Wednesday,October 15, 2016
George Brown Toys Matched up
to Their Catalogue Sketches
SPECTACULAR CLOCKWORK GEORGE BROWN CIRCUS CAGE WAGON.
An American tin toy from the latter part of the 19th Century that has been tucked away in an attic and recently discovered in Rhode Island. Never before in a collector’s hands, this fabulous toy when the clockwork mechanism is activated will roll along the floor while the lioness enclosed within the cage appear to pace to and fro. This toy, when discovered was in need of minimal repair to a couple of solder joints and lacking only two vertical bars on rear of cage door. One of the finest known original examples to exist today. Painted in vibrant colors; red, blue, black, apricot and white with japanned highlights. Normally due to the age (over 100 years) japanning tends to oxidize, the japanned parts on this toy are still bright and shiny! This toy has not only great appeal but is a prominent addition to any collection as well. SIZE: 13-1/2″(343 mm) long overall. CONDITION: Overall excellent condition. Minimal inpainting to white crossbar on hitch and small areas where crossbar is attached/soldered to horses. Cage wagon itself appears to be completely original other than two replaced slats previously discussed.
CLOCKWORK “BROADWAY & 5TH AVENUE” OMNIBUS BY GEORGE BROWN.
Although there are six omnibuses in the sale, that is a rarity in itself. The collector of American tin toys would be happy with only one or two of these rare and elusive toys and perhaps would even go a lifetime without having the ability to purchase one for his collection. This particular example is pictured in George Brown Toy Sketchbook on plate 12 which talks about the various models that were available (see lot 3017). A clockwork mechanism is contained within the bombe shaped body of the carriage which is heavily stenciled with a salmon colored design and labeled “BROADWAY & 5TH AVENUE”. White horse with black trappings and red belly bands are attached to the carriage through a very fine wire armature and the oversized driver is astride a seated platform. One of the most attractive features of this particular toy is the stenciled American eagle and US shield. It is always interesting where American tin toys find their way. This particular example was brought back to American from Argentina! SIZE: 13″ (330 mm) length
PROVENANCE: From the Collection of Malcolm Deisenroth, Jr.
DIMINUTIVE WATER TROW BY GEORGE BROWN.
The mate to the previous toy, this particular example is pictured in George Brown Toy Sketchbook on Plate 49. As discussed in the previous lot, the company employed a train engine side rail cylinder with minor alterations to create this toy. SIZE: 7-1/4″ ( 184 mm)
. PROVENANCE: From the Collection of Malcolm Deisenroth, Jr.
GEORGE BROWN EXPRESS WAGON.
A fine, early example with unusual coloring and wiffle tree. Finished in dark green with yellow trims and interior painted salmon. Gold stenciling to sides but what’s more unusual is the silver lettering and pinstriping above and below. An embossed sculptured tin wiffle tree located directly under front kick board is an unusual feature not usually found on Express wagons. The seat is in a fixed position. Overall good to very good with uniform paint loss, chipping.
SIZE: 19-1/2″ (495 mm) Length
EARLY AMERICAN TIN HORSE HOOP TOY.
Quite possibly by George Brown, this toy from the 1880s features a white horse within a ribbed red tin circular hoop. Hoop toys are very difficult to find due to the susceptibility to damage, let alone scrap drives, childhood destruction, and other pitfalls. This particular toy came from a general line antique dealer/collector who had gotten it from Bernard Barenholtz some 30-35 years ago. In very good, all original condition with no restoration and/or repairs.
LARGE GEORGE BROWN CLOCKWORK GIG.
Very fine example of an all original, untouched American tin toy from the 1880s. This toy came in several versions: single horse, double horse or a small seated tin figure or a larger separate figure of composition and tin such as this example. Figure seems somewhat over-sized for the rest of the toy, but as previously discussed, the company at the time had an open artistic license of combining various features and in the end it all seemed to work. The boy has a wooden torso with a molded papier mache head and the arms and legs are a combination of tin and stamped brass. The cart itself is in dark blue with a fine yellow pinstriping and black edging. Typical decals on right, left and rear of cart further add to the appearance of this toy. Due to the size of the figure, the seat is hidden which is a scalloped backing painted in yellow and the boy himself is sitting on a red bench with black pinstriping. At the bottom right front of the cart is a small tin holder, that more than likely contained a whip for the horses. The horses, when the toy is activated imitate galloping by a rod attached to their rear foot and an ex-centric center wheel. Large wheels on the cart with a light copper wash and connected to the clockwork mechanism in the cart. A somewhat unusual feature of this example is on the front of the yoke, there is a vertical bar extending with chains going from horse to bar.
SIZE: 17″ (431mm) length
CONDITION: Overall very good to fine with uniform paint loss; mostly to horses and red yoke. Clothing on boy is completely original with some minor frailty and dustiness to clothing.
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