Lone Star
Brand
Lone Star started business in 1939, under Aubrey Robert "Bob" Mills, as as the Die-Casting Machine Tools Ltd (DCMT). They were also called "Toys and Houseware". After they began making diecast toys for children themsleves, they chose the name Lone Star due to their interest in Western movies which they also satisfied by making toy guns and other Western Centric products. They also made model cars, planes and trains.
In 1947, they began making their first diecast vehicles. These were marketed by the Crescent Toy Co Ltd and later by DCMT as Slikka Playthings or Toys. In 1951, the company changed its name to Lone Star.
Subject ID: 2860
MoreLone Star started business in 1939, under Aubrey Robert "Bob" Mills, as as the Die-Casting Machine Tools Ltd (DCMT). They were also called "Toys and Houseware". After they began making diecast toys for children themsleves, they chose the name Lone Star due to their interest in Western movies which they also satisfied by making toy guns and other Western Centric products. They also made model cars, planes and trains.
In 1947, they began making their first diecast vehicles. These were marketed by the Crescent Toy Co Ltd and later by DCMT as Slikka Playthings or Toys. In 1951, the company changed its name to Lone Star.
In 1956, their second line of vehicle castings were initially called "Roadmaster" (Road-Master).
In 1966, they discontinued their Roadmasters series and introduced their "Lone Star Impy" line of 3" scale diecast vehicles. Officially known as "Impy Super Cars" or "Roadmaster Impy Super Cars". They responded to Hot Wheels and rebranded Impy cars as Flyers in 1969. The commercial vehicles retained the regular wheels but were renamed "Impy Super Car Commercials"; speed wheels were added later to some trucks and the range renamed to just Commercials in 1972, being totally discontinued in 1976. (James Robertshaw, Diecast Collector, Apr 2022)
The Flyers were simplified in the 1970s to respond to cheap Far East diecast toy cars and called Impys again (black windows and plastic bases). These lasted into the 1980s when Lone Star went bankkrupt in 1983. Someone took over the factory and continued making them until the equipment and dies were sold to Pakistan in 1988 (without Made in England on the bseplates). This final production lasted until 1997. (James Robertshaw, Diecast Collector, Jan 2023)
Subject ID: 2860
Subject ID: 2860
