Readers of Carville Stewart’s recently published “Toys of Road Vehicles Made in New Zealand” might be amazed at just how many toy manufacturers this small country once had. Most existed in the early post-World War II years of rigid import controls, when government policy favored domestic production. The 1970s brought the start of the import deregulations that led to the demise of Fun Ho! toys in 1982, after more than 45 years of toymaking. Reproduction versions of some Fun Ho! models are made today from the original molds.
Die-cast, pressed metal, plastic and wooden toys are well covered in the book. In some cases, in less politically correct times, they were marketed as toys for boys.
The coverage includes basic lead toys from the 1930s and ’40s through plastic, clockwork and friction drive in the 1950s and ends with the more recent sophisticates with plastic windows, interiors, and suspension.
Lines Bros., once regarded as the world’s largest toy company, opened a New Zealand factory to make British Tri-ang toys in 1946. Lincoln sourced dies from the United Kingdom and Australia to produce additional toys for its ranges in the 1950s, and the American brand Tonka was assembled by Target Toys from the 1960s.
In-depth research, company profiles, advertisements, catalogue excerpts, and a comprehensive selection of excellent black and white as well as color photos are the book’s major strengths.
Some might have welcomed the addition of a detailed index and a price guide.
Carville Stewart says he makes no connection between value and rarity. “Value is always in the eye of the beholder!” His point is proved by the variance in prices for the same toys in similar condition seen at recent New Zealand fairs.
Carville is an enthusiastic collector of New Zealand-made toys. His “Toys of Road Vehicles Made in New Zealand” earns a place in collections of model vehicle books.