Thursday, June 27, 2013

Some Very Interesting Arnold Toy Motorcycles

Friday, June 28, 2013


Some Very Interesting Arnold Toy Motorcycles

Introduction

   Yesterday, I posted about a Tippco and Co. motorcycle racer, and that's what led me to post today.
German toy manufacturers always excelled in new designs and mechanical creativity. Most of the ealry 20th century toys were from Europe and much more sophisticated than North American (mostly USA) toys. THat's not to say that American toys were not popular, but they were certainlt different (cast iron, paper on wood, pull toys).

    Prior to WWII and later, lithographed tin mechanical toys were very interestingly designed, and some of the exceptional creativity in the mechanics transferred to toy motorcycles. Europe had always been a popular place for motorcycle racing, so the transfer from "real" to toy, came naturally and easily to the toy industry.

   As you'll see with today's presentation, the toys certainly are very "mechanical" anf have interesting features and movement. I've added a link to one toy that connects to a short video on YouTube. I'm sure you'll find the videos very interesting, and better to demonstrate the outstanding movements of  such a fine Arnold toy motorcycle.

History

   The history of the Arnold Toy company is very interesting.  It was founded in Nurnberg, Germany by  Mr. Karl Arnold in 1906. Known as K. Arnold & Co., it began produced tin toys. such as model ships,doll houses and other toys. Mr. Arnold hired Mr. Max Ernest as the managing director of the company.

 The company was heavily damaged during WWII, but continued operation in what is called the Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz). A "Palinate" is an administration of Bavaria. The son of Karl Arnold, Ernst, and a Mr. Max Ernst helped with the rebuilding of the company, along with KArl Arnold, and eventually the company moved back to Nurnberg. The company had initially manufactured window hardware just after WWII, but later manufactured model railroad toys that became less costly and would become available to most consumers.

The Arnold Toy Company continued  until 1995. It went bankrupt , was purchased by the Italian toy manufacturer Rivarossi, which sadly also went bankrupt. The assets were sold to the British company Hornby, and production moved to China.*

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_(models)


Notice the elaborate detail of the lithography



Here's a more-complicated toy. 
The unit turns around as and the rider rotates along with the man inside the blue wheel.







This toy has been described as "the most complicated design" in a motorcycle toy.
As the toy is wound and released, the rider dismounts from the motorcycle as the toy moves and meanders left and right. The movements from afar look quite realistic!


If you use the words "YouTube Arnold toy motorcycle" .you will see many videos of this toy!


Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,
have a great part of the day, 
wherever you may be.
Stacey

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