Provenance: From a private tin plate toy collection, Dorset.
Märklin
Märklin is a German toy company that was founded in 1859 by Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Märklin in Goppingen, Baden-Wurttemberg. In 1866, Theodor died and the factory was run by his wife Caroline Märklin. In 1888 their children, Carl and Eugen Märklin took over the factory from their mother.
Originally Märklin specialised in dolls houses and accessories, however it is now best known for model railways and technical toys.
During the early part of the 20th century Märklin built metal toys including miniature stoves that actually worked, steam ships with clockwork or real steam power, steam engines and toy guns. Such masterpieces took the workers in the factory hours to meticulously build. The tin toys which represented the majority of the Märklin produce line during this period would begin as large sheets of tinplate, which would be cut down to size using large presses and cutting dies. The next step would be to form these smaller cut sheets into desired shapes with some contour to them. This process was either done with a rubber hammer in hand or with a large die press. Tinplate sheets sandwiched between two large engraved plates would cut out window holes or doorways with force coming from both plates. After tin sheets were cut and formed to shape they would be soldered together by experienced tinsmiths. Finally the painting phase would begin which, perhaps required the most skill and attention to detail. An array of brilliant enamels would be applied to the tinplate and baked in an oven between coats to ensure the durability of the paint. Pieces still existing today in excellent condition, which were produced in this period, are a testament to the skill of Märklin craftsmen.
