AMT, which stands for Aluminum Model Toys was founded in 1948 by attorney West Gallogly, in Michigan. In the early postwar period, new cars were difficult to get and did not remain in stock for long. The concept of “promotional models” provided a miniature, three-dimensional representation of the actual car, something potential buyers could see and touch when standing in an empty showroom. Postwar aluminum was inexpensive to obtain and Gallogly’s connections with Ford resulted in a replica of the 1948 Ford Tudor Sedan being produced as a promotional model. Cast in 1/25 scale and painted in-stock Ford colors, it was offered to Ford’s dealers, becoming a valuable sales tool. Ironically, AMT’s first aluminum product would be its last.During the company’s infancy, early AMT employee George Toteff devised the “sliding pillar” tooling design, which allowed for the production of more complex shapes (like miniature car bodies) in plastic and in one piece. The switch from aluminum to plastic allowe...
