Jenny’s Home was a 1960s dolls’ house range made by Spot-on (Lines Brothers Group)

Welcome to the first blog for the British Toy Making Archive!.

The project centres around 4 of the great, but now defunct UK toy makers of the 20th century: Lines Bros (including brands, Tri-ang, Pedigree, Frog, Rovex and more) Palitoy, Mettoy and Abbatt Toys whose archives are all held at the museum. The archive also includes loads of material relating to a wide range of other toy manufacturers and the history of toy making. Over the next 3 years we will highlight some of these through the website, an exhibition, a conference, makers and study days as well as having a research facility at the museum and online catalogue.

We have already had a lot of interest in the project (from a range of toy collectors, people who used to work in the industry, historians, design students, education specialists and beyond) and I am really looking forward to seeing what other areas of the archive people are interested in and what information you may have to share with us… Get in touch!“