A Fast Answer to The Articulated Wooden Horse and Man

Thursday, April 16, 2020
Sun with clouds
5 C  41 F

A Fast Answer

to the Articulated Wooden Man and Horse

This past Monday (April 13, 2020), I wrote a post for a Larry S. He had this very nice articulated wooden man and horse. Larry asked me if I could find information on it, so of course, I  decided to  take the challenge.

Please click here to see the block post about this toy

I first wrote to Bonham's, a famous British auction house . It was founded in 1993 ( 227 years ago), and is famous for selling  antiques, art old cars and jewellery.However, they have sold old dolls and toys on occasion. Unfortunately, I got an answer - they no longer have a toy specialist, but I was recommended a toy and doll specialist from a company named  

C & T Auctioneers & Valuers

Mr. Leigh Gotch was the specialist and head of the department at Bonham's  for antique toys and dolls. I checked their website for toys & dolls, but they no longer listed toys & dolls as one of the areas that they auction.  He now is the specialist ,and I assume head of the department at
C & T Auctioneers & Valuers.

Please click here to visit this fine British Auctioneer and Valuer company

I received a fast reply from Mr. Leigh Gotch, a renowned evaluator .  

Here's what he wrote me back:

Dear Mr Bindman

"Thank you for your email, your wooden articulate John Gilpins Ride toy was made by Louis Schmetzer & Cie of Rottenburg in German, they made wooden toys, dancing dolls, toy wagons etc and where founded in around 1876, I similar toy to yours is Ye Hero of 76 made by Crandall's of New York an example of which I offered for sale when running Bonhams toy and doll dept in 2012.

Your toy is in lovely condition and looks complete with instruction and if placed in auction I would advise a guide price of £400 - 600, we hold specialist toy and doll sales, due to the current situation our next sale is now scheduled for November, would love to offer your toy as I feel it would do extremely well if offered for sale.

C&T auctions charge sellers an all-inclusive commission rate of 15% (+VAT).

In the meantime if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Leigh Gotch 

(Toy & Doll Specialist)"

Mr. Gotch thought I was the owner of the toy, but it was Larry S. from the USA.

I couldn't believe how fast  Leight wrote back. Larry's toy turned out to be made by a company 

Louis Schmetzer & Cie of Rottenburg in Germany,  founded around 1876 , 143 years ago. 

Also, Leight assessed the value of the toy at auction to be between  £ 400-600 (British pounds)

with an added commission of 15%, and the VAT (Value Added Tax in Britain). In American dollars  ($ 498.59 - $ 545.00 as of April 12, 2020. 

I will be writing about about Leigh in the immediate future, but due to the Covid-D virus, the auction will not take place until November 2020. He has accepted an invitation from me to write about himself and  C & T Auctioneers & Valuers.

In the meantime, if Larry (Larry S.) is reading this post, would you please get back to me at :

toysearcher@gmail.com

I was very fortunate to have contacted  Mr. Leigh Gotch, 

and I look forward to hearing from him.

As always,

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day or evening.

 Please taken precautions (mask & gloves) when you go out 

because these are very hard times in the world.

Stacey Bindman