Monday, August 26, 2013

"Don't Cry For Me Argentina"

Sunday, May 5, 2013
    (Holiday: Cinco de Mayo)


Don't Cry For Me Argentina

    I added "Holiday: Cinqo de Mayo" under today's date, as I thought it was "International Labour's day) which was on May 1. AS it turns out (you have to research your material when you write), today's date is a USA celebration of  Mexican heritage and pride,while in Mexico it's a local holiday in Pueblo, Mexico to acknowledge the surprising victory of Mexican troops over the French in the state of Puebla. on may 5, 1862.

    I ate too much frozen cherry and chocolate yogurt  (ice cream style), and as usual had frightful dreams and woke up early (it's now ) 5:10 A.M. EST (North America). Will I ever learn? Returning to the topic, I titled today's post after the play and movie titled "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". Of course, the music I'm thinking of the main song in the play and move written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Lyrics by Tim Rice.

   Returning of course to the blog, Argentina actually had a famous (mostly to Argentina)  a fabulous toy company by the name of Matarazzo. Historically, the company was called Matarazzo & Cia and produced tin toys from 1934-1959. Constabile Matarazzo founded the company. He was the youngest brother of a wealthy Italian by the name of Count Francesco Matarazzo.

   I was only able to find 5 toys through Bertoia Auctions, but they are very nice albeit their number for today's post.




 Interesting how the writing on the sides of the truck are in Spanish.
The writing translates to Energy for Peaceful tax-Nafta (Google), which I'm quite sure is not exactly the correct translation. So if anyone out there can help with the correct translation, that would be nice!



     As you can see, these toys from Argentina  look like many of the toys made around the world at the time (circa 1930's). They're lithographed tin, and have a clockwork (key wind-up mechanism) for mobility. The twin (2) "woodies" or wood-panelled trucks  also have nickel-plaing on the front grills. Although not written in the description of the 4th item, it also appears to have a nickel-plated grill.

    When you consider that the population of Argentina was 11,896,00* (http://www.populstat.info/Americas/argentic.htm*) 
the idea of creating a toy company there, in 1934 (Great Depression 1929-1939) was a big gamble at the time. However,the company survived and lasted well into the 1950's (1956). Canada's** population at the same time was 10,208.000** 
(http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/98-187-x/4151287-eng.htm**)


A Special Request

If there any  any toy collectors, auctioneers, or toy sellers interested in helping me by sending me photos of their Matarazzo toys, I'll be happy to add them to this post, and give the appropriate credit notices and copyright material. As well, I'll add a link to your e-mail address. You can send me your photos anytime, as I can always edit this post at a future date.

It's off for my morning coffee now at 6:00 A.M.

So thanks for dropping by,
and  as always,
have a great Sunday
 or any other time 
that you may be reading this particular post.

Stacey
toysearcher@gmail.com

No comments:

Post a Comment