Toys made in the early 1900"s were tinplate or cast iron. I have seen many surviving examples of both. I have also seen the remnants of diecast toys from that era. More tinplate than diecast or cast iron seems to have survived. Musical instruments of brass, copper and tin from that era also seem to have withstood the test of time. Brass clock movements survive. Metal cylinder music boxes of steel tin and wood survive. Pot metal and some diecast seem to eventually disentigrate. Methods of production of "other" metals must surely have improved in 100 years. There are some beautiful o scale "tinplate" models made in Europe, at prices comparable to US imported diecast. I would bet some of the parts of those models might be imported from China. If we create a "need" China will find a way to produce and sell to us. Look at some of the lithograph embossed cookie tins " Made in China". They know how to stamp and emboss steel too.
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