Minic Ships – Pleasure Piers

The Development of Piers

For today’s story we go down to the seaside. Put on your sun-hat and tuck into that candy floss, while we go for a stroll along the Tri-ang Minic pier!

Minic Ships – Accuracy

Models

Most of the items that I showcase are models, which, according to one encyclopaedia, are “a three-dimensional representation of a person or thing or of a proposed structure, typically on a smaller scale than the original.”. In other words, they are meant to represent a real thing. And given this, the question of accuracy naturally arises. Is the model a true likeness or does it just have a vague resemblance to the subject it portrays?

Minic Ships – Sets

Sets

Toy manufacturers often group items from their ranges together and sell them in sets. Minic was no exception and immediately the range was launched, began producing a number of boxed bundles. So, what is it about sets that would tempt the prospective buyer? Several reasons suggest themselves. Perhaps there will be a cost saving; a set might contain something unique that cannot be purchased separately; or maybe the boxed presentation is just more convenient and attractive in some way.

Minic Ships – Revivals

New Edition

Usually, when a classic toy range ceases production, it has gone for good. Occasionally however a range is revived, and in the case of Minic this happened not once, but twice! The 1970s Rovex Hornby revival mainly involved reuse of the 1960s moulds, with only a handful of new items. The revival was not a success, and most observers would no doubt have assumed that this was the last we would see of Minic Ships.

It was something of a surprise therefore, when the range was revived again in the first years of this century by Charles Shave, a private owner based in Hong Kong (though production took place in mainland China). The audience this time round most certainly includes adult collectors, people who are excited at the nostalgic thought of once again acquiring some of the toys of their childhood.

Minic Ships – Modernity

Innovation

People are always excited by innovations, especially where these push back boundaries and seem to offer a glimpse into a future world. Naturally, toy manufacturers were keen to capitalise on this and so often produced models of the most up to date contemporary subjects. Modelling the latest thing is a sure-fire way of attracting customers! A case in point is the destroyer HMS Devonshire, launched in 1960, the lead ship of the new County-class destroyers and the first Royal Navy warship designed to operate guided missiles.

NEW! Both the model and the subject were brand-new in this image from the 1962 Minic catalogue.

Minic Ships – Construction

The Construction Principle

Construction toys have always been popular. Some of the great toy brands have been construction toys. Think Meccano, Bayko, Lego.

Building structures from component parts can be an absorbing activity. When those parts are modular and can be combined in different ways to make different structures, then you have the freedom to exercise your imagination and build what you will. Furthermore, if the parts are reusable, then the activity can be repeated at will. If you don’t like what you’ve built or it has served its purpose, then break it down and reassemble it into a new structure! 

Minic Ships – Introduction

Minic Ships

Everyone has memories of toys from their childhood, but my most vivid recollection is of a toy that I never possessed. I can’t have been much older than a toddler when, visiting an older child’s house, I was allowed to view their latest possession. Set out on the floor of their living room stretched a magnificent sea scene of ships and port facilities. I remember being totally amazed by how realistic and detailed at all looked. Obviously, these were toys for sophisticated older kids! I wanted them, but by the time I might have been old enough, the range was gone.

Many decades later, recalling the memory, I did a little online delving and discovered that what I had seen was a collection of Tri-ang Minic ships.