The French company of Compagnie Industrielle du Jouet, more commonly known as CIJ, isn’t that well known outside of France.

CIJ actually began production back in the early 1900s but at that time its wares did not embrace miniature vehicles. Indeed, some years would pass before it turned its attentions to the requirements of those who found their pleasures on the hearthrug. By the 1920s, in the post-war years, however, CIJ was producing tinplate toys in various scales, following interest from car manufacturer Citroen. The range included cars, as would be expected, but the company’s lines also embraced fire engines, lorries with various loads – and cars made from flour. No, that’s not a misprint: of all the weird and wonderful materials used in toy production, the odd combination of flour and plaster would seem to be the most unlikely of the lot.

In fact, between 1935 and 1938 CIJ produced several models in this medium, most notably the Nervasport streamlined, closed cockpit racing cars. Pick one up and you wouldn’t know the difference for it, too, feels cold to the touch and is just as heavy as any diecast counterpart.

These models are quite robust and the earlier ones are fitted with metal wheels; later on plastic and rubber were utilised.

One of the delights of the range is that the vehicles came in different sizes and materials. Aside from the flour cars (and not too many have survived, by the way), the afore-mentioned tinplate was supplemented in 1950 with Zamac models in the more familiar 1:43 scale. In fact, it is CIJ’s Zamac models that tend to be the most numerous today. (Incidentally, Zamac was an alloy of Zinc, Aluminium, Magnesium and Copper, and thereby derived its trade name). This range continued in production until the mid-1960s.

Along the way CIJ bought out JRD but the takeover was to have dire consequences for the enterprises, for within a couple of years, around 1967, both the names would disappear into the history books. Funnily enough, the company’s wares were predominantly sold in Japan and France but one reason for the enterprise’s failure has been put down to distribution: they were not usually found in the better class of shops.

The 1:43 range has much in common with its peers of the period, such as Solido, Dinky and Corgi, and the collector can look out for different wheels, colour variations and other discrepancies. Additionally, some vehicles were clockwork powered. As might be expected, boxes are also desirable and can effectively double the value of a model. The last gasp of manufacture also saw a mixing of JRD and CIJ products and some collectors today delight in turning up hybrid vehicles and odd boxes.

However, the breadth of the range is actually quite modest: in all, there are only some 70-90 different castings. Predictably, subject matter covers many French car and truck companies, predominantly Renault, and there are cars, commercial vehicles, farm machinery and army transport items to collect. Some thought went into the army vehicles, without doubt. One truck features a mounted large calibre gun which fires whilst another has a huge rocket, again fully functioning. A radar lorry includes a swivelling platform, which operates courtesy of a crank. More interesting still is the mounted searchlight, which operates, thanks to concealed batteries; but it also doubles as a morse code signaller. Again, reflecting British toymakers’ wares, CIJ produced small scale passenger aircraft, notably the Caravelle, which can be found initially in boxes and, strangely, also in marked plastic bags. A very desirable set to look out for, which seldom surfaces, is the model airport which comprises a jet, an Art Deco control tower and ancillary building together with a green vinyl mat upon which is drawn a runway complex. A complete outfit might fetch £300-400. Indeed, anything remotely of a giftset nature is highly regarded and quite scarce: CIJ produced tele-guided vehicles and playmats, for instance, that very seldom come to market.

The company also manufactured garages, of several types, all in wood: these date back to before the second world war. The majority bear Renault diamond logos and advertising; there is also a Fire Station to look out for.

As mentioned, diversity was the keyword for the company also produced a small range of Matchbox/Benbros style vehicles which, unusually, come packaged in little transparent plastic cylinders marked with the company logo. These small vehicles are beautifully modelled and wondrous to behold in their distinctive packaging: some ten different models were manufactured.

If wooden toys are more to your taste, mention should be made of the company’s games and pull-along toys. This latter category included dogs, clowns, rabbits and ducks; it also made a child-sized wooden hay trailer. There are also wooden toys: one example is a wooden apple tree and a boy: this latter has a moveable arm which prods, with a stick, a mechanism on the tree which then allows an apple (actually a steel ball) to descend. The object is to catch the ball bearing before it falls out of the tree. Simple yet ingenious - and a good example of how wooden toys can be highly entertaining.

Possibly the most famous of all of CIJ’s wares is the splendid large scale Alfa P2 racing car but you need to beware of imitations and repainted versions.

The French company of Compagnie Industrielle du Jouet, more commonly known as CIJ, isn’t that well known outside of France.

CIJ actually began production back in the early 1900s but at that time its wares did not embrace miniature vehicles. Indeed, some years would pass before it turned its attentions to the requirements of those who found their pleasures on the hearthrug. By the 1920s, in the post-war years, however, CIJ was producing tinplate toys in various scales, following interest from car manufacturer Citroen. The range included cars, as would be expected, but the company’s lines also embraced fire engines, lorries with various loads – and cars made from flour. No, that’s not a misprint: of all the weird and wonderful materials used in toy production, the odd combination of flour and plaster would seem to be the most unlikely of the lot.

In fact, between 1935 and 1938 CIJ produced several models in this medium, most notably the Nervasport streamlined, closed cockpit racing cars. Pick one up and you wouldn’t know the difference for it, too, feels cold to the touch and is just as heavy as any diecast counterpart.

These models are quite robust and the earlier ones are fitted with metal wheels; later on plastic and rubber were utilised.

One of the delights of the range is that the vehicles came in different sizes and materials. Aside from the flour cars (and not too many have survived, by the way), the afore-mentioned tinplate was supplemented in 1950 with Zamac models in the more familiar 1:43 scale. In fact, it is CIJ’s Zamac models that tend to be the most numerous today. (Incidentally, Zamac was an alloy of Zinc, Aluminium, Magnesium and Copper, and thereby derived its trade name). This range continued in production until the mid-1960s.

Along the way CIJ bought out JRD but the takeover was to have dire consequences for the enterprises, for within a couple of years, around 1967, both the names would disappear into the history books. Funnily enough, the company’s wares were predominantly sold in Japan and France but one reason for the enterprise’s failure has been put down to distribution: they were not usually found in the better class of shops.

The 1:43 range has much in common with its peers of the period, such as Solido, Dinky and Corgi, and the collector can look out for different wheels, colour variations and other discrepancies. Additionally, some vehicles were clockwork powered. As might be expected, boxes are also desirable and can effectively double the value of a model. The last gasp of manufacture also saw a mixing of JRD and CIJ products and some collectors today delight in turning up hybrid vehicles and odd boxes.

However, the breadth of the range is actually quite modest: in all, there are only some 70-90 different castings. Predictably, subject matter covers many French car and truck companies, predominantly Renault, and there are cars, commercial vehicles, farm machinery and army transport items to collect. Some thought went into the army vehicles, without doubt. One truck features a mounted large calibre gun which fires whilst another has a huge rocket, again fully functioning. A radar lorry includes a swivelling platform, which operates courtesy of a crank. More interesting still is the mounted searchlight, which operates, thanks to concealed batteries; but it also doubles as a morse code signaller. Again, reflecting British toymakers’ wares, CIJ produced small scale passenger aircraft, notably the Caravelle, which can be found initially in boxes and, strangely, also in marked plastic bags. A very desirable set to look out for, which seldom surfaces, is the model airport which comprises a jet, an Art Deco control tower and ancillary building together with a green vinyl mat upon which is drawn a runway complex. A complete outfit might fetch £300-400. Indeed, anything remotely of a giftset nature is highly regarded and quite scarce: CIJ produced tele-guided vehicles and playmats, for instance, that very seldom come to market.

The company also manufactured garages, of several types, all in wood: these date back to before the second world war. The majority bear Renault diamond logos and advertising; there is also a Fire Station to look out for.

As mentioned, diversity was the keyword for the company also produced a small range of Matchbox/Benbros style vehicles which, unusually, come packaged in little transparent plastic cylinders marked with the company logo. These small vehicles are beautifully modelled and wondrous to behold in their distinctive packaging: some ten different models were manufactured.

If wooden toys are more to your taste, mention should be made of the company’s games and pull-along toys. This latter category included dogs, clowns, rabbits and ducks; it also made a child-sized wooden hay trailer. There are also wooden toys: one example is a wooden apple tree and a boy: this latter has a moveable arm which prods, with a stick, a mechanism on the tree which then allows an apple (actually a steel ball) to descend. The object is to catch the ball bearing before it falls out of the tree. Simple yet ingenious - and a good example of how wooden toys can be highly entertaining.

Possibly the most famous of all of CIJ’s wares is the splendid large scale Alfa P2 racing car but you need to beware of imitations and repainted versions.