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Spacehopper

Made in Northampton during the 1970s by the Mettoy Company Ltd, a toy manufacturer based in Northampton from 1934 to 1983.

1970
Rubber

The Mettoy Company Ltd was a toy manufacturer based in Northampton from 1934 to 1983.
Owners Phillip Ullman and Arthur Katz had a background in toy making in Germany.Ullmann was previously involved in the German toy industry, in Tipp & Co of Nurenburg, a manufacturer of mechanically-pressed tin toys. Katz, whose mother was Ullmann’s cousin, was born in Johannesberg in 1908, joined Tipp & Co in 1920 on leaving school. With Hitler’s persecution of the Jews, they were both forced to migrate to Britain in 1933.

The pair set up the Mettoy factory in Northampton in 1934.Their first factory was in St Andrew’s Street, Northampton and was rented from Winteringham Ltd., model engineers and an offshoot of Bassett Lowke. By 1936 Mettoy was employing about 50 staff. They broke away from Winteringham Ltd. and moved to larger premises in Stimpson Avenue, Northampton. Further expansion forced another move to an even larger premises in Harlestone Road, Northampton in 1937. By then they were employing about 600 staff.

The Mettoy Company Ltd initially specialised in metal toys giving inspiration to its name (Met-Toy). Following the Second World War, the company expanded into plastic toys. Their best known ranges included the Corgi vehicles, Wembley vinyl sports products, Playcraft Pre-School plastic toys, kites and the much loved Spacehopper.

Exports increased rapidly (often by 30-40% per annum) so that by the late 1960s exports were going to over 100 countries. In 1971 Mettoy made its first trading loss - £441,000. This was felt to be due to several factors – stiffer competition, North American market saturation, increased raw material prices and a reduction in older children buying Corgis.

After 50 years of production, the company ceased trading in 1983.

Roger Brown with Mettoy's footballs, Mick Shannon, Jerry Francis, and Kevin Keegan

Roger Brown with Mettoy's footballs, Mick Shannon, Jerry Francis, and Kevin Keegan. Roger was responsible for responsible for Mettoy’s Wembley outdoor toy range and worked alongside famous football stars of the time to sell his footballs. Image Courtesy of Roger Brown.

 

Postwar cases, History of Northampton Gallery 2