Mercury (toy manufacturer) Marklin, the company was started in 1932, by Attilio Clemente and Antonio Cravero, but its first toy was a gun produced about 1939 (Batazzi et al 1974; Force 1992, 5; History of Mercury 2013; Ralston 2009, 62). The company first began making toy cars just after World War II, so is one of the earliest diecast model makers preceding Corgi and many others and it was the earliest producer in Italy (Richardson 1999, 134). In Italy there was little competition for Mercury through most of the 1950s (Force 1992, 5). Early cars were more Tootsietoy-like with simple cast bodies, wheels
Doctor Who merchandise The company's first success were their Dalek Battle Packs - two 5-inch radio-controlled model Daleks that included either a Ninth Doctor or Rose Tyler action figure. This prompt the company to produce further action figures depicting characters and monsters from the programme. Three waves of posable, 5-inch scale figures and RC Dalek and K9 models were released in the UK in 2006, the praise received from the range's production won Character the 2006 Toy Retailers Association's Boys Toy of the Year Award. From 2007 onward, new figures were marketed under series banners in favour of waves. Deluxe figures, Collect and