The Gong Bell Toy Company

Saturday, January 20, 2018
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The Gong Bell Toy Company

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The Gong Bell Manufacturing Company was a famous toy bell company that was located in East Hampton, Connecticut, USA from the 1880's to the mid-20th century. It produced toy bells mounted on a platform with characters.The entire unit was pulled by a cord along the road, and as the toy moved, the small bell or bells would be struck or jingled by the animal attached to the bell, or by simple movement of the toy. One of the ways to identify these toys is to examine the wheels. If you  look closely oer magnify the images, the wheels all have heart shapes within the boundaries.

Today's presentation of toys are from the Max Berry Collection that was auctioned off by 

Bertoia Auctions on November 14-15, 2014.

Gong Bell Alligator and Man Bell Toy

Circa 1903

As the platform moves, the alligator "snaps" its' jaws

and the man moves.

Length:  9"  228 mm

Gong Bell Fire Toy Bell

Circa 1876

Length:  8"  203 mm

Gong Bell Drummer Boy Bell Toy

Very rare .

Circa mid 1880's

This toy yielded the highest bid of all these Bel toys.

Thje winning bid was $ 7200.00 US dollars  plus a buyer's premium

Length:  6"  152 mm

Gong Bell Are you a Buffalo Bell Toy

Length: 6"  152 mm

Gong Bell "Just Out" Bell Toy

Circa 1880

Only complete example known

Provenance: Bob Stewart Collection

Length:  6 1/2"  165 mm

The Billy's Bell Ringer

Embossed "No. 51 Billy's"

Length:  5 1/2"  140 mm

Gong Bell Centennial Bell Toy

From the 1776-1876 Centennial of the U.S.A.

Provenance:  L.C. Hegarty Collection

Original flag

Length:  8 1/4"  210 mm

Gong Bell Alligator Bell Toy

Very Rare

Perched on leaf pattern base

Length:  6"  152 mm

These toys were very popular in the 1880's-1920's.

Later on, the company had to compete with the inexpensive imports from post-war Japan.

At that time, the company was still strong in sales, but was making their updated toys from wood,

and could not compete with the inexpensive imports.

Thanks for dropping by,
And as always, have a great
part of the day or night.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com