A Most Beautiful Hill Climber Toy Truck

Monday, May 5, 2014 
   (Cinquo de Mayo)
(Still another day of cloud and rain!)

A Most Beautiful Hill Climber

Toy Truck

   Often, I'll just browse around on the Net to see what there might be for  a future post. Yesterday, I already had  processed 2 sets of photographs for 2 posts later in the week. However the weather was not co-operating, and so I decided to stay inside. I ventured to ebay and came across a very old hill climber up for sale. Upon further investigation, it was being sold by Randys Toy Shop. 

    I've been fortunate to be able to use Randy's fine photographs and knowledge to blog with. 

Randy Ibey not only sells toys, but he repairs them as well. You can find further information at his own website.

Please click here to visit Randy's fine ebay store

Please click here to visit Randy's excellent website

  For those who don'y know, a friction wheel (for a toy) is a mechanism that builds up power as an exterior wheel is moved forward on a hard surface. The more times you move the wheel,the more energy accumulates. As you release the toy finally on the ground, the stored energy will transfer to the wheels, and the toy will move forward. 

  I've written about these toys before, but today's truck presentation is quite nice, and photographed beautifully with all different angles to present it to the viewer or potential buyer. This toy could have been made by Dayton, Cook, or the Schieble company. As a mechanical movement, you don;t see too many of these types of movements. The three companies made used this movement in the 1920's. 

Inside that semi-circular metal case is the flywheel. It's covered so dirt would not enter the gearing mechanism.

This is a nice photo. A low camera angle, combined with a wide-angle lens adds strength to the toy. 

Bu having to look up to the toy, it becomes "bigger".

The driver is a replacement, but certainly fits in well with the time that the toy would have been seen on the streets. The year was 1921, which coincidently was the year (May 29, 1921) that my mother was born.

Thanks for visiting,

and as always, 

have a great part of the day or night, 

wherever you may be.

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com

Two Very Old Steam Roller Toys

Monday, February 10, 2014
             (#2 post of the day)

Two Very Old Steam Roller Toys

     Earlier today, I added a post about a Structo steam roller that was photographed as a piece of art. While  I had researched that image and wrote to the seller, I came across a few interesting lithographed tin steam rollers from  Randy's Toy Shop in Noblesville, Indiana (USA) and on ebay (USA).  I've communicated with Randy several times, and I'm very fortunate to be allowed to write about him and of course the many exceptional toys that he sell. A even more interesting aspect of Randy's business is repairing and replacing toting toy parts and other toy materials. Randy is diesel mechanic by profession, so for sure knows how to use his skills on the "smaller items. I've included both his ebay store links and his toy store link. At the toy store, you can see a great interview with a reporter and Randy. What', most interesting is the explanation of how the replacement tin parts are made and carefully painted to look "vintage".

Please Click here to go to Randy's website and see the interview

Please click here to visit Randy's ebay store

I like this high camera angle photo with the harsh shadow.

That  key is will certainly wind the springs that are inside this toy. But what I like is that "freshly-picked" appearance with the dust on the bottom of the wheels. I once received an old toy and it a few dried insects in it.

This is a nice front view of the toy.

If I find the time, I'll try and remember to look in my Bing toy catalogue to see if either of these 2 toys were made by Bing.


Thanks for dropping by,
and have a great part of the,
wherever you may be,
Stacey 

Write to me anytime at
toysearcher@gmail.com

Come Fly With Me.....

Friday, December 27, 2013
                    (Mild and overcast)

Come Fly With Me.....

    I remember the American Airline motto and song that always appeared on Tv in the 1960's-70's when we used to watch American NFL Football every sunday.  As usual, I was browsing through ebay's website, when I came across this beautiful orange and blue toy. It's a 1941 pull toy from 1941.  Being a toy having been produced during WWII, I would presume that it was purposely made from wood,as metal was in short supply and was being used for the war effort.

    I was fortunate enough to find this toy at Randy's Toy Shop, a fine seller with whom I have the pleasure and permission to use his great selection of toys, and excellent (as usual) photography.  With the photographs, you can see the ingenuity as to how the propellers work. 

Please click here to visit's always interesting e-bay store

   The above low-camera angle photo is excellent in terms of the way it adds a sense of "majesty" to the toy, as well as illustrating exactly how the propellers work.  Metallic coiled spring wires are attached to the axles on the inside of the wheels. As the toy is pulled along by a string (missing), the wire turns two axles inside both wings. Those axles  are connected to directly to the propellers.

There's another photo (above) to illustrate  how the propellers rotate - ingenious!

The design graphics are great! 

What I also like is the ingenuity of the rear support for the airplane - a bent wire.

I like old-style fonts, and the Fisher-Price logo is just that - circa 1941!

Another great photograph with a wide-angle effect.

What's interesting is the fact that the wood is so coarse, and wasn't planed and sanded smooth.

I wonder of that had to do with the conservation of electricity during WWII times, or just was made like that for a "folk-art" effect?

As usual, Randy presented a most -interesting toy with great photography.

What more could we ask for?

Thanks for stopping by,

and as always, 

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

 toysearcher@gmail.com

Randy's Toy Shop - A Master Restoration

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Randy's Toy Shop- A Master restoration

  When I make a request to someone or a company, I am aware that these people are quite busy. Consequently, although I may have 1000's (I am very inquisitive) of  questions, and many requests, I can only ask for so much. Randy, of Randy'sToyShop who has an outstanding store on E-Bay and also his own website  http://www.randystoyshop.com is a successful and well-respected toy seller. However, he's also a master craftsman (in my opinion), when it comes to restoration. He even emphasizes that well on his own website (Please click here). 

  I've written about Randy before, but didn't want to bother him in asking for samples of his restorations. My blog later this week is exactly about restorations - but in that case, it will be about restored antique toys that have sold. So when I was on E-Bay, I somehow caught a glimpse of a nice red firetruck for sale, and it was restored. Not only that, but it was restored by Randy!

  I'm going to post this today, and then e-mail Randy and surprise him. I've removed the background from his numerous photos for the sale on E-Bay (Please click here to go to E-Bay and Randy's listing).

(Please click here to visit Randy's fine website)

"HERE WE ARE SELLING A 1929 BUDDY L WATER TOWER TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAS RECEIVED AN IMMACULATE RESTORATION. YOU PUMP UP THE AIR PRESSURE THROUGH A BREAST PUMP UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO A WATER TANK AT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. RAISE THE TOWER INTO THE AIR AND SHOOT A WATER STREAM FROM 30 FEET RIGHT LEFT UP OR DOWN. YOU CONTROL IT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE FIRE TRUCKS MADE BY BUDDY L AND MEASURES A WHOPPING 43 INCHES LONG. BEAUTIFUL BRASS AND CHROME ACCENTS ON THIS TRUCK"*

*http://www.ebay.com/itm/1920s-BUDDY-L-WATER-TOWER-PRESSED-STEEL-TRUCK-IMACULATE-RESTORATION-/230897122283?pt=Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item35c28a7beb

Randy did not do this restoration, but he has in fact restored plenty of toys excellently.

What's also impressive with this 1929 Buddy "L" toy is that it measures 43"  or 1.092M. What also interests me is the fact that this toy can spray to a distance of 30 feet (9.15M).

Now that would be a "blast" to play with my dog Buddy on a hot summer day.  

Of course , my wife Heidi would  call the SPCA to complain about animal cruelty!

Thanks for visiting,

and have a great part of the day, 

wherever you may be.

Stacey

(toysearcher@gmail.com)