French Tinplate Motorcycles From 1925–1950 By Pasky

It was around 1925 that the earliest motorcycles toys appeared in the French wholesalers catalogues and the Xmas parisian stores. When the Bonnet brothers took over the production and moulds of Seraphin Fernand Martin toymaker in 1912, they made the famous little automata « bonshommes martins » and added to their range a toy named « Motocyclette » under the 231 reference. This adorable little toy is fitted with three wheels and works with a key-mechanism.

At the end of the thirties the French government restricted the import of toys to prevent German toys from entering the French market. Nevertheless, some french wholesalers tried to import some models by importing repair pieces for toys, which was authorised. That’s how SFA founded by Mr Maurice was able to sell German motorcycles made by noted brands like Einfalt, Tippco, Saalheimer or CKO (Kellermann), Goso. SFA was founded in 1936, the manufacture housed in the close area of Paris. The firm first marketed toys assembled from many parts coming from the german firm Schuco. These toys were either solo or motorcycles with a side-car made from metal sheets produced by three german toymakers with the designs printed on metal by color lithography in France by SFA.

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