A Nice 1900's Dayton Hill Climber

Sunday, February 21, 2016

A Nice 1900's 

Dayton Hill Climber

Please click here to visit the Copake Auctions Inc. website

I decided to visit Copake Auctions Inc., a great resource for bicycles. However, this time I was searching for toys. Amazingly, I found a nice toy that was photographed on white. I like white because it's easier to photograph on white, the toy is presented at its' best, and it's clean.

Description:

Dayton toy company hill climber with figures

Circa: 1900's

Length: 14 1/2"   368 mm

I always like how Copake Auctions includes a Coca-Cola soda can

 as a reference to the size of the object.

For a toy that is at least 110 years old, it's still in great condition and undoubtedly works

The 2 photos above illustrate what is called a friction wheel (Hill climber). 

The rear fire engine wheels turn a resistance wheel that slowly builds 

up a strong rotational movement (in one direction).

When the toy is put down, the energy will again be transferred to the rear wheels, 

and the toy will be able to climb a hill even at a steep 30-40 degree slope.

The Dayton toy company is one of the few companies that produced 

these friction wheel (hill climber) toys. Most other toys of the time 

were wind-ups, or simply pull toys or toys that moved on wheels.

This is one of the few American toys that's readily identifiable by it's movement mechanism. There were also several other companies in Dayton that produced similar-propelled toys.

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 Excellent E-Bayer Revisited

Monday, February 22, 2016

An Excellent E-Bayer Revisited

   A while back, I was perusing ebay when I was attracted to some nice photography. As I expanded my search, I came across excellent photography, even for low-priced items. Naturally, this had to be a post, and so I wrote Malinda Trollinger for permission.  As it turned out, Malinda was helping sell her father's toy collection and other collectibles that he had amassed over a wide span of time.

   If you've been following me recently, I've been doing a "retrospective", and have been researching old posts to revisit old friends and to write about them. And so for today, I present to you Malinda Trollinger.

Please click here to visit Malinda Trollinger's ebay page

Below:

1934 Tootsietoy Ford Sedan.

Length:  3"  ( 76 mm)

Tootsietoy was a company that rivalled the British Dinky toy company. It was an American company that produced small-sized die cast toys for the market. Cars were especially popular, and with a low price, children could collect many cars to play with. The company existed from the 1920's - 1960's and eventually succumbed to the times, higher labour costs in the USA, and to the Aisian marketplace.

What I like about Malinda's photography jus that even for a lower-priced item, she takes the time and makes the effort to present the toy in its best manner, and to illustrate the features of the toy. 

That's dedication, and  "setting the bar high" 

(an American expression meaning high standards are set).

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

Still More Hubley Motorcycles

Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Overcast and cold

Still More Hubley Motorcycles

Please click here to visit the upcoming auction

   On January 30, 2016, I had presented 4 very nice Hubley cast iron motorcycles. However, there were plenty more motorcycles remaining to be shown, so I decided to add them for today.

Please press here to revisit my original post

What's of interest is to see the vast collection of so many different motorcycle toys. Obviously there was a demand for the variety and the specific type of toy - the motorcycle. The toys would come in different colours and sizes, and could be single or double riders (driver and passenger). There were also the civilian and police variations, as well as the cart - open and closed.  Some versions came with rubber tires, while others had nickel-plated wheels for tires.

I've just presented the Hubley motorcycles, but there were other manufacturers such as Champion and Kilgore that also produced cast iron motorcycles. Even into the 1930's and slightly later, these heavy toys were still being manufactured for the toy market. That obviously shows you just how popular the "real" motorcycles seen on the street, and the "toy" motorcycles were at the time.

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

The Kilgore Seagull Airplane Toy

Monday, February 15, 2016

The Kilgore Seagull Airplane Toy

                                                   “KILLGORE SEAGULL” CAST IRON AIRPLANE.

A great, most realistic airplane manufactured by the Killgore Company of Ohio. The company had wonderful detailing with the simulated ribbing to the cabin area, simulated passengers within the windows and the wing itself being partially flat and ribbed embossed “Seagull” and even adding a seagull in flight on the left & right wing tips. This particular airplane appears to have been modeled after a Vickers Submarine Seagull Navy Plane of the 1930s vintage. Obviously the toy manufacturer took a little artistic license and eliminated the second upper wing, most likely due to production costs. SIZE: Wingspan is approx 8-1/8″. CONDITION: Overall very good plus with some chipping mostly on corners of wing or tail fin

If you read the description or compared the Wikipedia photos to the 1930's Kilgore toy, you'll see that there are differences. Basically, one wing is missing. As the James D. Julia description writes, 

the toy was manufactured with 1 wing only to save production costs (and costs to the consumer).

Interestingly, the American toy was modelled after a British airplane.

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 Kenton 1920's Firetruck

Thursday, February 4, 2016
Cloudy and seasonal temperatures

A Kenton 1920's Firetruck

Please click here too visit OpAmerica's ebay website

   Of all the ebay sellers, OpAmerica Toy and Bank Museum (OpAmerica) is one of my favourites. They always have interesting merchandise for sale, but its' their written descriptions in depth, as well as excellent photography that makes them so outstanding. Not only that, but they always add plenty of photos for discerning potential buyers to carefully look at the merchandise.

1920's KENTON Cast Iron Toy Fire Pumper 14-1/2" Long

---

I am pleased to offer this Antique Kenton Cast Iron Red Toy Fire Pumper Truck that comes with two cast iron firemen figures. Appears as the 1920's model marked KENTON TOYS KENTON, OHIO; may be missing string hoses. Visible paint chip wear present on vehicle and firemen figures from play throughout; red color is visible yet faded throughout. Light spot marks present on frame of vehicle. Oxidation present on metal parts. Some dust and/or dirt throughout. Wheels function well. 

A great antique fire pumper!

Measurements: approx. 14-1/2" inches long x 3" inches wide x 7-1/2" inches in height.

(368 mm x 76 mm x 190 mm)

What's interesting about the toy is the fact that it is a replica of actual fire trucks that were around at the time. Interestingly, there were no fire hydrants or underground piped water supplies at the time in most cities in America. As such, the firetrucks had to have their own supply of water and/or use the boiler to pump up the water pressure in order to extinguish the fires. 

Even in 1920's there were still horse-drawn fire carts with boilers, and interestingly one could still buy toys based on the horse and wagon style fire wagon!

This particular toy is actually quite large.At the time most cast iron companies would make the same toy but in different sizes. As such, people with different budgets would be able to purchase toys for their children.

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

National Products Promotional Pieces

Saturday, February 6, 2016
Partly sunny and cool

National Products

Promotional Pieces

Please click here to visit the Lloyd Ralston Gallery

    If you've been following my posts lately, you'll have read that I'm searching out the upcoming season of auctions. I wrote about Dan Morphy previously, and today, it's about the Lloyd Ralston Gallery. Mr. Lloyd Ralston was a fine auctioneer and sadly passed on much too young in life. His 2 sons now own and manage this fine American toy auction company.

   I found a new company that manufactured what is called a promotional piece. In the 1940's and 1950's car dealerships would  purchase promotional pieces and would hand them up to customers who purchased their cars. Of course, the fathers or mothers would pass these promo pieces to their children who would then play with them. The pieces were made either for car dealerships or for truck dealerships, but in either case, children would have fun playing with these "toys".  Most of the times presented today were die cast  with rubber wheels. Like any other collectible, these promo pieces still are in demand.

I've never seen this particular toy , so seeing it must be a rarity. As to whether this translates into higher p[rices at an action is "another story". It certainly is an interesting piece!

Below is a "promo piece" from a truck company - White.

Back in history, there were hundreds of different car manufacturers. One of them was the Nash Motors. The company was started by the then president of General Motors, Mr.  Charles W. Nash in 1916.

Please click here to read about the Nash Motors Company at Wikipedia

 Below are 2 Buick car promotional pieces. In the bottom car, you can see the trademarked 3 small circles on the side of the car. To this day, this trademark is still used on Buicks, one of the cars that is still being produced after the collapse of GMC in recent history.

The item below was actually cast in bronze - imagine!

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com

A whole Lot of Hubley Cast Iron Motorcycles

Wednesday, February 2, 2016
Cloudy and warmer than usual

A Whole Lot of Hubley

Cast Iron Motorcycles

   Yesterday, I introduced everyone to a fine auction from Morphy Auctions (March 5-6, 2016). That post contained a nice assortment of early Fisher-Price toys. However, included within this auction are Morphy Auctions famous marble listings, and a great grouping of Hubley Cast Iron Motorcycles.

   What's interesting about the Hubley motorcycles is that these "heavyweight" cast iron toys were still being manufactured when new and better methods of toys were both being imported and replacing the cast iron toys. The Hubley company never really changed until the later 1940's to adapt to the new age. 

   THe Hubley line of cast iron motorcycles were of course pull toys. A string would be attached to the front of the toy, and the toy would be pulled be hid the child. What made these toys still so desirable and collectible was that they were finely crafted after the original motorcycles of the ere - The Harley and the Indian brand names of motorcycles. Each one was hand painted, and would come with either metal (nickel-plated) or rubber tires.  ALso, there were a lot of motorcycles at the time relative to the benumbed of cars, and motorcycles were used for delivery and the post office, as well as by the police forces across the United States.  Roads were not the best, and many roads were in fact still dirt roads across the great and vast United States. Being smaller and more versatile, these machines could easily outmanoeuvre the cars of the day. Also, the horse and cart were still around in abundance in the 1930's and somewhat later.

Please clcik here to visit the Morphy Auction grouping of cast iron motorcycles

Helmets at the time were very rare. If there were any they were made out of leather. Also, clothing for the weekend motorcyclist was more "sporty" than functional. I like how this "gentleman is all dressed up, even with his "derby" hat.  And f course, he does;t wear any goggles!

Below is the police version of the Indian ( a brand name motorcycle of the era) motorcycle.

THe officer is suited up in a uniform, and he actually is sporting protective goggles. Notice the string attached to the front of the motorcycle. This is for the child to pull the toy, hence this type of toy is called a "pull toy".

 Below is the USPS (UNited States Postal Service) version of the motorcycle with its side cast.

 Below is another variation of the delivery cart. This cart is open in the back. It's an earlier version of the Hubley motorcycle, and comes with nickel-plated tires.  

For today's post I've selected just 4 examples form the large array of motorcycles. If you like these toys, please venture over to the link that I always add under the auctioneer's name (In this case Morphy Auctions).

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

I'm always looking for new auctioneers, museums, and individuals who would like to contriute and help me with my blog.

If you happen to read this menages and are interested in sharing your toys and experiences with me and my readers, please feel free to write me at  toysearcher@gmail.com