Set of three “Santa Fe” model passenger cars: PAYÁ, Spain, 1950s.

Set of three “Santa Fe” model passenger cars: PAYÁ, Spain, 1950s.
Lithographed metal.
Exhibits sligthly wear consistent with age and use.
Measurements: 10 x 36 x 6 cm.
Set consisting of three passenger cars, corresponding to the well-known “Santa Fe” model, inspired by the large American steam locomotives associated with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.
The Payá Hermanos company, founded in Ibi (Alicante) in the late 19th century, played an essential role in the consolidation of the Spanish toy industry. The town in Alicante would gradually become one of Europe’s leading centers for toy production, and Payá stood out for its manufacturing process, which combined industrial methods with a remarkable attention to detail in the finishes. Their catalogs featured cars, trains, motorcycles, airplanes, dolls, and automatons, many of which were inspired by the major technical advances and modes of transportation of the time.