An Eclectic Toy Automobiles Collection

This website shows a sample of the collection accumulated over the past 32 years by Philippe and Kathryn de Lespinay in their home in California. The collection is housed in glass showcases and is often visited by collectors and enthusiasts the world over. It constantly evolves and is refined as new acquisitions are being made and lesser pieces are being disposed of. The collection, a constant visual pleasure to the eye, consists of a selection of approximately 1/43 scale die-cast models (or O-gauge in model train talk), as well as a good amount of large tinplate wind-up, friction and electric powered toy automobiles, manufactured between 1890 to 1964. While most of the prewar tinplate toys have been disposed of, the collection retains some examples of such as well as a comprehensive collection of the best of Philippe's favorite smaller vehicles, the Tootsietoy line, manufactured since 1913 by the Dowst Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois. All these toys are of course in fully original condition with no repaints, repairs or alterations. Philippe is a purist and it shows... Please click on the links below:

European Toys Menu Japanese Tinplate Toys (1932 to 1963) Japanese & German Cadillac Toys Racing Car Toys Menu American Prewar Cast Toy Automobiles Japanese, German & French Motorcycles toys Full-Size Toys Menu Other Fun Activities Menu

               Contact Philippe de Lespinay about this collection                                                                                                                                                                               Picture courtesy Edo T. Bertoglio 2008