Thursday May 9, 2013
Early Coal Toys
Yesterday and the day before, I went over to my sister-in-law's house to work with her on her lawn. First there was the raking to remove the dead grass. Next, we applied an earth and pear moss combination, then fertilizer, followed by an application of seeds. Yesterday, I also removed a large patch of grass that had been infested with grubs. Grubs are the larval stage of insects that deposit their eggs in the ground. These particular grubs like grass roots, and when they eat the roots the grass dies. Un in Canada, and especially in Quebec Province, we cannot use the "old" and more poisonous pesticides anymore The newer method is to use nematodes. These are "live" small worm-like creatures that you apply on a lawn, then water the lawn for the nematodes to dig into the soil, find the grubs then eat them. Yesterday, and today, I repaired my lawn with raking dead grass, then adding seeds, and then black earth.
So all of this "exercise" has made me tired, and thus no blog post yesterday. As far as today's post goes,an old toy cast iron coal truck caught my eye, and I decided to post about the early coal toys. Coal of course, in no longer used in North America to heat homes, but once upon a time it was the main source of fuel. Also, America became what it was due to coal - a superpower. Steel, electric power plants, and many other industries were and some are still, powered by coal. Of coal in 2013, certain countries still can use coal, (China and India), but in North America, less and less. There are those "penalties" and trades regarding that "carbon tax",but that;s not for the post today!
The real early toys of course were designed after what was availble to move coal, and that of course was the horse (or donkey) and wagon or cart. Later, when the car was invented and then followed by the truck, the toys were designed after the newer modes of transportation.
I've been to a coal mine in Nova Scotia , and saw the last of the coal-powered steam train engines in the early 1950's. In the late 1960's, I met 2 very nice Pennsylvanian fishermen up in a fishing lodge called "Dorval Lodge". This can be found in 1 of our provincial parts called "La Verendrye".
I never caught anything really big there,although I did see some 15-18 pound pike. The waters there are crystal clear, but reddish from all of the forest and sunken trees in the waters. The park was established in the 1950's as a dam for hydro-electricity. Most of the trees were cut to the level of the water, and all that remains are the stumps.
The reason that I mention the Pennsylvanian fishermen, was that I went fishing with them one day. It turned out they were coal miners on a vacation. What caught my attention was the fact that both men had small black spots bellow their hands (subcutaneously), as well as the occasional ones on both their faces. I asked them what the black spots were from,and they answered that they were form minute splinters that broke off the coal seams when they used their jackhammers to break apart the coal from the walls of the mines. That day was great to have these Pennsylvanians to fish with, and we even caught a few fish!
The toys presented today are from the 1890's - early 1930's.
An exceptional toy due to it's almost untouched condition!
I like the small lver that allows the dumpster to be titled.
A different colour-theme from the same toy above it.
This one also doesn't have the driver.
The above toy is my favourite from today's post.
However,it wasn't the most expensive due to the poor condition of the paint.Of course, that's what I like the most - the varied degrees of the red shades and hues due to most likely water and rust.
The last to toys are from the 1930's. cast iron toy manufacturers still produced toys,but the age of pressed steel and lithographed tin was becoming more predominant. With the latter materials, the process was faster, the toy designs and aesthetics could be more detailed, and of course, the costs were less, as more toys could be produced in less time.
I'll most likely post another post with the later-era coal transports.
Thanks for dropping by,
and as always,
have a great part of the day,
wherever you may be.
Stacey
No comments:
Post a Comment