Tin has been a favorite metal of toy makers since at least the middle of the 19th century. Tin is lightweight, easy to work with, and inexpensive, yet it’s sturdy enough to withstand the punishment meted out by children playing with wind-up animals, friction sports cars, and science-fiction-inspired toy ray guns. German toy makers such as Hilpert had been known for their tin toys since the end of the 18th century. By the mid-1800s,...Continue Reading