing still in business?
No. Hubley Manufacturing ceased operations in 1965, after 71 years in business.
What is Hubley Manufacturing best known for?
Hubley Manufacturing is best known for Hubley cast-iron Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Hubley fire engine, Roy Rogers cap pistol, among other toys.
Where was Hubley Manufacturing located?
Hubley Manufacturing was based in Lancaster, PA.
What kinds of toys did Hubley Manufacturing make?
Hubley Manufacturing is categorized under cast iron, cap guns, die-cast, vehicles.
Who founded Hubley Manufacturing?
John Hubley, who founded the company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1894 — initially making cast-iron electric train equipment and hardware before turning fully to toys.
How can you identify genuine Hubley Manufacturing toys?
Cast-iron toys carry "HUBLEY" cast in raised letters underneath or on a chassis rail, sometimes with a pattern number; some pieces are marked only with a number. Cap guns are marked "HUBLEY" cast into the frame together with the model name, and often "Made in U.S.A.". Die-cast vehicles carry "HUBLEY" and "Lancaster, Pa." or "Made in U.S.A." on the base.
Are Hubley Manufacturing toys valuable?
Cast-iron motorcycles are the headline items and are heavily reproduced. Compare weight, letter sharpness and the fit of the two body halves against a known original; recasts are slightly smaller and duller in detail. Cap guns are worth far more boxed than loose, and the box art is much of the appeal. Check that the grips are original and uncracked and that the mechanism cocks and fires. Original paint on cast iron is the value driver, and repainting is endemic. Look inside wheel castings and behind fittings, where an overspray line is hardest to hide.