Hydraulic Truck by Wyn Toys, Australia

Description

Vintage Metal Hydraulic Lift Truck made by Wyn Toys, Australia.  Lift works perfectly.  Some deterioration to the plastic wheels.  Plastic grill missing from the front.  Measures 46cm in length x 17.5cm high.

Established in the Sydney suburb of St Mary’s as a branch of Wyn Products Pty Ltd, Wyn Toys was registered in April 1940 and were advertised for sale in May 1945.  The company was established by Alec Tonkin, an ex Australian Infantry Force serviceman WWII.  At the end of WWII Tonkin did not return to his pre war office job and instead he began making tin toys using machines purchased from war disposals.  Many of the products were manufactured from materials previously used exclusively for the war effort – mostly pressed steel, but also tin plate, metal and wood.

Th toys were promoted as authentic and workable, with the company reportedly responsible for creating parts for Volkswagen, Austin & Morris vehicles.  Wyn primarily made vehicles – cars, trucks, wagons, trains aimed at young boys.  Though it was one of the longest lasting toy manufacturers set up in the immediate post war years, Wyn Toys was officially taken over by Hill Industries in 1971.   Wyn Toy branding remained on Hill Industries toys well into the late 1970’s.  The Wyn trademark was dropped in 1982.