Here several of the collecting currents running through the collection meet
to provide contrasting and complementary displays. The enclosed small room on
the left is devoted to our shared interest in film and television related toys.
From Pinky and Perky to James Bond, via Worzel Gummidge, the Man from Uncle,
A-Team, Abba (!), Noddy, Sooty, Six Million Dollar Man, Lone Ranger, Magic Roundabout,
Daktari, Camberwick Green and many, many more. Alongside
in the adjoining room is a summary of classic boys’ toys from the golden
years 1930-1960 with lead soldiers (of course) and Britains racing colours,
Triang and Hornby clockwork, Bowman steam, Victory electric and Sutcliffe sailing
vessels. These are supplemented by large-scale land speed record cars by Victory
and Triang (1937 M.G.) and fleets of Dinky waterline models, both civil and
Royal Navy. Overhead, Cox and other motorised aeroplanes over fly our Bowman
live steam Flying Scotsman and a 1930s garage with a selection of Spot on cars.
On the shelves around are laid out our range of Triang pressed
steel large scale vehicles from the days when they were the largest toymaker
in the world, with the Circus wagon taking pride of place. Facing them are some
of our boxed Action Man vehicles including the famous Jeep. Although our much
prized Triang advertising sign is installed in this area, all the trains are
“O” gauge from 1930 to 1960 with examples from Basset Lowke, Leeds
Model Co. and scratch builders breaking up the array of Hornby tinplate in our
newly completed (2006) exhibit.
At the rear, we house items whose size makes it difficult to
fit them in elsewhere. An early 20th century Hesse generator driven funfair
dominates the top shelf, while a formidable defence line of wooden and plastic
forts and castles by Elastolin and (again) Triang protects a dolls’ house
from two Meccano constructor aeroplanes circling past a “Toys and Cycles”
sign rescued from Phillips of Dartford, when it closed. All this is against
a backdrop of Hornby and Playcraft train set boxes and a rare post war Chad
Valley “Flying Scotsman” set.
In the entrance to Rooms 1 and 2 is a further case of Hornby
Dublo and “O” gauge trains, some of them made in Germany around
the time of the First World War.
Moving back towards the entrance to room 4, you will find further cases. One
filled with Amanda Jane dolls and early small plastic dolls made by Rosebud,
Pedigree and Roddy. Alongside
here is a Picot Puppet theatre and above there are cases filled with more Gollies
and tin moneyboxes.
Outside the Edwardian Nursery, lots of Rupert the bears and his friends sit
alongside a case of Barbie, Sindy and Daisy dolls dating from their introduction
in the 1960s up to the 1980s.
Here several of the collecting currents running through the collection meet
to provide contrasting and complementary displays. The enclosed small room on
the left is devoted to our shared interest in film and television related toys.
From Pinky and Perky to James Bond, via Worzel Gummidge, the Man from Uncle,
A-Team, Abba (!), Noddy, Sooty, Six Million Dollar Man, Lone Ranger, Magic Roundabout,
Daktari, Camberwick Green and many, many more. 
Alongside
in the adjoining room is a summary of classic boys’ toys from the golden
years 1930-1960 with lead soldiers (of course) and Britains racing colours,
Triang and Hornby clockwork, Bowman steam, Victory electric and Sutcliffe sailing
vessels. These are supplemented by large-scale land speed record cars by Victory
and Triang (1937 M.G.) and fleets of Dinky waterline models, both civil and
Royal Navy. Overhead, Cox and other motorised aeroplanes over fly our Bowman
live steam Flying Scotsman and a 1930s garage with a selection of Spot on cars.
Alongside
here is a Picot Puppet theatre and above there are cases filled with more Gollies
and tin moneyboxes.