Non-Toy Mechanical Banks (More from the Clive Devenish Collection)

Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Clear skies and warmer

Non-Toy Mechanical Banks
(More from the Clive Devenish Collection)

   I'm continuing to write above Mr. Clive Devenish's outstanding collection of mechanical banks. 

Included in hide collection that was auction through Bertoia Auctions were several "non-toy" mechanical cast iron banks. At the time (1890's-1930's), millions upon millions of these mechanical banks were manufactured. However, there were also the non-toy banks for adults, and these were made in large numbers. 

You have to remember that coinage (pocket change) had value at those times.As an example,A penny could buy you a handful of candy, or have you send a letter. Today, our poor Canadian penny is gone - the government decided it had no value! And to mail a letter costs $ 1.15. I remember a bag of potato chips in 1956 was 5 cents, a pack of bubble gum cards was also 5 cents, and a bus ticket was 9 cents for a child (or was it for an adult).  4 ounces of smoked salmon were 50 cents, and a haircut was about $2.00 plus the tip. So imagine what these items were in 1890-1930!

  Fortunately, Clive Devenish also liked to collect valued non-toy mechanical banks, and I decided to present 3 for toddy's post.

Please click here to visit this fine American auction company

ATLAS MECHANICAL BANK
Mfg. Unknown, circa 1890’s, mixed mediums make up this well designed bank Atlas displayed in strength pose holding up the world made of lithographed paper. Slide the lever to the left, exposing coin slot, insert coin, release lever and the globe spins counter-clockwise for several revolutions. Provenance: Tim Walsh Collection Minimal paper loss to top of globe, otherwise (Pristine Cond.)

What makes the Atlas bank so fascination is the exceptional casting of Atlas and his muscles. Toy can see every anatomical muscle on his torso.

GEM REGISTERING MECHANICAL BANK
J&E Stevens Co., Cromwell CT, cast iron with paper register, patented 1893 Intricate side dial allows coin removal when full, heavily embossed floral patterns in nice contrasting gold bronze colors, one of the finest specimens known. Coin deposit involves turning side wheel clockwise then back again. Provenance: Hall Henry Collection through Millie Henry by Descent. 

 (Near Mint Cond.)

Once again, we see the exceptional details from the original casting. For those who don't know, most of the cast iron toy companies and mechanical banks companies had lots of very gifted Europeans who were new immigrants to the USA.  These people got jobs in the foundries making hardware for houses (door handles and knobs, hinges), as well as mechanical banks and toys.

 MUSICAL SAVINGS MECHANICAL BANK (REGINA)

Regina Music Box Corp., NJ, circa 1900, ornate wood case with tin scrolls Scrolls at corners with twenty discs and certificate of shipment from 1900, works well, quite an attractive piece. Upon coin deposit a tune is played on changeable discs. Provenance: Wally Tudor, Steven Steckbeck Collections. (Near Mint Cond.)

Of course, if you're over 60 years old or "young",you'd immediately recognize how the is bank made music. Inside the banks are tunes (like a fork) . They are different lengths, and were punched  from a metal plate. As the musical disk rotates, the tunes fall into the slots, and make music in the form of notes. Different lengths create different notes. When all of the notes are played in sequence, you get a melody.

What I like about this bank is the large metal plaque that was screwed into the back portion of the bank. When my wife, Heidi and I, moved to our home in 1992, the sidewalks had a brass  maple leaf

embedded in the sidewalk. It was from the construction company, who took pride in their work,and of course advertised. I always regretted not hammering out the "souvenir", when the sidewalks were replaced. The sidewalks that replaced the original sidewalks are now cracked and have lots of missing parts from the tractors that clear snow in winter. However, the original sidewalks that I remember didn't seem to even need replacement.

Of course, I'm sure that embedded brass maple leaf with the name of the manufacture got my attention more than the sidewalks!

Thanks for dropping by,

'and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be,

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

Tootsietoy Furniture

Sunday, November 22, 2015
      Partly sunny and seasonally cold.

Tootsietoy Furniture

   The Tootsietoy Company manufactured the best small toys at the time in the United States. They are my favourite small toys, and were die cast. However, the company also manufactured miniature furniture for children to play with. These too were die case. In the upcoming Lloyd Ralston Gallery auction (December 5, 2015), there is a fine collection of 8 small boxed sets of miniature furniture.

Please click here to visit this fine American auction company

I would think that most of the furniture sets were manufactured about the same time. However, I have no references to corroborate (substantiate) this statement. THe kitchen sets allow me to date the toys, so long as the toys were made at the same timeas the real life-size furniture. 

If you knew American furniture and American upholstery patterns and their history, I'm sure you could date the period of these toys. I would say (based solely on the kitchen furniture) that these sets were manufactured around the late 1920's and early 1930's.

The light stands are certainly old from the first quarter of the 20th century.

The kitchen stove and countertops definitely are late 1920's-early 1930's. Also, the "icebox" in the lower right corner helps to date the furniture. The electric refrigerator did not come along yet, and was invented later. Of course, toys could in fact be manufactured at a later date, but provided a "retro" look for children wanting an "older" play set. The kitchen sink with its' side preparation side certainly again was an early design. The kitchen sink in North America did not change until the later 1940's and progressively later into the 1950's.

What's interesting about the set below is that the insert could be removed. The insert shown is the wooden floor and the blue and yellow patterned carpet.

There is no reference to the size of the furniture, but if the sets are similar in size to the Tootsietoy cars and trucks of the era, then the chairs are about 2" (50.88 mm) high, and the above table is about 4"  (101 mm) wide).

What I'd like to know is whether or not there were Tootsie miniature people to go along with see wonderful room furniture sets. It would be interesting to see how the designers created different characters for the play people, as well as their clothing.

Whomever had collected these 8 sets certainly was highly motivated to collect them, and was certainly interested.

Addendum:

I was able to actually find 2 furniture pages in a reproduction catalogue reissued by Noble House of Mundelein, Illinois (USA) in 1989.

Below are the 3 pages (catalogue face cover, the page of furniture illustrations, and the page of descriptions and catalogue numbers. The catalogue is from 1933.

My date "guesses (please read at the beginning) estimated the toys having been manufactured from the late-1920's - mid 1930's. I was "close". However, the screen-captured LLoyd ralsotn photos have the box cores,. These box covers are an earlier "style" and design as far as the style and type go. Therefore, I wouldn;lt be surprised if the 1933 catalogue was updated, even though the toys continued to be made and were made originally in the late 1920's.

Such is the value of having original catalogues or reproductions.-

they always help with the identity of toys.

Thanks for dropping by on this day,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be,

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

A Fine Hubley Cast Iron Airplane

Saturday, November 21, 2015
Partly cloudy with mild temperatures

A Fine Hubley

Cast Iron Airplane

   Since Dan Morphy has expanded his auction business, his photography has improved with the use of larger-sized photographs. A lot of his expanded business has been old cars and firearms, which require superior photography. I'm glad this has happened, as it's great for myself to see more detail of the toy photos. In this way, I can expand on my writing and the fine toys.

 "Cast Iron Hubley Tri Motor America Airplane Toy.

All cast iron with aluminum wing marked "America" on wing and has star marks on circles on both sides of wing. Looks to be all original. Some paint chipping and wear on top of fuselage. Original pilots and motors. Original rubber tires marked "Hubley", one has a flat spot. Still has clicker. Condition (Excellent). Size 17" Length ( 431.8 mm)"*

* Description Courtesy of Morphy Auctions 

I like how the first 4 photos have been photographed. Since I have removed most of the grey background, the first 4 images appear to illustrate a spiral downward "dive"by the airplane.

Please click here to visit this fine American auctioneer's website

THe second-to-last photo above illustrates the fine detail of the trimotor castings. Look at the engine assembly to note all of the back parts of the propeller. As is usual, the propellers were made of plated nickel,and have truly stood "the test of time" for an 85 year old toy.

The 2 pilots in the cockpit certainly are "cute". They were hand painted, and even the paint on these characters have also withstood the test of time.

There are no photos to show you how the propellers moved,but you can vaguely see a criss-cross (X-shaped) expandable coils in the back attaching the 2 side propellers. The front wheels have another stretched wire coil that attached to the rear wheels and their coils. As the airplane was pushed or pulled with a string, all 3 propellers would rotate.  Also, in the written description, you will have read  the word "clicker". THe airplane had a clicking devise attached to the airplane. AS the airplane was pulled a nosy clicking would arise, with the noise getting faster and louder as the airplane was pulled faster.

The larger-sized cast iron airplanes from the 1930's are very much in demand and achieve high values at auction.

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be,

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com

A Pair of Very Old Trains

Friday, November 20, 2015
Partly cloudy and cold

A Pair of Very Old Trains

I decided to choose Dan Morphy Auctions for today's post. Mr. Dan Morphy was one of the 

original people who had allowed me to use his images after I stopped buying and selling on ebay. Since then, Dan has been quite active and successful in expanding his business. He has now expand his original location in Maine with the successful purchases of another auction company and the antique toy division of Mr. James D. Julia of James D. Julia, Inc. 

Please click here to visit this fine American auction company

Carlisle & Finch No. 45 Loco, Tender, & Passenger.

Carlisle & Finch No. 45 Loco, Tender, & Passenger.
No. 45 locomotive nickel finish with black trim. Passenger car No. 111 Baggage Express with considerable wear. Trucks on car are new. Locomotive and tender are in excellent condition. NYC&HR black tender has yellow lettering together with two 8-wheel brass ten window passenger car and No. 51 orange body baggage car marked "No. 111". Roof on baggage car is quite rough and needs restored. Trucks on baggage car are replaced. On eight-wheel brass passenger cars, one roof is totally restored and both have new trucks. Second car's roof should be restored. Condition (Very Good - Excellent).*

* Description courtesy of Liveauctioneers & Morphy Auctions

I don;t have catalogues for the 2 articles presented today, but they are definitely very old! If you ever watched an old western movie from the 1930's or even today,these are the train engine and train cars thought you would see in the movie.

Voltamp Interurban

Excellent original condition with a few scratches on the roof. 

Condition (Excellent). Size 20'' L. (454 mm)*

* Description courtesy of Liveauctioneers & Morphy Auctions

Below is  another very old train. This one would be a "streetcar" that would have been used to transport people around a city. I remember the last year that such a streetcar was used here in Montreal. My memory is vague though since I was about 5-8 years old.  But I do remember the above the streetcar wires, and the nice wooden panelling (real wood, not your plywood!) that the cars were made of. Also, there were train rails all over the street.

The cord would have been used to raise and lower the mast to electrified wires above the train rails.

When the mast was raised and connected to the electrified wires, the train would have electric current, and the train could move.The "real trains" moved this way,and so did the toy.

It appears that the wire springs have lost their tension, but I'm sure new ones could be found. 

Of course, the big question would be whether or not to play with an antique toy that costs as much as a new Toyota Corolla (I drive a 7 year old Corolla). You'd have to find a compatible electric power source compatible with this train, since you wouldn't want to burn out the wiring inside.

Of course, if you "played" with the toy carefully who's to know?

It would't have an odometer attached to tell how much mileage was on it!

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

An Exceptional European Ferris Wheel

Thursday, November 19, 2015

    Overcast,raining, and seasonally warm

An Exceptional European Ferris Wheel

   Bertoia Auctions always seems to find beautiful and rare items that come to auction.  Today's presentation is from  their March 23, 2014 auction from their season opener. Throughout the year when Bertoia staff are not working with their auctions, they are travelling all over searching for 

for items to come to market. As well, clients are coming to see them to offer their collections to auction.

   I discovered this item while looking for cast iron toys. However, realizing the beautiful 111 year old toy was something to share with you, my readers, I deduced to forego cast iron for this fine item.

Please click here to visit this fine American toy auctioneer

                                              DOLL ET CIE FERRIS WHEEL

                                                                           Circa 1904 

                                                                               Height:      16 3/4"    426 mm

Very nicely detailed example, Doll et Cie ferris wheel from Germany is exquisitely hand enameled in rainbow colors, features working hand crank mechanism and composition figures, complete with pennants, lights and ladder.  Canopy needs resoldering at supports, flags repainted, otherwise (VG Cond.)

There are 6 gondolas that make up this fine Ferris Wheel. The toy is wound via a hand crank, then the tension is released, allowing for the riders to rotate in their seated positions.

What'a amazing is that this toy is 111 years old and still is in workable condition.

I'm not sure what the yellow gated platform is. Perhaps, riders could get off and have a standing view high up on the deck of this enclosure.

What's noticeable is to see that the Ferris Wheel was built on a permanent base made of concrete and large stone bricks. Correspondingly, I would assume that actual real-sized Ferris Wheels would be built in the same manner.

A toy of this size standing 16  3/4" (m426 mm) tall, would not have been inexpensive. Considering the toy was built around 1904, only the children of wealthy parents would have been able to play with such a fine toy.

I like how there are so many people dressed in different clothes. Furthermore, like most toys of that era, colour is very rich in saturation and tonality.

One doesn;t often see such com;lldx toys coming to market, so I 'm glad that I found this toy to share with everyone. 

Thanks for visiting,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

'wherever you may be,

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

An Antiques Dealer Sells his Collection of Mechanical Banks-Part I

Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Sunny and Cold 

An Antiques Dealer Sells his 

Collection of Mechanical Banks

Part I

   A few days ago, I introduced you to Mr. Clive Devenish. Besides being an antiques dealer, he was able to amass an exceptional collection of mechanical banks that he recently sold (October 2015) at auction through Bertoia Auctions.

Please click here to visit this fine American Auctioneer

                                                                        "MILKING COW MECHANICAL BANK

J&E Stevens Co., Cromwell CT, cast iron, circa 1888 One of the notable Bailey pedestal series banks, 

this example not only appears unplayed with, but is the only one known to be offered at auction all original 

with no repairs in the last 20 years, minor wear to forehead which is the natural place of contact, an opportune 

offering for the discriminating collector, this a solid high grade bank. Place coin on cow’s back, press lever and
cow will kick her hind legs and tail and knock the boy and pail backwards as the coin is deposited into cow’s back. 

                                                                                        (Near Mint Cond.)" *

* Description Courtesy of Bertoia Auctions

   What makes these toys so fascinating are the quality of the castings, as well as the fine detail 

that has been created. Notice how the  ribs of the cow are poking out into the cow's skin. Have a 

look at the hairs on the tail, the hair on the farmer, the posh detail on the grass, and the farmer's 

yellow hat on the ground. Of course, the main attraction for this selection is the fact that it is in

such excellent condition. And finally, the bank itself, one of thousands of  

different designs but  unique unto itself.

               

                                     

                                   "MERRY GO ROUND MECHANICAL BANK
Kyser & Rex Mfg., Philadelphia PA, cast iron, circa 1889, a perfect theme for a child’s bank, intricate casting details 

and red, white and blue canopy adds quite a dramatic appeal, the seated children on carousel figures makes a

beautiful visual, each atop a varied animal, incredible movement, spectacular overall condition, the Philadelphia 

company at its best with this example. Place coin on slot, as handle is turned, amusement ride with carousel figures revolves around base 
and attendant appears to push coins into awaiting slot. (Pristine Cond.)"*

* Description Courtesy of Bertoia Auctions

  Here's another beautiful and rare bank. It's larger and involves more  figures and metal. The key 
point for me is the gracefulness of the golden swan in flight, with its' legs behind, and large eyes. 
There are 6 figures altogether, since of course a merry-go-round would have lot as of people, 
and a worker to manage the rides.            

          

  I decided to simply select two fine pieces and have you look at them. For those who would like to 

see the rest of this most exemplary collection, please click on the Bertoia Auctions' link, and go to the 

October 2015 auction of Mr. Clive Devenish. I'm quite sure Clive must have had some sentiment in

 selling his collection, but at the same time, he had a warm feeling that he'd be passing on these fine

 "time pieces" to some other collectors. I used the term "time piece" in a different meaning, since in 

fact to me, these mechanical banks are parts of the past from a certain time in history.  

Thanks for dropping by to visit,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be,

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com