Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy
71 years in operation (1890–1961)
About Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy
Dowst Brothers invented die-cast zinc toy vehicles under the Tootsietoy brand name around 1910, effectively creating the die-cast toy car industry. Their tiny but detailed metal vehicles were sold through Cracker Jack boxes and five-and-dime stores.
Founding
Charles and Samuel Dowst, publishers of a laundry trade journal, who realised that the Linotype machine they used for typesetting could cast small metal objects other than type.
History of Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy
The Dowst brothers began casting miniature flat-irons, collar buttons and novelty charms on adapted Linotype equipment in the 1890s. The machine cast small, detailed shapes in soft alloy very cheaply, which is the entire technical basis of the small die-cast toy, and their metal novelties supplied the premium and prize trade before becoming toys in their own right.
The first miniature car came in 1911, a Model T Ford, and the Tootsietoy name arrived in the early 1920s from a family nickname. Tootsietoys were the American mass-market die-cast toy: small, cheap, sold loose from counter bins and in boxed sets, covering cars, trucks, aircraft, ships, trains and dollhouse furniture. They preceded Dinky by two decades and outsold everything in their price bracket for a generation.
The company merged with Nathan Shure's Cosmo Manufacturing in 1926 to become Dowst Manufacturing, and later became Strombecker. Tootsietoy-branded die-cast continued for decades, so the name spans everything from prewar one-piece Model Ts to postwar chrome-plated toys — with a wide range of quality and value across that span.
Timeline
- 1876The Dowst brothers begin publishing a laundry trade journal in Chicago
- 1893Small cast-metal novelties are produced on adapted Linotype machinery
- 1911A miniature Model T Ford becomes the first Dowst toy car
- 1922The Tootsietoy trade name comes into use
- 1926Merger with Cosmo Manufacturing forms Dowst Manufacturing
- 1961The business continues as Strombecker, still producing Tootsietoy die-cast
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Tootsietoy Graham Paige sedan
- Tootsietoy LaSalle coupe
- Tootsietoy Buick roadster
- Tootsietoy Mack truck
- Tootsietoy Model A Ford
Identifying & Dating Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy Toys
- Most pieces are marked "TOOTSIETOY" cast into the underside, often with "MADE IN U.S.A."; some early pieces are marked "DOWST" or are unmarked.
- Construction dates the toy: a single one-piece casting with crimped axles is early, while separate baseplates, plated detail and plastic wheels indicate later production.
- Dollhouse furniture is marked "TOOTSIETOY" on the underside of larger pieces and unmarked on the small ones.
Collector's Notes
- Boxed sets are worth far more than the sum of their vehicles, and the graphic boxes for aircraft and ship sets are collected in their own right.
- Prewar pieces are collected by casting variation and colour, and a reference catalogue is essential — visually similar castings can differ substantially in scarcity.
- The alloy is soft and axle crimps wear. Because production numbers were enormous, condition standards are high and worn examples are worth very little.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy founded?
Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy was founded in 1890, based in Chicago, IL.
Is Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy still in business?
No. Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy ceased operations in 1961, after 71 years in business.
What is Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy best known for?
Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy is best known for Tootsietoy Graham Paige sedan, Tootsietoy LaSalle coupe, Tootsietoy Buick roadster, among other toys.
Where was Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy located?
Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy was based in Chicago, IL.
What kinds of toys did Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy make?
Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy is categorized under die-cast, vehicles.
Who founded Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy?
Charles and Samuel Dowst, publishers of a laundry trade journal, who realised that the Linotype machine they used for typesetting could cast small metal objects other than type.
How can you identify genuine Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy toys?
Most pieces are marked "TOOTSIETOY" cast into the underside, often with "MADE IN U.S.A."; some early pieces are marked "DOWST" or are unmarked. Construction dates the toy: a single one-piece casting with crimped axles is early, while separate baseplates, plated detail and plastic wheels indicate later production. Dollhouse furniture is marked "TOOTSIETOY" on the underside of larger pieces and unmarked on the small ones.
Are Dowst Brothers / Tootsietoy toys valuable?
Boxed sets are worth far more than the sum of their vehicles, and the graphic boxes for aircraft and ship sets are collected in their own right. Prewar pieces are collected by casting variation and colour, and a reference catalogue is essential — visually similar castings can differ substantially in scarcity. The alloy is soft and axle crimps wear. Because production numbers were enormous, condition standards are high and worn examples are worth very little.