Paya have been making clockwork tin toys near Alicante in Spain since 1902. Paya initially produced toys under contract for the better known German and French firms, but by the 1920s were enjoying world-wide success with their own models. General production continued until 1985 when it was decided to concentrate on remaking all their old classic toys on a limited basis of 5,000 each.
Personal experience suggests that the modern Paya tinprinting is extremely attractive, making for some lovely vehicles. However, the plating on the wheels is often not high quality, and tends to flake, which is not so attractive. Unfortunately, many of the fine details added to both passenger and freight cars seems to be cast, the casting not always of the highest quality. This makes them extremely fragile. Few passenger cars actually used on a layout seem to escape without some damage to these fragile parts such as door handles and railings. Bent wire would have been a better choice of material.
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