Toycraft yellow van, green lorry and red articulated lorry.

Wooden and bone toys were among the earliest made; they were carved for children by their parents. Later as a wealthier class grew they wanted better toys for their children and professional toy makers began to flourish. Germany established itself from the 16th century as the home of quality toys and Nuremberg in particular had a reputation envied by many towns. Toys were exported from there all over the world. In the latter half of the 19th century metal toys became fashionable, particularly clockwork toys. Pressed tin was cheaper and easier to manufacture than wooden toys, even though the woodcarvers fought back with methods of mass production.

Tin toys, however, needed to be used with relative care; the metal could be dented by rough play or rust. In the 20th century there was a movement towards more robust wooden toys. Motor vehicles were included among the wooden toys made and, although they looked less realistic than metal cars, particularly the die-cast models, they were certainly more robust and continue to have appeal.

Burton, Anthony. Children's pleasures: books, toys and games from the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, London: V & A Publications, 1996

Jaffe, Deborah. The history of toys: from spinning tops to robots, Stroud [England] : Sutton, 2006

Opie, Iona. The treasures of childhood: books, toys and games from the Opie collection, London: Pavilion, 1989

Hampshire Museum Services: Childhood Collection. A brief history of toys

Powerhouse Museum Collection: search for 'wooden toys'

Victoria and Albert Museum: Museum of Childhood. Collections. Toys

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. To be a child August 2004-