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Mechanical toys have a long tradition that goes back to the spring-powered automata of the 16th and 17th centuries. Many were manufactured in Nuremberg, Germany, and the area was for a long time the center of this type of production. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were over a hundred factories in Nuremberg that only manufactured mechanical toys from thin sheet metal or wood. The sheet metal was punched, embossed and painted by hand. Later, special printing methods were introduced that made production faster and the toys more detailed. At first, springs were used to set the gears in motion, and the toy had to be wound up with a key.

During the 1890s, the first electric toys appeared, and thirty years later, small dry-cell battery-powered electric motors began to be used to make toys move. Around the same time, the first electric trains powered by 220V alternating current appeared, something that would be unthinkable today. Both electronic toys and those powered by flywheel motors (pull-back action) become very popular. Today, most toys that can move are powered by batteries.

And Sweden also has its own manufacturers at this time, although they are few. Enköpings Leksaksfabrik, founded around 1893, is one of them. At first, they mainly manufacture miniatures of various household items, but when demand increases, they also start with simpler hand-painted tin toys such as horses and vehicles. They also open their own toy store, but it is closed in 1915 when, due to the First World War, they cannot import steel from England. Ulricehamns bleckkärlsfabrik in Kungsör also manufactures tin toys, and here at the Stockholm Toy Museum there are several toys from there. Sweden also has its own manufacturers of mechanical toys, although they are few. But Germany has significantly more manufacturers. One of the largest is Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk, founded in 1881 and around 1920 more than 800 people work here. Lehman's toys are characterized by intricate, ingenious designs that are carefully patented. The toys are always made of sheet metal that is printed or hand-painted in detail and colorfully.

One of Lehman's most popular toys is the Klätterapan, of which large quantities were produced until the 1950s. Lehmann's toys often have comical and surrealistic elements. They can be anything from vehicles, animals and people such as motorcyclists or tap dancers. There are several examples of stereotypical Lehmann figures that are both offensive and racist. Knowledge and awareness of other cultures is often low at this time and there is a fear of the unknown. Today we know better and it can be difficult to understand much of what was produced.

Lehman's production decreases but continues during World War II, despite the constant shortage of sheet metal. When the war ends, what is left is confiscated. However, the factory is rebuilt in what was then West Germany, and they also begin to manufacture plastic toys. The Lehmann Gross Bahn trains, or as they are also called Big Railway trains, become a great success on the American market. In 2007, Lehmann Gross Bahn (LGB) is bought by the well-known Märklin. Lehman's toys are characterized by intricate, ingenious designs A significantly cheaper version of sheet metal toys are the so-called Penny Toys. These are miniature toys made of sheet metal that are produced in large quantities, mainly between 1890 and 1930. The target group is the large groups of poor people who could not afford to buy the more expensive toys. As industrialization takes off in Europe, many people move to the cities and life is often tough for many and large slums develop. These simple toys became popular due to their low price and they were called Penny Toys precisely because the price was one penny, which was equivalent to one ten-öring in Sweden at the time.

Most Penny Toys were manufactured in Germany but also in Japan between 1940-1950. They are recognizable by their simple, small size and made of thin sheet metal. They come in thousands of different models, such as cars, airplanes, boats, dollhouse furniture and animals. In London, Penny Toys are usually sold by poor street vendors who in turn buy them cheaply in large volumes from a wholesaler. In Sweden, Penny Toys are mostly sold at local markets.

In the mid-1960s, plastic began to take over more and more and the material would revolutionize the toy industry and interest in mechanical sheet metal toys decreased. They were called Penny Toys precisely because the price was one penny.