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The AMT corporation started out as the Aluminum Model Toy Co in 1947. They were located in Troy Michigan and founded by attorney West Gallogly, Sr. who started AMT as a side business. Their first products were metal promotional items. Gallogly's first model was a 1947–1948 Ford Fordor sedan made of cast aluminum and painted with official Ford paint. After issuing successful Ford sedan models, the company set up shop on Eight Mile Road outside of Detroit.
After the first aluminum promotional model was offered aluminum was abandoned as different colors of plastic could be used. As such the company name was quietly changed to AMT, which de-emphasized the word "aluminum". Their 1949 and 1950 Ford and Plymouth sedans and the 1950 Studebaker coupe were their first plastic models. These promos often had wind-up motors which could not be seen through the shiny silver-tinted windows. They still had a metal chassis and diecast metal chrome-plated bumpers, which were later replaced with chrome-plated plastic. Often, official factory paint colors were applied to the models. These had to be oven baked to cure the paint. Eventually the promotional cars moved to be all plastic and then model kits of them followed.
In the early 1950s, company operations were turned over to George Toteff, so that Gallogly could better attend to his law firm practice). Model design was kept in-house, but molding was outsourced. Continental Plastics in Fraser, Michigan, was one of the companies contracted to make AMT's models.
In the late 1960s, AMT had began marketing a series of 1:65 scale diecast called AMT "Pups" made for them in Hong Kong (by an unknown source).
Only 4 castings are known, but more had been planned. The body of each casting was fitted to a metal base plate and had silver (painted) wheel hubs. These wheel sets were noted to be similar in design to Matchbox's "regular wheels" with thick metal axles.
D ### - 1968 Camaro
D ### - 1968 Charger
D ### - 1968 Ford Mustang GT
D 457 - 1968 Cougar
After a few years of AMT production, they sold their 4 casting molds to Mego, who rebranded them as "Jet Wheels" "Jet Wheel" and then "Jet". The original 4 AMT casting models were also marketed as part of the "Tuffy" series by the York Toy Co, but only at the McCrory-McLennon-Green Stores in York, Pennsylvania.
In 1978, AMT was purchased by British Lesney, the makers of Matchbox diecast vehicles who moved the company to Baltimore, closing the Maple Road facility in Troy, Michigan (just outside Detroit).
In 1982-3, AMT was purchased by ERTL from Lesney and renamed AMT-Ertl. AMT-Ertl then had a twenty-four year relationship until AMT was sold again in 2007. During this time they reissued their former promotional vehicles as diecast models in the 1990s.
In 1999-2000, Racing Champions acquired Ertl/AMT and they then became known as RCErtl and shortly thereafter became known as RC2. Both Racing Champion and ERTL castings were being issued. They also issued a series of 1:43 castings in plastic with closed windows, no interiors and no bases. Black wheel sets were mounted in the fenders openings.
In an ironic turn that parallels other large companies, AMT now co-exists in the same organization of Round 2, LLC of South Bend, Indiana. Aalongside a revived MPC and Polar Lights and their model kits. And with Ertl who is also still in the Round 2, LLC stable as Ertl Collectibles.
Sourced references -
Membership - @69ch @Speedline66 @monteric @stanmax
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index.php/2007/04/05/the-strange-saga-of-amt-s-pups/
AMT Pups | hobbyDB
Encyclopedia of Small-Scale Diecast Motor Vehicle Manufacturers - Sahakangas, Foster & Weber (2006)
en.wikipedia.org
www.hobbydb.com
www.hobbydb.com
After the first aluminum promotional model was offered aluminum was abandoned as different colors of plastic could be used. As such the company name was quietly changed to AMT, which de-emphasized the word "aluminum". Their 1949 and 1950 Ford and Plymouth sedans and the 1950 Studebaker coupe were their first plastic models. These promos often had wind-up motors which could not be seen through the shiny silver-tinted windows. They still had a metal chassis and diecast metal chrome-plated bumpers, which were later replaced with chrome-plated plastic. Often, official factory paint colors were applied to the models. These had to be oven baked to cure the paint. Eventually the promotional cars moved to be all plastic and then model kits of them followed.
In the early 1950s, company operations were turned over to George Toteff, so that Gallogly could better attend to his law firm practice). Model design was kept in-house, but molding was outsourced. Continental Plastics in Fraser, Michigan, was one of the companies contracted to make AMT's models.
In the late 1960s, AMT had began marketing a series of 1:65 scale diecast called AMT "Pups" made for them in Hong Kong (by an unknown source).
Only 4 castings are known, but more had been planned. The body of each casting was fitted to a metal base plate and had silver (painted) wheel hubs. These wheel sets were noted to be similar in design to Matchbox's "regular wheels" with thick metal axles.
D ### - 1968 Camaro
D ### - 1968 Charger
D ### - 1968 Ford Mustang GT
D 457 - 1968 Cougar
After a few years of AMT production, they sold their 4 casting molds to Mego, who rebranded them as "Jet Wheels" "Jet Wheel" and then "Jet". The original 4 AMT casting models were also marketed as part of the "Tuffy" series by the York Toy Co, but only at the McCrory-McLennon-Green Stores in York, Pennsylvania.
In 1978, AMT was purchased by British Lesney, the makers of Matchbox diecast vehicles who moved the company to Baltimore, closing the Maple Road facility in Troy, Michigan (just outside Detroit).
In 1982-3, AMT was purchased by ERTL from Lesney and renamed AMT-Ertl. AMT-Ertl then had a twenty-four year relationship until AMT was sold again in 2007. During this time they reissued their former promotional vehicles as diecast models in the 1990s.
In 1999-2000, Racing Champions acquired Ertl/AMT and they then became known as RCErtl and shortly thereafter became known as RC2. Both Racing Champion and ERTL castings were being issued. They also issued a series of 1:43 castings in plastic with closed windows, no interiors and no bases. Black wheel sets were mounted in the fenders openings.
In an ironic turn that parallels other large companies, AMT now co-exists in the same organization of Round 2, LLC of South Bend, Indiana. Aalongside a revived MPC and Polar Lights and their model kits. And with Ertl who is also still in the Round 2, LLC stable as Ertl Collectibles.
Sourced references -
Membership - @69ch @Speedline66 @monteric @stanmax
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index.php/2007/04/05/the-strange-saga-of-amt-s-pups/
AMT Pups | hobbyDB
Aluminum Model Toys - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
AMT/Ertl | hobbyDB
Learn everything there is to know about AMT/Ertl at the hobbyDB database
Round 2 LLC | hobbyDB
Learn everything there is to know about Round 2 LLC at the hobbyDB database
