Zeppelin Revisited

Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Clouds with rain
4 C  39.2 F

Zeppelin Revisited

A "Zeppelin" was a type of rigid airship named after the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin

who pioneered the develop of the rigid airship at the beginning of the 20th century. The idea s were first formulated in 1874, and developed in detail in 1893. They were patented in Germany in 1895 and in the United States in 1899. Zeppelins were first flown commercially in 1910 by Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Ag (DELAG). During WWI, the Zeppelins were used by Germany in WWI to bomb Britain, and sadly killed 500 British  people. These airships were BIG! The Hindenburg measured 245 M or 803 feet, with a diameter of 41.2 M or 135.1 feet. The gas capacity (hydrogen*) was 200,000 cubic meters or 7,062,000 cubic feet.

* Hyrdrogen is a very flammable gas, and a spark probably ignited the tremendous amount of gas of the Hindenburg. 

After WWI, the Treaty of Versaille prohibited  Germany from building large airships, but by 1926

the restrictions were lifted.  This revived the company DELAG's fortunes . and hey built huge airships thgat crossed the Atlantic ocean from Germany to the USA. With the famous Hindenburg disaster in 1937, in New Jersey (SA), and with the world political climate changing, leading up to WWII the Zeppelins  were doomed to extinction.*  It was rumoured that the Hindenburg might have been sabotaged  because of tensions with the Americans and European countries. The captain and the first officer of the Hindenburg were aware of rumours about the potential sabotage of the airship.

*Please click here to read Wikipedia's interesting article of these famous airships

Please click here to visit the results of Bertoia Auctions sales on Liveauctioneers

Boxed Ubelacker Zeppelin With Pontoons

AN unusual and interesting design with multiple playing options.

Top crank has a rack and pinion that moves the toy along a wire.

Very rare, only one had ever been seen by Bertoia Auctions

Length:  9"  228 mm

Sold for $ 20,000 U.S. (MArch 25, 2017

Carrette Large Scale Zeppelin

Clockwork driven, rear paper propellers,

Very rare.

Length: 25 1/2"   64.8 cm

Marklin Zeppelin # 5401

Clockwork driven

Celluloid propellers, the toy moves along a guide wire

with pulleys. Key wound.

Length:  9 1/2"  242 mm

Sold for $ 5000 US (November 10, 2012)

Early German Tin Zeppelin

Likely Eberyl or Heyde

paper propeller at rear, clockwork driven

Length:  9"  229 mm

Orobor Zeppelin with Box

Lithographed tin, clockwork movement, green celluloid propellers.

Has top hook to connect with a wire.

Length:  6 1/2"  165 mm

Muller & Kadeder toy air ship (Zeppelin)

Paper propellers at rear.

Clockwork Driven

Length:  9 1/2"  242 mm

Sold for $ 1500 US (November 12, 2016)

Marx Mammoth Zeppelin

Lithographed tin,

4 small propellers

Length: 27"  68.6 cm

Steelcraft "Akron" Zeppelin

Pressed steel with metal wheels

Hitch at front for pulling with a string

Length:  24"  61 cm

Buffalo Toys Zeppelin

Tin plate

4 hanging airplanes on sides

Clockwork activated by rear pull lever

Red disc wheels

Length:  24"  61 cm

Sold for $950 US (April 17, 2010)

Lehmann Epli Zeppelin with Box

Germany, lithographed tin, celluloid propellers

Suspended string allow ship to travel its course

Length:  7 1/2"   190 mm

Sold for $ 600 US  (May 21, 2016)

I was surprised just how many Zeppelin toys were auctioned on Liveauctioneers website. 

At the height of the Zeppelins' popularity, many toy companies made these interesting toys.

I only selected 10 examples from 10 different toy manufacturers. However, if you venture over to Liveauctioneers, you will see many more examples from a myriad of manufacturers.

So that's it for this rainy day, and I hoped that you enjoyed this post.

Have a great day or evening.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com

Milestone Auctions

Monday, February 26, 2018
Sunny with Clouds
+4 C  39.2 F

Milestone Auctions

Please click here to visit Milestone Auctioneers on Liveauctioneers

"Milestone Auctions, located in Willoughby, Ohio is fast becoming one of the most trusted and well recognized names in the antique and collectibles auction industry. We work hard to bring Buyers and Sellers together from across the country and globe. At Milestone Auctions we strive to give every collection. large or small, the attention to detail it deserves. We achieve this through excellent customer service. expert evaluations, aggressive marketing, and multiple live and on-line bidding options. This approach results in maximum returns for all the items we auction. We also aim to give our Bidders confidence when participating in our auctions. We achieve this thru accurate descriptions, quality photos, in-house shipping, multiple bidding options, and excellent customer service. We have a large world-wide customer base that continues to grow after every sale. Building on this approach, Milestone Auctions will continue to grow into a leader in the Auction Industry."

I'd been in communication with Liveauctioneers, and Catherine Saunders-Watson 

replied to my inquiry, and said that I might use the photos of Milestone Auctions.

I decided to take Catherine up on her great offer, and I went to the past auctions of Milestone Auctions. Lo and behold, I came across today's fantastic "discovery" of possibly one-of-a-kind

Hubley cast iron toy.

Below is the most-interesting story  behind the making of this toy:

Hubley cast iron Indian Armored "Bandit Chaser" Motorcycle. This particular bike is factory painted in battleship gray. The same gray Hubley used on the Elgin Street Sweeper. The other most unique difference is the removable armored shield has N.Y P.D. cast into it. All known examples of the Hubley Armored Motorcycle are painted red and have a shield with no markings. Story has it this bike was made as a Salesman Sample for Indian Motorcycles to sell the concept of Armored Motorcycles to the New York City Police Department. During the prohibition NYPD found themselves outgunned by Mobsters and Bootleggers. They needed a new style motorcycle to keep their officers safe. That's when the Bandit Chaser was introduced by Indian. 5 Bandit Chasers were produced by Indian in the late 1920s. Hubley soon followed offering the Indian Armored Motorcycle as a toy. The toy Motorcycle being offered is in original as found condition. There are no breaks or repairs. The paint is all factory with nice patina. The shield is all original and still has the mica windshield. This is a rare and wonderful piece of motorcycle history. This is the only known example!!

Hubley cast iron Indian Armored "Bandit Chaser" Motorcycle

Hubley had made similar cast iron motorcycles like this one, but this one had N.Y.P.D. impressed on the shield, and thus this one was unique!

The discovery of such a toy doesn't get any better than this. I have Catherine Saunders-Watson, and Milestone Auctions to thank for today's post and permissions. 

Thanks for dropping by,

And have a great day or evening.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

Heritage Auctions and The Pocher Company

Friday, February 16, 2017
Overcast with flurries
-2 C  28.4 F

 Heritage Auctions and the Pocher Company

Part I

Please click here to visit Heritage Auction's Pocher Model Auction on Liveauctioneers.com

Pocher Scale Models

Please click here to read about this exceptional model company (wikipedia)

These models contain anywhere from 800- 2400 pieces made of highly-resistant plastic parts, brass parts, and steel, copper, leather, rubber, and aluminum. The Pocher company was introduced at the International Toy Fair of Milan in 1966, and was extremely well-received by those in attendance. The models were all 1:8 in size, and could weight as much as 16 pounds (7.77 kg)!

Assembly was mostly with threaded fasteners such as screws, nuts and bolts. 
The models came both as kits, or pre-assembled units. 

The company was sold several times over, eventually being purchased by the famous Hornby Company in 2004. In 2012 , Hornby  announced the return of these very sought after models.

The new models are Lamborghini cars and a  Ducati Superbike 1299 Panigales. Unfortunately, all of the current models are sold out on their website. 
However, new models are being manufactured as I write this post!

Below are models of the earlier Pocher model kits that were assembled 

by a famous model-maker by the name of Mr. Brady Ward. 

The Early Pocher Model Kits

Finished Pocher K82 Scale Model 1936 Mercedes 540K Cabriolet

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

7 x 24 x 10 inches (17.8 x 61 x 25.4 cm)

Scale: 1:8

Finished Pocher K86 Scale Model 1932 Bugatti 50T 'Surprofile" Coupe 

with highly detailed parts including working including headlamps, window levers 

and door handles.

14 x 32 1/2  x 15 inches (35.6  x 82.6  x 38.1 cm)

Scale: 1:8

Finished Pocher K84 Scale Model 1932 Bugatti 50T Coupe De Ville

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

12 x 32 1/2 x 12 inches (30.5 x 90.2 x 30.5 cm)

Scale: 1:8

Finished Pocher K72 Scale Model 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II 'Sedanca' Coupe

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

7 x 24 x 10 inches (17.8 x 61 x 25.4 cm)

Scale: 1:8

Finished Pocher K74 Scale Model 1935 Mercedes Benz 500 K-AK Cabriolet

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

9 x 25 x 7 inches (22.9 x 63.5 x 17.8 cm)

Scale: 1:8

Finished Pocher K72 Scale Model 1932 Rolls Royce Phantom II 'Sedanca' 

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

9 x 27 x 10 inches (22.9 x 68.6 x 25.4 cm)

Scale: 1:8

Finished Pocher K72 Scale Model Alfa Romeo 8C 2600 Mille Miglia Scuderia Ferrari

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

Designed by Vittorio Jano.

6 x 19 x 6 inches (15.2 x48.3 x 15.2cm)

Finished Pocher K80 Scale Model 1935 Mercedes 540K 'The True roadster'

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

Finished Pocher K72 Scale Model 1927 Pietro Bordino Fiat Corsa 806

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

9 x 11 1/2 x 10  1/2inches (22.9 x 29.2 x 26.7 cm)

Finished Pocher K75 Scale Model 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II  'Torpedo' Cabriolet

with highly detailed parts including working window levers and door handles.

10 x 27 x 10 inches (25.4 x 68.6 x 25.4 cm)

Part II

Please click here to visit the Hornby Company

As I mentioned in Part 1, Hornby currently owns the Pocher Company. For those who don't know, Hornby is a world-renowned model railway brand company that was founded  in 1901 by Frank Hornby, who received a patent for the now-famous Meccano toy construction kits.   Fast forward to the 1960's and the Pocher company was resurrected, and started to produce Pocher models. Eventually, the Pocher Company had financial troubles, and once again, the Pocher company changed hands to become a subsidiary of the Hornby Company.

Please click here to visit this most-fascinating model company

Many of their  current Lamborghini  models have been sold out. However, not to worry. They still have the beautiful 1:4 scale models of their  Ducati Superbike 1299 Panigale seen below. It's truly amazing how realistic this fine model shows, especially when you photograph the model professionally! If you've ever tried to do close-up photography, you'd be pulling your hair out with all of the dust that appears on your subjects. I really don't know how the Pocher photographers took such fine photos without the dust! What Pocher also offers are display cabinets to showcase these models once you have finished assembling them.

Soon, the Pocher Company will be coming out with new models for model enthusiasts.

Kit Model # HK107

Ducati Superbike 1299 Panigale

1:4 Model Motorcycle Kit

Kit Model # HK 100

Lamborghini Aventador Arancio Argos/ Metallic Orange

1:8 model car kit

Number of Parts:  796

Length c Width x Height:  

23 3/8" x 11 1/4" x 5 1/2"

595mm x 287mm x 144mm

I was fortunate enough to contact the Pocher company, and corresponded with both 

Mr. Philip Deery and Mr.  Mark Lodge.

Philip Deery wrote back to say:

“All the Aventador variants and the Huracan models have been extremely successful for us. The latest model, the Verde Mantis Huracan, will be released in the next few weeks and pre-orders show that it is just as popular as the previous models. This is a testament to the strength of the Pocher brand.

We are currently evaluating opportunities for the future and we will release further details in due course.”

I'm glad that the Pocher Company is continuing with their famous 1:8 and 1:4 scale models. There are many people around the world who are dedicated fans of this company, and continue to purchase their products. 

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great day or evening.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

A Vindex Toy Catalogue

Sunday, February 25, 2018
Overcast with rain and pellets
-2C  28.4 F

A Vindex Toy Catalogue

I've written many times about Vindex toys, a division of the National Sewing Machine Company, of Belvidere, Illinois (USA). This past week, I received  a toy catalogue from an ebay seller. The catalogue is a 1982 reproduction  from Thomas Toys, a fantastic toy parts seller from Fenton, Michigan (USA).

I thought  I'd share it with everyone, so that you'll be familiar with Vindex toys. You don't see as many of these cast iron toys, as you do the other manufacturers such ad Arcade or Hubley.  So the next time you're at a local old and antique toy fair, or an antique dealer, check out their toys. Who knows, maybe you'll be lucky and find a real bargain!

* I've only included the pages that relate to toys. Vindex also made some a toy oven, doorstops, an elephant nut cracker, and a doodle bug galoche (rubber boot) remover.

Also, I think this catalogue is from 1929.

So study this catalogue and print it out. And when you visit the local flea market, 

toy fair, or an antique store, be on the alert for Vindex toys!

Thanks for visiting,

and have a nice day or evening.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com