Pull Toys

Sunday, November 20, 2016
Overcast and raining
5 Celsius 39 Fahrenheit

Pull Toys

A "pull toy" is a toy that has small wheels and is moved by pulling 

the toy with a string (cord) attached to the front of the unit. This toy was popular from the mid-1800's-1940's, and lessened off later  on. The toy could be made of wood or tin or natural material s,

and would be mounted on wooden platform with the wheels underneath.

Please click here to visit this well-established American Auctioneer

Two Cast Iron Circus Toys

late 19th century, a red-painted circus wagon marked "OVERLAND CIRCUS" holding six musicians and a driver, pulled by two white horses with red riders; and a yellow elephant cart with pulley-activated performer that spins and rings a bell, (some repaint).

LArgest is 15 1/2" (393 mm) long

Steiff Embroidered Flannel Elephant Pull-toy

early 20th century, 

height x length: 9" x 10" (228mm x 253 mm)

Three Painted Tin Toys

a "GLEAM" engine and car, and a horse and carriage, 

Largest length: 15" 392 mm

Horse-drawn Covered Carriage Pull Toy 

19th century, black horse with fabric hair mounted on a red-painted platform 

pulling a blue-painted carriage with yellow wheels, (minor paint and fabric loss), 

Height x Length:  10 1/2" x 26"  (267 mm x 660 mm)

Tinned Sheet Iron Toy Goat and Cart

America, late 19th century, 

L x H x Width 9 1/4" x 3 3/4" x 2 1/2"  (235mm x 121 mm x 63 mm)

Tinned Sheet Iron Toy Horse and Wagon 

possibly Clinton, Connecticut, late 19th century,

L x H x Width: 10 1/4" x 4" x 3"  (260 mm x 101 mm x 76 mm)

Two Polychrome Cast Iron Toys 

early 20th century an a Kenton "Overland Circus" wagon 

with horses and a polar bear, and a mechanical fire wagon 

with three horses, (imperfections), 

H x Width:  6 1/2: x 20" (165 mm  508 mm)

Six Pull Toys

19th/20th century, four horses: one with saddle, reigns, 

and remnants of a hide exterior; a Boston terrier, and a steer, (imperfections), 

Height: Largest 14 1/" (368 mm)

Four Horse Pull Toys 

19th/early 20th century, each horse mounted on a wood base 

with metal wheels, the two larger horses have cloth covered bodies,

 the two smaller horses have paint on gesso on carved wood bodies, (imperfections), 

Height: Largest 24" 610 mm)

Moxie Lithographed Tin "Horsemobile" Pull-toy 

patented February 27, 1917, by the Moxie Company, blue car with bright double-sided colour, 

white horse, rider in advertising coat and hat, 

Length x Height: 8 1/2" x 6 1/4 "

Painted Cast Iron Mechanical "Trick Elephant Bell Ringer/No. 40" Pull Toy

Gong Bell Manufacturing Company, East Hampton, Connecticut, late 19th century, 

when the vehicle moves forward, the elephant turns and taps the bell; 

polychrome-painted elephant figure on a stand and pierced platform 

with raised lettering "Trick Elephant Bell Ringer/No. 40," cast iron wheels 

with heart-shaped spokes, (minor paint loss), 

Height  x Width x Length:  5 3/8" x 3 1/4 x 7 7/8 in.  (137mm x 83 mm x 200 mm)

As you can see, there certainly were a diverse lot of pull toys back then. A famous manufacturer in the 1880's was  George Brown, while the 1940's saw Fisher-Price making lots of toys for young children.The Steiff elephant toy is from the famous Steiff "teddy bear" manufacturer that had been in business for nearly 100 years, and is still going strong. The toy above was manufacture red by the Gong Bell Manufacturing Company. They were famous for their bell toys, which is what they manufactured exclusively and only these type of toys. All pull toys are still in demand to collectors even today.

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 Fisher-Price Toys

Friday, April 12, 2013

The Early Fisher-Price Toys

History

   Fisher-Price was established in 1930 by Mr. Henry Fisher, Mr. Irving Price, Margaret Evans Price (Mr. Price's wife), and Helen Schelle. It was an interesting start to the company, since Mr. Fisher had worked for a toy company selling and advertising toys, Mr. Price had retired from a large variety chain store, Helen Schelle had operated a toy shop, and  Margaret Evans Price was an illustrator and artist. Many of the early toys were modelled from her drawings and characters from her skills as a writer of children's books.

   Their business plan, at a very tough time in American history (The Great Depression) was to produce  a product that was based on play value,   ingenuity, strength to last, value for the cost, and action. As a result, you'll see that these toys have lasted this long in great condition,are colourful,and although simple would offer a child "play". They were made from lithographed paper on top of a very durable wood (ponderosa pine) that resisted splintering, and strong steel parts.1

     The company started in East Aurora, New York (USA). Although the company did initially sell their products, the Great Depression had an effect on the company, and it suffered losses in the first 4 years of business. However, their products became widely-known, and as the old expression goes - "the rest is history".2

     Although these toys are not on my favourite list, they have proved themselves in begin strong as collectible items. As such, if you check out the prices at auction, you'll be very surprised. What was also interesting for the start of this company was the use of  non-harmful paint dyes for the lithographed paper. I'm also assuming that the paints were also non-toxic, but I'll have to research that. 

Reference Sources

1     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher-Price

2     http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/fisher-price-inc-history/

Please click this sentence to be redirected to the fine Morphy Auction website

I've divided the toys into 3 groups:

1. Pull toys: A toy that is pulled by a string (cord) attached to the toy

2. Push toy: A toy that is pushed from a long wood rod attached to eh back of the toy

3. Hand operated pull string toy: A toy that moves when a string is pulled

The Pull Toys

Hand-Operated Pull String Toys

Push Toys

     So after 80 years, these fine toys still survive, along with even their original boxes. What's also interesting of course, is that the company still survives today, although it's now owned by Mattel. So  Henry Fisher, Irving Price, Margaret Evans Price, and  Helen Schelle succeeded at a time when  starting a company would have been very hard (The Great Depression). Not only that, but their toys still are around. The next time, I'm searching out toys, I'll be sure to check out toys that are not on my favourite list. You have to keep an open mind when searching out these "treasures"!

Thanks for dropping by for a visit.

As always, have a great weekend, 

or whatever part of the day, 

that you've happened to drop by and read.

Stacey