The Peppy Store Blog

The Kinsmart Story: How a Hong Kong Maker Built Pull-Back Diecast Cars for Everyone

Kinsmart is the budget-friendly diecast line from Hong Kong's Kintoy. Here is what the brand is, how its models are built, and where it fits in a collection.

The Maisto Story: How a Hong Kong Toy Factory Became Bburago's Owner

Maisto was registered in 1990 by Hong Kong's May Cheong Group, founded in 1967. Here is how the brand grew, how it ended up under the same owner as Bburago, and how collectors should think about it.

The Mini GT Story: How a Hong Kong Model Maker Brought Premium Detail to 1:64

Mini GT launched in 2017 as the 1:64 line of Hong Kong–based TSM Model. Here is where it came from, why collectors noticed it, and how to collect it sensibly.

The Bburago Story: How an Italian Toy Maker Became Ferrari's Diecast Partner

Bburago was founded in 1974 by the Besana brothers in Burago di Molgora, Italy. Here is how it went from affordable 1:24 Ferraris to bankruptcy in 2005 and a revival under May Cheong Group.

The Majorette Story: How a French Model-Railway Maker Became a Diecast Brand

Majorette began in 1961 as a model-railway maker in Lyon, France. Here is how it became one of the world's best-known small diecast brands, what its cars are, and how collectors approach them today.

The Tomica Story: How Japan's First Diecast Cars Reached 670 Million Sales

Tomica launched on August 18, 1970 with six Japanese cars and has since sold around 670 million. Here is the brand's history, its collector lines, and what to check before you collect.

The Matchbox Story: How a School Rule Created a Diecast Legend

How a British die-casting workshop, a school rule, and a rivalry with Hot Wheels turned into the Matchbox brand — from Lesney Products' 1953 launch to today's Mattel-owned Matchbox Collectors line.