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The following is from Geoffrey Ambridge, whose
dad was one of the co-founders and wrote me.
"Die Casting
Machine Tools Ltd. (DCMT), as it became known, started out in 1939 as a
business called: "Toys and Houseware" situated in two large, under
street-level, lock-up garages beneath a petrol/gas filling station forecourt in
Green Lanes, Palmers Green, north London. After a couple of changes of
nondescript brand names before 1950/51, such as "Slikka Toys" and "DCMT", the
founder Directors finally decided on the name "Lone Star Products" inspired by,
and following the production of, their first 'Western' style cap pistol called
the "Lone Star" introduced in 1949 and which bore interior "Slikka Toy"
markings. This was the first of over 220 toy guns over a span of some 38 years,
produced by "Lone Star", the Toy Division of DCMT, the latter being responsible
solely for the manufacture, construction and sale of the die-casting machines,
themselves, to other producers of zinc-alloy and plastic castings. The "Lone
Star" company expanded to two additional factory premises in and around
Hatfield, in south Hertfordshire, U.K.; the larger being at Hatfield, was
brand-new, built 1955 and opened the following year, followed in 1959 by an
older factory at Welham Green, about two miles south of Hatfield."
You can find out more about Lone Star by visiting
Geoff's fine
website about Lone Star at:
http://www.lone-star-diecast-bk.com/
(The following are my words about Lone
Star...) Die Casting Machine Tools Ltd. (formerly of Palmers Green,
London, U.K.)DCMT, as it became known capitalized on the surge of popularity of
Toy Cap Guns around the world and made a lot of fine pistols that were for the
American West.
Besides guns that were "generic" Lone Star also made guns that
were dedicated to people like Roy Rogers. Some of their guns are among the
rarest and are good finds for you collectors. |
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There were a lot of
"Ricochet" Cap Guns and here's just one more of them. When you click on the
photo, you will get a larger photo in which you can just barely read "RICOCHET"
on it. One of the things you can trust with Lone Star Cap Gun boxes is that
they will have garish colors. No subtlety here.
Photo by Chuck
Quinn
At first I only had the
box, but now I also have the Cap Gun. See below!
Photo by Chuck
Quinn
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Lone Star Model
"P"
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Here's the Cap Gun to the box
above, but this one is a blued version. But maybe they all were; how would I
know? Chuck's the one with all of the Cap Guns!
Photos by
Chuck Quinn |
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| Be Sure To Click On The
Thumbnails! |
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Lone Star
Colt
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Here is a beautiful example of
your basic Colt 45 from Lone Star of England.
I am always
amazed when I see the "Old West" Cap Guns from other countries. And to think we
invented the "Old West." And, of course, all of the authentic Western Gibberish
that goes with it. Thank you Mel Brooks. |
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All photos thanks to Richard Hewis
Be Sure
To Click On The Thumbnails! |
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Lone Star Range
Rider
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This must be one of the
earliest Range Riders in the series if not THE earliest.
Photos by Steve
Arlin
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| Be Sure To Click On The
Thumbnails! |
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Here's 3 Range Riders by
Lone Star from our friend Chuck Quinn.
At least Lone Star kept you
legal by providing you a badge.
Photo by Michael Sheehan.
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Lone Star Range
Rider - MK II
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This is the RARE Range Rider MK
II without the removable cylinder. It is the English copy of the Stallion .45
Mark II by Nichols. It uses two-piece bullets just like the Nichols guns. The
grips have the winged horse and five point star embossed on each side. It is a
great item for the cap gun or western collector and a "must have" for the
serious Nichols Collector.
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All photos thanks to Rich Hall
Be Sure To
Click On The Thumbnails! |
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Lone Star Range Rider
MK-II in BLUE! Click on photo to see larger photo.
From our friend
Chuck Quinn.
This is the
back side of that package of bullets in the photo above and it shows a variety
of the guns that Lone Star produced at that time. Be sure to click on this
photo to see the larger one so that you can actually read it.
From our friend
Chuck Quinn.
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Lone Star Range
Rider - MK III
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This is the RARE Range Rider MK
III with removable cylinder. The earlier Mark II's did not have removable
cylinders. It is the English copy of the Stallion .45 Mark II by Nichols. This
one has the RARE and very HTF silver painted finish with flash chrome plated
cylinder. It uses two-piece bullets just like the Nichols guns. The grips have
the winged horse and five point star embossed on each side. This variation did
not come with the red jewels as earlier variations. It is a great item for the
cap gun or western collector and a "must have" for the serious Nichols
Collector.
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All photos thanks to Rich Hall
Be Sure To
Click On The Thumbnails! |
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Lone Star
MK-III
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Pretty rare set
here—especially the doggone box! I don't know how Steve manages to find
all of the good stuff!
These photos thanks to Steve Arlin |
| Be Sure To Click On The
Thumbnails! |
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Here are Lone Star's version of the 3-piece bullets. The ones on
the top may be a different version than the ones on the bottom.
Photo by Jim
Manning of JM Toys.
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Lone Star
Scout
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See what you get if you ask?
Here's a Lone Star Scout sent in by one of you viewers!
Thank you Ray
Wickline. |
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All photos thanks to Richard Hewis
Be Sure
To Click On The Thumbnails! |
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And here's
the Lone Star Scout, but with red grips.
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Lone Star U.S. Cavalry Cap Gun
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All I know
about this gun is that it is marked "U.S. CAVALRY" on the side and it is made
by Lone Star in England. Very unusual gun. You can see the unusual way to get
to the caps also.
Many thanks to Richard Knowles for this
photo! |
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