The roots of Mettoy (Metal Toy) 1932 - 1984 go back to a German firm, Tipp and Company, run for 21 years by Philip Ullmann, who employed South African born German, Arthur Katz. By the early 1930s, life in Germany was difficult for Herr Ullmann, due to the political situation there, at that time. He emigrated to the UK, and formed Mettoy, where he was joined by former employee Arthur Katz. Production of toys began in Northampton, continuing until 1941, when Mettoy switched to war work. Following WWII, and having outgrown the Northampton premise, Mettoy relocated to Swansea, South Wales, utilising governement premises which had been built with a view to employment opportunities for ex coal miners. Toys produced by Mettoy before the war are marked Made in England whereas post war production is marked Made in Gt Britain, reflection the move to Wales.
Mettoy production includes toy dolls, boats, aeroplanes, trains, Corgi toys and, in the early 1980s, Dragon computers, although this site is concerned only with the toy trains and similar products manufactured by Mettoy.
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