The Distler Racers

Saturday, January 14, 2017
Clear skies & cold
-12 C  10.4 F

The Distler Racers

Please click here to visit this fine American toy auctioneer

History

"Johann Distler, Nuremberg, Germany, 1895 - 1968. Produced lithographed tin penny toys, comic and erratic action transportation toys. The company "Johann Distler KG" was established in Nürnberg in 1895. Johann started as a penny-toy manufacturer, specialized in lithographed tin toys but his range of products comprised 500 items. In 1917, Distler took on Brown & Mayer as partners. His partners took over when Distler died in 1923. Eventually, in 1935, they sold out to Ernst Volk.

After the Second World War Distler started to produce electric trains and, later, electric toy cars as well. Distler's electric model of the Porsche 356, produced since 1955, was beautifully designed. Distler's also made more simple models, but these were usually sold in department stores. Unfortunately, in the beginning of the 1960s, the company could no longer maintain it's position against the larger brands like the German Marklin, and Trix, and the British Dinky Toys.

The production in Germany was discontinued in 1962. The company was sold to a firm in Belgium (including machines and production rights), where Distler Toys S.A. in Nivelles continued to produce under the Distler brand name until 1968.Distler not only made toys, but also electric shavers." *

*History Courtesy Fabtintoys.com on ebay

Germany, a fabulous oversized tin lithographed racer, striking graphic pipe images 

on sides,bonnet (hood) vents embossed, spare wheel graphics on tail rear, 

seated tin driver, features electric headlights and clockwork (wind-up key) mechanism.

Length:  20"  508 mm

 A bright German-made tin lithographed car with separate side pipes, spare tire 

mounted on side, seated driver, clockwork wind-up by key.

Length:  12 1/2" 318 mm

Circa 1930's

Lithographed tin by Distler of Germany. The design is based on an AUto-Uniobn racer by Bernd Rosemeyer*. Seated driver, clockwork driven by a key wind-up, nice detail to rivet graphics on body.

Length:  13 1/2"  342 mm

Circa: 1930's

*Please click here to visit Wikipedia for a very interesting history of Berndt Rosemeyer

Mermany, lithographed tin, large scale example with separate side pipes, embossed pattern,

seated driver, electric (battery-operated) headlights, clockwork mechanism by wind-up key.

Length:  20 1/2"  520 mm

A well-detailed oversized German-made toy.  

Tin lithographed, with pipes mounted along the sides.

Electric (battery-operated) spot light is hood mounted.

Clockwork mechanism by a wind-up key.

Length:  13"  330 mm

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always, have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

A New ebay Seller from Portugal

Sunday, November 13, 2016
Cloudy with sunny breaks
9 Celsius  48 Fahrenheit

A New ebay seller

from Portugal

Please click here to visit this fine ebay seller

I was very surprised when I found the Odiabogosta store on ebay. Here was a store that had very fine, very old and rare European manufacturers of pressed steel toys. Many of the toys had battery-operated headlights, and one bus had headlights, and an inner ceiling light as well.

Naturrally, I wrote to the Odiabogosta storeowners, and in a few days received a ver nice reply.

The stores are worldwide, and are owned by 

Mr. Jorge Santos and his grandson Mr. Gonçalo Rueda.

In Their Own Words:

Hello Mr. Bindman, good day,

Congratulations on your very nice blog. Always happy to confirm the passion for these little treasures is alive and well.Feel free to use our pictures for your project. I only ask that you let me know whenever you post an article with any of them.We are a small family business and work in several areas of the collectibles world. This part focused on quality antique toys is run by me and my godson (Jorge Santos & Gonçalo Rueda). Always on the lookout for antique toys, we get them from wherever we can, whether it be from private estates, flea-markets, toy fairs, and even collectors themselves by trading.

All my best, and warm greetings from sunny Portugal,
Jorge Santos

If you've a regular reader to my blog, you know that lately,I like to take a toy photo and present it against a white background and foundation (what the toy rests on). When I first saw Mr. Santos' photographs, I was so excited that I was ready to work on them immediately. However, it wasn't going to be easy. It's a lot of work to remove a toy from its' foundation and background.  Also, I found the background and foundation a bit distracting from the fine and rare toys. I  decided to experiment with how the toy would best be presented.First I left the photo alone, then I did some colour-balance exposure corrections, and better shadow detail. I then tried removing all the colour in the photo, except for the toys. Lastly, I decided to remove everything, and leave the toy against white.

Details, details!

In the end, I liked the velvet-looking red curtains in the back, and the fine leather and gold embossed table mat that the toy rested on. This projected the toys with a  majestic quality. The toys presented themselves regally, and the background and foundation complimented the fine toys, but didn't detract from the toys themselves. So I worked out a solution. I would remove the colour from the surrounding, but leave the toy intact, except for some photoshop correction, and present some toys in their entirety but with some Photoshop correction.

Up for sale, an exceedingly scarce example of a beautiful GAMA #43/5 tin wind-up Fireman with wheeled extendable ladder, rarest variation with the lithographed wheeled ladder instead of the plain red one. Near impossible to find in any condition. An incredible piece with striking colors and amusing mechanics. In a luscious near mint condition, has minimal wear and performs flawlessly.

Length:  8 5/8" ladder 21 1/4" fully extended

22 cm / ladder 54 cm when fully extended

When the fireman is secured to the ladder, and the wind-up is wound, he will start to climb up the ladder.

An exceedingly rare example of an amazing 1908 Hess tin flywheel Avanti Peking-Paris race car. Celebrating the crazed race of 10th June 1907 from Peking to Paris, this is an incredible historical piece with striking artwork and details. 

Length: 5 1/8" 130 mm

1920's Distler JDN 3704 Tin Wind-up Large Bus Coach w/ Opening Roof Doors Lights

 Up for sale, an exceedingly rare example of a most spectacular 1920's Distler 3704 tin wind-up large deluxe bus. Has steerable front wheels, opening side doors, electrical headlights, electrical interior lighting, and opening roof to decorate the interior with additional figures. Only two known examples in private collections. 

Length:  15 3/4" 400 mm

Extr Rare 50cm Original 1930s PAYA Tin Wind-up Horch Gran Sedan Oldtimer with Light

Up for sale, an exceedingly rare example of an incredible original Paya Gran Sedan, in its most elusive and desired color scheme cream/chocolate brown/orange, deep blue interior. Huge and heavy high quality construction, measuring 50cm long. Has steerable wheels, electrical lighting system, opening doors/trunk and folding seats. In a stunning condition, has minimal wear and performs flawlessly, especially considering its age, and state of disarray in which they usually show up, when they show up.  Small touch-ups to body. 

Length:  19 5/8"  500 mm

Extr Rare 1930s Tippco (Tipp & Co) TCO Tin Wind-up Pullman Horch Closed Sport Coupe

Up for sale, an extremely rare example of a most elegant 1930's Tipp & Co. tin wind-up sport closed cabriolet coupe with driver, electrical lighting system and opening trunk. In excellent condition, has minimal wear and performs flawlessly. See pictures for details. Roughly 31cm long. A scarce high grade collectors piece that will display magnificently in any tin toy anthology.

Length: 12 1/4" 31 cm approximately

Extr. Rare 1930's Tippco Tipp&Co TCO Salmon Tin Wind-up Horch Coupe Oldtimer

An extremely rare example of a most elegant 1930's Tipp & Co. tin wind-up sport coupe with driver and electrical lighting system, rarest of this series with the salmon colored variation. In excellent condition, has little wear and performs flawlessly. See pictures for details. Small rust spots underneath. 

Length:  Approximately 11 3/8"  29cm  

What I find most interesting is that not only are the toys very old,  but they are in very good condition considering how old they are. Also, they still work with regards to their battery-operated headlights, and wind-up mechanisms. Of course, these exemplary toys also come with their high prices. When the toys are at this level of collecting, there are people who will gladly bid on them!

Thanks for dropping by,
and as always,
Have a great part of the day or night,
Wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman
toysearcher@gmail.com

The Early Toy Cars from Europe

Friday, May 29, 2015
Sunny and warm

The Early Toy Cars From Europe

  

  One of my favourite genre of toys is the early European toy cars. These were mostly modelled  after the "ritzy" cars of the time. Elegant , big and long, the exemplified the cars that only the rich could possess at the time. I happened to revisit Morphy Auctions, another of the fine people who have helped me out with my writing. There are plenty of nice items for sale, but my eye caught these elegant toys.

Please click here to visit this fine American auctioneer

  Mr. Dan Morphy has expanded his company through hard work and through the acquisition of another auction company.  He now auctions off old cars, and I'm going to write to ask if I might use some of the car photos. If I can find old cars, it would be great to match them up with old toys.

I always like the free-standing headlights on these cars.m Also, notice that the sun visor is on the outside of the car, rather than on the inside. If you look to the front of the driver, you can also see a searchlight.

There are no headlights on this car! Also, have a look at the large number of air vents on the side of the hood. What also amazes me is that for the European toys of the time (1920's-1930's), the Europeans had established a quality process of lithography.  If you compare many of the American toys of the time, most are cast iron.

I like the driver and those "balloon tires. And notice how the driver in the above 2 cars is on the right hand side of the car, unlike American cars which were on the left.

I once purchases a Kingsbury car solely for it's battery -operated headlights. I had to do minor repairs to get the lights to work. Having a toy with headlights must have been extra fun for kids of the time.

What I noticed discovered yesterday after 60 years (I'm, 66), is that a car trunk as we know it today was based on a real steamer trunk. A steamer trunk was used for people who travelled on ships. It was large and people would take a month's worth of clothing, portable vanity  mirrors that would stand on a table, personal ink pens and stationary for writing, and all kinds of toiletries and sundries.

Not only were these cars long, but the engine compartment and the engine block were also.Just look at the photos, and you'll see just how large the engine compared with the car and passenger compartment was.

The first and last cars were also wind-up cars.

That's it for today. However, please venture over to the Morphy Auctions website. There are lots more of these early European toy cars to enjoy looking at.  I've been busy with taking car of my lawn, planting herbs and vegetables in my leased municipal "mini" garden plot, and  walking our dog Buddy more. He's turning 14  in June, and I'm trying to keep him in good shape. He's a poodle, and that's him when you visit my opening page of my blog. 

He's starting to show signs of old age (just like me). He's wary of walking dow the stairs to the den, and yelps four his "personal carrier" when he wants to join me. Also, he recently had to have teeth removed since they were loose - a sign of age and not enough toothbrushing on our part.

My wife Heidi feels that since Buddy's dental operation, Buddy is more spunky and has a lot more energy. Of course, the miserable long winter didn't help. Most of the time, both Buddy and myself were not in the mood to go for walks outside in the minus zero record breaking cold February.

Buddy still has some carryover symptoms of the operation, and we're going back to the vet to see what can be done. He seems to be in anguish (feeling pain), and constantly paws his face. I'm thinking there might be some residual nerve pain from the operation.

Thanks for dropping by,

and always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com 

F1 Race Day In Montreal

Sunday, June 8, 2014
             Sunny and hot

F1 Race Day in Montreal

   It's the annual F1 race day in Montreal, so I decide to select a fine car in memory of Gilles Villeneuve  who died racing. He was a local home grown Quebecer who came to become very famous with his racing skills. Sadly he died in a racing car crash. His son later also became a famous race car driver and even won the Indy 500. 

   For a whole week the city is abuzz with lots of activity, street displays, and lots of people.  The city just signed a new $ 187,000,000.00 deal with the F1 company to have the race stay in Montreal for another 10 years. 

  Both Father and son raced for Ferrari, so for today, I chose a nice vintage red Distler toy racer from Bertoia Auctions. Ferrari's racing colour has always been red.

Please click here to fine the exceptional website of Bertoia Auctions

Description:

DISTLER RACE CAR  Germany, a fabulous oversized tin litho racer, striking graphic pipe images on sides, bonnet vents embossed, spare wheel graphics on tail rear, seated tin driver, features electric headlights and clockwork mechanism, condition is unplayed with. 20''  (508 mm) long.

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always, 

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com

Exceptional Toy Race Cars from Down Under

Wednesday, January 15, 2014
     (Mild, overcast, and intermittent drizzle)

Exceptional Toy Race Cars

from Down Under

   This past Sunday (January 12, 2014), I introduced you to Valerie and Dennis Howe - outstanding sellers on ebay (Australia). I had then presented a beautiful Kingsbury (USA) pressed steel Malcolm Campbell Blue Bird racer. It was photographed very well, and there were lots of detail photos that I had not seen before for this particular toy. At that point, I decided to post on the Blue Bird, rather than my original intention - today's 2 fine European toys - rare and beautiful.

   I also have added other items that Valerie and Dennis sell. For 2014, I've decided to add other items that my guests sell. THere are so many times that I see the most-interesting item that are non-toys. As a result, I've decided to add several items for each seller. I've also decided to add the flag of the country that I write about.

Please click here to visit Valerie Howe's fine ebay store

Dennis, Valerie's husband  does the photography, with the 2 working as layout artists to come up with well-executed photos that are wonderful to look at. The Lladro figurines are not rare or antiques, but they have very good value. Also,the photography and detailed photos are exceptional.

The fact that Valerie and Dennis take so much care in presenting their items for sale tells lots about the couple.  Too often I see photography that is poorly executed, and does not take advantage of the total number of photos that ebay offers for free (at least in the USA).

FOr myself, I appreciate being able to look at excellent photographs

 that present to me the item at its best.

Magnificent toys from a great couple of  ebay sellers. 

They' re actually called  "trading assistants" by  ebay, and they help supervise the listing, selling, answering questions,and shipping of merchandise for people who for whatever reasons prefer not to do their own selling.

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com

Nice Detailed Photography of a German Sports Car Toy

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Nice Detailed Photography

of a German Sports Car Toy

   I have to make a formal apology to Mark (the owner of the store on ebay). As I was checking my  ebay emails, I saw a store name that I realized I had not written about. I checked the photos, and realized I did not write a post, and this was more than a month ago. So to Mark, I apologize. I will be writing another post, but today's post is just the introduction.

    Mark's store name is WarPath Collectibles, and besides old toys, Mark has some very interesting Native American arrowheads.  He's been on ebay since 2004, and ha an excellent reputation.

Please click here to visit Mark's fine ebay store

  Ever since ebay decided to provide 12 free uploaded photos for each listed item,it's been great for a blogger like me. Not all sellers take advantage of the opportunity, and ebay websites around the world seem to have different criteria for their sellers.  In Mark's case, he is one of those sellers who also happens to to use his camera,,as well as having a keen eye to photograph an item from different angles, and make the item attractive and appealable to viewers. So that's it for today, but for sure, I will be returning to write about Mark again, and this time promptly!

Thanks for visiting,

and have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com