All Metal Products Company
A defunct American toy manufacturer best known for inexpensive pressed-metal Wyandotte toys and its long dominance of the U.S. toy-gun market.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
All Metal Products Company was an American toy manufacturer founded in 1920 and associated primarily with the Wyandotte Toys brand. Based in Wyandotte, Michigan, for most of its existence, the company built its business around inexpensive pressed-metal toys designed for mass-market and dime-store distribution. Its most important category was toy weaponry: pop guns, water pistols, air rifles, clicker pistols, dart guns, cap guns, and later plastic pistols. By 1927, the company was described as the world's largest manufacturer of toy guns, and it remained a major force in that category for much of the following decades. The company emphasized low-cost manufacturing. It frequently used scrap and surplus metal obtained from nearby automobile factories, an approach suited to its Michigan industrial setting and to the price-sensitive toy market. Its early promotional language included the slogan “Every Boy Wants a Pop Gun,” while the later Wyandotte slogan was “Wyandotte Toys are Good and Safe.” The brand's product range expanded beyond toy guns in 1929, when it added toys marketed toward girls and toy vehicles. In 1936, it also introduced lithographed novelty toys, broadening its catalog while retaining its focus on affordable products. All Metal Products' history was shaped by wartime material restrictions. During World War II, metal toys were prohibited or severely constrained because metal was needed for military production. The company adapted by making wooden toys and die-cut cardboard build-your-own play sets. It also produced en bloc clips for the M1 Garand rifle; clips associated with this production were marked “AMP1” on the rear. This wartime manufacturing activity provided an alternative to the company's normal toy business, although the available material does not establish the full scale or duration of that contract work. The company also expanded through acquisition. In 1946, it purchased Hafner Manufacturing Company, a maker of pressed-metal clockwork toy trains. In 1948, the Wyandotte range added die-cast and plastic toys. These materials allowed All Metal Products to compete more directly with other low-priced toy manufacturers as pressed-metal production became less distinctive and consumer expectations changed. During the early 1950s, the company moved from its Wyandotte facility at Sycamore and 14th Street to Ohio. The stated rationale was to obtain better access to steel mills and lower labor costs. The relocation did not solve the company's financial problems. All Metal Products entered bankruptcy in 1956, and part of its product line, including the former Hafner train business, was sold to Louis Marx and Company. A remaining operation attempted to return to business in 1957, but the comeback ultimately failed. The company is therefore remembered as a significant historical American toy maker rather than an active brand. Its legacy rests on the scale of its toy-gun production, its use of industrial scrap in consumer manufacturing, and the Wyandotte name's association with affordable pressed-metal toys.
History
All Metal Products Company began operating in 1920 as an American toy manufacturer based in Wyandotte, Michigan. It developed a business model centered on inexpensive pressed-metal toys, particularly products sold under the Wyandotte Toys name. The company benefited from its location in an industrial region with access to metalworking expertise and surplus materials. To control costs, it often used scrap or excess metal sourced from local automobile factories. Toy guns were the company's defining product category. Its early output included pop guns, water pistols, and air rifles, and its 1920s advertising used the slogan “Every Boy Wants a Pop Gun.” By 1927, the company had become the world's largest toy-gun manufacturer. Although it discontinued air rifles in 1929, it continued producing a broad assortment of toy firearms, including pop guns, clicker pistols, dart guns, cap guns, and plastic pistols. The company also broadened its catalog in 1929 with girls' toys and toy vehicles, followed by lithographed novelty toys in 1936. World War II disrupted the company's normal manufacturing model. Metal toys were restricted or prohibited because industrial metals were required for military use. All Metal Products adapted by producing wooden toys and die-cut cardboard construction play sets. It also made en bloc clips for the M1 Garand rifle, with relevant clips identified by “AMP1” markings on their rear surfaces. The available historical account establishes this defense-related production but does not provide detailed contract, volume, or revenue information. The postwar period brought both expansion and stronger competition. In 1946, All Metal Products acquired Hafner Manufacturing Company, thereby obtaining the Hafner Clockwork pressed-metal toy-train line. In 1948, it added die-cast and plastic products to the Wyandotte range. These materials helped the company compete in the low-priced toy sector, where other manufacturers were offering inexpensive products that challenged traditional pressed-metal construction. In the early 1950s, All Metal Products moved from its Wyandotte premises at Sycamore and 14th Street to Ohio. The move was intended to place the business closer to steel mills and to take advantage of lower labor costs. The change was not sufficient to restore the company's financial position. It entered bankruptcy in 1956, after which Louis Marx and Company purchased part of the product line, including the former Hafner train operation. The remaining business made a further attempt to return in 1957, but it ultimately ceased to operate. The company consequently occupies an important place in the history of American mass-market toys, especially the development and large-scale production of affordable toy guns and pressed-metal playthings.
- 1957
Final attempted comeback
[1]The remaining operation attempted to resume business but ultimately failed.
- 1956
Bankruptcy and product-line sale
[1]Following a move to Ohio, the company went bankrupt and sold part of its product line to Louis Marx and Company.
- 1948
Entered die-cast and plastic toys
[1]All Metal Products added die-cast and plastic toys to compete in the low-price toy market.
- 1946
Acquired Hafner Manufacturing Company
[1]The acquisition added Hafner's clockwork pressed-metal toy trains to the company's portfolio.
- 1942
Adapted production during World War II
[1]With metal toys restricted for wartime needs, the company produced wooden toys, cardboard construction sets, and M1 Garand en bloc clips.
- 1936
Added lithographed novelty toys
[1]The company broadened its catalog with lithographed novelty toys.
- 1929
Expanded beyond toy guns
[1]All Metal Products added girls' toys and toy vehicles, while discontinuing its air-rifle production.
- 1927
Became a leading toy-gun manufacturer
[1]The company was described as the world's largest manufacturer of toy guns, establishing the central position of the Wyandotte line in that category.
- 1920
Company founded in Wyandotte
[1]All Metal Products Company was founded in Wyandotte, Michigan, beginning its history as a manufacturer of inexpensive metal toys.
Products and positioning
Affordable, mass-market toys manufactured with low-cost materials and sold under the Wyandotte name. The company was especially associated with toy guns and promoted them through safety-oriented branding.
Toy weapons · 1920
Wyandotte toy guns
The company's core product family consisted of inexpensive toy guns made in pressed metal and, later, plastic. The range included pop guns, water pistols, clicker pistols, dart guns, cap guns, and other toy pistols. All Metal Products became one of the most important American manufacturers in this category and was described as the world's largest toy-gun maker by 1927.
Toy vehicles · 1929
Wyandotte toy vehicles
Toy vehicles were added to the Wyandotte range in 1929 as the company broadened beyond its established toy-gun business. They formed part of the wider affordable pressed-metal and later mixed-material catalog.
Novelty toys · 1936
Wyandotte lithographed novelty toys
Introduced in 1936, lithographed novelty toys expanded the company's assortment of colorful, low-cost products. Their use of printed decoration reflected the company's focus on inexpensive mass-market playthings.
Toy trains · 1946
Hafner Clockwork toy trains
The Hafner clockwork train line entered the All Metal Products portfolio through the 1946 acquisition of Hafner Manufacturing Company. These pressed-metal toy trains remained associated with the acquired product line until it was sold to Louis Marx and Company after the 1956 bankruptcy.
Construction and wooden toys
Wartime wooden and cardboard toys
During World War II, when metal toys were restricted, All Metal Products substituted wooden toys and die-cut cardboard build-your-own play sets. These products allowed the company to continue serving the toy market while conserving scarce industrial metal.
Brand decisions
1956
Bankruptcy and divestiture of product linesOtherBackground
Cost pressures and competitive conditions continued despite the Ohio relocation and the company's expansion into additional toy materials.
Action taken
The company entered bankruptcy and sold part of its product line, including the former Hafner trains, to Louis Marx and Company.
Aftermath
A remaining operation attempted to restart in 1957 but ultimately failed, ending the company's manufacturing history.
1952
Relocation from Wyandotte to OhioStrategyBackground
The company sought lower operating costs and closer access to Ohio steel mills.
Action taken
All Metal Products moved its manufacturing operation from its Wyandotte site to Ohio.
Aftermath
The relocation did not restore the company's financial stability, and the business entered bankruptcy in 1956.
1948
Shift toward die-cast and plastic toysStrategyBackground
Low-priced competitors were selling alternatives to traditional pressed-metal toys, increasing pressure on All Metal Products to diversify its materials and product formats.
Action taken
The company added die-cast and plastic toys to the Wyandotte line.
Aftermath
The material expansion improved the breadth of the catalog but did not prevent the company's later financial collapse.
1946
Acquisition of Hafner Manufacturing CompanyM&ABackground
All Metal Products sought to broaden its toy portfolio during the postwar period. Hafner Manufacturing was known for pressed-metal clockwork toy trains.
Action taken
All Metal Products acquired Hafner Manufacturing Company and incorporated its toy-train products into the wider business.
Aftermath
The former Hafner train line was later sold to Louis Marx and Company after All Metal Products entered bankruptcy.
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