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Orange space hopper

Space hopper by the Mettoy Company Ltd.

The Mettoy factory in St James, Northampton was set up in 1934 by Phillip Ullman and Arthur Katz who had a background in toy making in Germany. The company initially specialised in metal toys giving inspiration to its name Met-Toy. Following the Second World War, the company expanded into plastic toys which included producing the original British space hopper in the 1970s.

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery
1970
Rubber and plastic

The space hopper was a must-have toy for many children in the 1970s and 1980s. It came in this iconic distinctive orange colour.

See the space hopper on display in our permanent galleries the History of Northampton Gallery 2.

History of Northampton gallery 2