Wyandotte Toys
35 years in operation (1921–1956)
About Wyandotte Toys
Wyandotte produced affordable pressed-steel and tin toys sold primarily through Woolworth's and Kresge stores. Their colorful lithographed cars, trucks, airplanes, and cap guns are popular collectibles today.
History of Wyandotte Toys
Wyandotte — formally All Metal Products Company, of Wyandotte, Michigan — made pressed-steel and lithographed tin toys, and its slogan told buyers exactly what it was: "Wyandotte Toys Are Good and Safe." Rolled edges and no sharp points were a genuine selling proposition in an industry that had not always bothered.
The range was broad: pressed-steel trucks and streamlined cars whose Art Deco bodywork is among the most attractive of American toy vehicles, tin aeroplanes, and a very large cap gun and holster business that made Wyandotte a fixture of the western-toy boom. The streamlined cars of the late 1930s in particular are collected as industrial design, not just as toys.
Wyandotte was one of the largest American toy makers by volume in the 1930s and 1940s. It failed to make the transition to plastic and to the postwar competitive environment, and closed in 1956, with some tooling passing to other manufacturers.
Timeline
- 1921All Metal Products Company is established in Wyandotte, Michigan
- 1935Streamlined pressed-steel cars in Art Deco styling are introduced
- 1940Cap guns and holster sets become a major business
- 1948Wyandotte is among the largest American toy manufacturers by volume
- 1956The company closes
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Wyandotte pressed-steel dump truck
- Wyandotte tin airplane
- Wyandotte lever-action cap gun
- Wyandotte streamlined car set
- Wyandotte bus
Identifying & Dating Wyandotte Toys
- Look for "WYANDOTTE TOYS" in a decal or lithographed on the body, often with the "Good and Safe" slogan, and "Made in U.S.A."
- Cap guns are marked "Wyandotte" cast or stamped into the frame or grip.
- Box graphics carry the slogan and the model name, and box style dates the issue.
Collector's Notes
- Streamlined 1930s cars in original paint are the premium items and are commonly restored; original-paint examples are worth substantially more.
- Cap guns should be checked for working action, intact grips and original finish. Nickel-plated examples with boxes and holsters do best.
- Pressed-steel bodywork is light gauge and dents easily; check for filler and repaint under bright light.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Wyandotte Toys founded?
Wyandotte Toys was founded in 1921, based in Wyandotte, MI.
Is Wyandotte Toys still in business?
No. Wyandotte Toys ceased operations in 1956, after 35 years in business.
What is Wyandotte Toys best known for?
Wyandotte Toys is best known for Wyandotte pressed-steel dump truck, Wyandotte tin airplane, Wyandotte lever-action cap gun, among other toys.
Where was Wyandotte Toys located?
Wyandotte Toys was based in Wyandotte, MI.
What kinds of toys did Wyandotte Toys make?
Wyandotte Toys is categorized under pressed steel, tin toys, vehicles, cap guns.
How can you identify genuine Wyandotte Toys?
Look for "WYANDOTTE TOYS" in a decal or lithographed on the body, often with the "Good and Safe" slogan, and "Made in U.S.A." Cap guns are marked "Wyandotte" cast or stamped into the frame or grip. Box graphics carry the slogan and the model name, and box style dates the issue.
Are Wyandotte Toys valuable?
Streamlined 1930s cars in original paint are the premium items and are commonly restored; original-paint examples are worth substantially more. Cap guns should be checked for working action, intact grips and original finish. Nickel-plated examples with boxes and holsters do best. Pressed-steel bodywork is light gauge and dents easily; check for filler and repaint under bright light.