The Pièce de Résistance

Tuesday, April 22, 2014
 (Warm with cloud and some rain)

The Pièce de Résistance

   Yesterday, I introduced you to Stout Auctions (America's Premier Model Train Auctions). I had received their permission to be able to write about them, as well as their excellent photographs. Last week, I had seen their marvellous airplanes, and I absolutely needed to share these with everyone.  However, I had to speak with them to get the "OK". 

  As I like to introduce a new contributor to my blog, I wrote about their main area - model trains. Today, I get to present a  "Pièce de Résistance", which is a French expression for the chief dish of a meal, or in this case an outstanding item or event. Of course, I have presented lots of airplanes in the past, but excellent photography, lots of photos, and nice detailing in the photos helps to make today's post a "Pièce de Résistance".

Please click here to visit the outstanding website of Stout Auctions

I have a feeling that this is a new reproduction of an old Steelcase toy airplane. What's great about Stout's photography, is that you can easily see how the propeller works.

This is an old Steelcase airplane that was repainted. The job is expertly done. Once again, the underbelly photo helps you understand how this  toy would be propelled. These toys were pull toys, that would be pulled with an attached string to the front propeller projection.

What you'll notice about these toys, is that they are also large. You have to remember that most of these toys are from the 1920's-mid 1930's, and aviation had only been around a relatively short time ( Think Wright Bothers and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA, December 1903).

If you look closely, you can see how thick this pressed steel sheeting is.  This reminds me of older cases, As late as the early 1960's). even at that time, cars were made with thick gauge steel. When you tap a car of that era or earlier, it has a firm and sold "ping' to it!

Even the above toy, would be beautiful to restore, and it's still intact and functional after so many years "young".

 This airplane is my favourite. Those "curvy" propellers,  the circular placement of the piston motors, and the large left-sided entry into the airplane is so "old". I also like the old-style type and fonts on the airplane.

This airplane is missing it's metal-coiled wire to connect all 3 propellers, and allow them to turn. If you look around for more of these airplanes, you'll find how exactly the wire allowed the wooden spindles at the end of  metal shafts to turn the propellers.

Here's another well-made toy with lithographed writing on the wing. The large key wound the "motor" to allow the propeller to  rotate and the airplane to move.

It's amazing to think how strong toys were made so long ago, that they would last into the 21st century. 

If you're wondering what the vertical numbers are in the photos, they're the listing number for this auction. The auction is to be help on  April 26, 2014. I added them for those who might want to see the actual listing either at Stout Auctions website, to their respective site on Liveauctioneers.

There's lots more fantastic airplanes and of course trains, but for today this is the 

"Pièce de Résistance".

Thanks for visiting,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com