In the 1920s, some companies, chiefly in North America, turned their attention to producing sturdy toy motor vehicles and aircraft using pressed steel, of a greater thickness than the stamped sheet metal - tin plate - used to make other toys.

Because of the nature of this material, steel toys gave the approximate feel of the prototypes that were modelled, and they did not have great detail.  Most often, pressed steel toys sported painted finishes; however, some had lithographed finishes similar to those of tin toys.  Furthermore, when designing aircraft, the makers would mix and match parts when assembling the toys, creating interesting variants.

Pressed steel toy airplanes by two of the most prolific firms, the Louis Marx Company and Wyandotte Toys, look similar at first glance, as they share common features.  Their construction, through first stamping and then assembly using tabs, allows for similar appearances, especially when no maker's mark appears on the toys.  Toy planes from both of these makers have body and wing assemblies that were each painted in solid, bright, contrasting colors.  Both Marx and Wyandotte planes usually have open windows and are fitted with flat metal three-bladed propellers.

Yet, one may become familiar with the products by examining their slightly different shapes and their subtle characteristics.  The Louis Marx Company, for instance, frequently used a lithographed tin canopy on its toy aircraft.  Marx aircraft may have the "MAR in a circle" trade mark stamped somewhere on the metal, while Wyandotte toys sometimes have decals affixed that bear the firm's name.

Marx and Wyandotte produced pressed steel toys well into the 1950s. Wyandotte went out of business in the middle of that decade.

Because of their great strength, combined with mass production right here in the US, many of these amazing toys have survived to delight generations of adult kids ! ! ! ! !

EXAMPLES OF MARX STEEL AIRCRAFT

The three toys above are Marx products.  Left: The DC-2 came with airport play sets in the late 1930s and is stamped with the telltale "MX 119" on the wing.  Its wingspan is 9 1/2".  Center: The twin-engined military transport bears post-World War Two USAF decals, and was available in the 1950s in different color combinations.  The Marx trade mark is stamped underneath the wings.  At right:  A similar fuselage, including the nose wheel, combined with different wings with four engines produces yet another toy - this time resembling the famous Stratoliner, world's first pressurized production aircraft.  Both have 10" wingspans.

More Marx aircraft.  The 1930s example at left resembles a Northrop Gamma, but actually it has similar wings and the very same fuselage as the DC-2!  Note the lithographed tin canopy that Marx used on several aircraft.  Amazingly, a tri-motored biplane version also exists.  Center: This airliner resembles a four-engined version of a DC-2.  It is similar to a long-range bomber that Marx issued in silver/red.  Wingspan is 14 1/2."  Right: The 1950s Sabre is an unusual example of a pressed steel jet fighter.  Again, note the lithographed canopy.  The decals do not appear to be original, as they are 1930s-style insignia with red center and no bars on either side.

EXAMPLES OF WYANDOTTE STEEL AIRCRAFT

Above left: This "Defense Bomber," wingspan 12", has decals that read clearly "Wyandotte Toys."  Originally, its underwing wire racks held two wooden bombs.  The same triple tail was fitted to other toy planes.  Right: In 1939 the prototype DC-4E, a large transport,  flew experimental services, and Wyandotte recreated the craft faithfully, with its triple tail (as seen on the Defense Bomber) and "Super Mainliner" decals.  The version seen here came from the factory with the single tail from another famous Wyandotte toy, the "China Clipper," attached instead!  This empennage does not fit well, and tilts to one side.  The toy's decals read "Souvenir of the National Air Races."  Its wingspan is 13".

Above left: Wyandotte's "Mystery Plane" from the 1930s has a 4 1/2" wingspan, and incorporates a futuristic, streamlined design.  Right: #220, a twin-engined airliner, is similar to a Stratocruiser in general shape and boasts a bright, lithographed finish instead of a coat of paint.  This finish incorporates Wyandotte's trade mark.  The toy dates from the mid-1950s and has a third wheel below the fuselage that is linked to the props, so the props will turn as one pushes the toy along a surface.  It has a 12" wingspan.

The above photographs show items that are in my personal collection.