Tuesday, November 23, 2021                 Sunny with some snow        -7 C.   24.9 F                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

           Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH  

                               

    I periodically receive e-mails from Rebekah Kaufman, a Steiff historian, Blogger, and Dealer. I had once asked Rebekah for some information about a Steiff doll, and from then on I was on her mailing list. Her blog can be found at mysteiffLife.com.  In one of her last-mails, Rebekah wrote about Landenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH, a fairly recent (1989) new auction house. Her e-mail related to an auction, naturally about Steiff dolls, and I decided to check the auction out. 

The Ladenburger web address can be found at https://www.spielzeugauktion.de/ as well as on LiveAuctioneers.com

In the "relatively" short time that the company has been in business, it has done very well, and established itself as a quality auction house.

Steiff Bowling Game

Height 15 cm (5 3/4")

Final Price 2400 Euros

Steiff Bear on casting wheels with spokes. Circa 1905, with shoe button eyes,

height 40 cm (15 3/4") length, 45 cm (17 3/8")

Final Price 2000 Euros

            

                       Steiff Bear on wooden wheels, button eyes, wooden wheels with Steiff engraving.                                Length 26 cm. (10 1/4").   Final Price: 6000 Euros

 You can also find the results of this auction at:

 https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/222828_steiff-special-auction/

Thanks for dropping by, 

and have a great day.

Please feel free to write to me anytime at

toysearcher@gmail.com

Chip Channel Restorations

Thursday, November 26, 2021 

Overcast with drizzle 

3C 36 F

Chip Channel Restorations

      Several weeks ago, I was doing a search for toys, when I saw a search result for Chip Channel Restorations. I had no idea what this search result was, but when I clicked on the link, I was awestruck. The link that had taken me to YouTube, whereupon, I had discovered someone who had a site, where he restored toys back to their original condition.But not just any condition, but to a condition that looked like the toy had just come off the assembly line!

        

Each new video on YouTube begins with a tow truck pulling the toy that will be restored on the episode. If you copy and paste the address below into your internet address rectangle you will be redirected to Chip'sYoutube website. "Chip" prefer's to remain anonymous, hence he asked me to use his pseudonym "Chip". 

Below is the web address (URL) for Chip Channel Restorations.

You'll have to copy and paste the address in order to 

redirect to Chip's YouTube website.

       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR9GdLIOAGY

        

In the case of this video restoration, the old toy is a:

1954 Tonka Mobile Fire Department 

MFD Ladder Truck

As you clearly see, the fire truck is in a bad shape, 

and is in need of a big restoration.

When starting out, all parts of the fire truck are disassembled very carefully.

 Parts are also checked for lead, and I 

think these parts are replaced with non-leaded new parts.

Even small parts are replaced if they are in poor condition.

If a part is very rusted, a file will be used to 

grind off the damaged part.

Then a # 600 fine sandpaper on a

rotary sander is used to smooth out any rough parts. 

Towards the end, a fine buffing is used to shine metallic and plated parts.

Parts are all sandblasted to remove old paint and rust.

A primer or undercoating is now applied to all

parts before the new paint is applied.

The final stage involves painting, and

a powdered form of paint is used. 

I think an electrostatic process is used to apply paint

to the toy parts. I say this because the paint below is in the form of a powder.

Below is the truck in the state that it was purchased.

Below are different photographs to show  the quality restoration that

was done to bring back theses toys to superb shape.

Even decals are researched for the original truck, 

and are then custom-made tofinish the restoration. 

Material for a back textured metallic plate was

found in order to replace what was originally there

and in poor condition.

 

Finished parts are assembled towards the 

final stages of the restoration.

hen the re-plated metal parts are all finished to a beautiful shine,

they are then re-attached to the assorted different painted parts

of the fire truck.

Finally, the truck is now finished,

It most certainly looks just like it would have been 67 years ago!!!!

Chip certainly is a master craftsman! 

I don't know where Chips finds the time to do his restorations. 

He told me that he works 50 hours in his job profession.

He most certainly dedicated and very much likes what

he does in his spare time to toys from a past time!

I've just "touched on" what Chip does!

His YouTube videos are about and hour and more,

and he very thoroughly shows the viewer

how toys are properly and excellently restored to

what they would have looked like when they were

originally purchased.

Now that's true dedication and a labour of love!

Thanks for dropping by, and as usual, 

I can be reached at

toysearcher@gmail.com

Have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

        

        

Another Fine Restoration from Mr. Christopher Ferrone

 7 C   44.6 F                                                                                                                                     Overcast with rain                                                                                                                           November 13, 2021

       Another Exceptional Restoration 

        from Christopher Ferrone

I don't know where the time is going, but it's already November 13, 2021. I've received my 2 Covid-19 injections, and in a couple of weeks, I'll be getting a booster early on, because I'm in my early 70's.

Changing the subject to a more positive topic, I received a nice letter and photos from a friend from the USA. Mr. Christopher Ferrone wrote to me this week and presented me with another grouping of a recently finished toy restoration. Today's presentation is a superb example of a 1930's pressed steel aerial fire truck that was made for young children to ride on. The manufacturer was Keystone, and their firetruck was modeled after the "real" truck from Packard. Chris's marvelous restoration is 30" ( 76.20 cm) long. 

I normally don't get personal, but I thought I would add something personal. Chris had a very fine dog by the name of Lola, who just passed away recently. It's hard when you lose a "friend", and animals (pets) become part of the family. I couldn't believe that Chris could find the time to send me photos of his latest project, and I appreciate his effort during this very hard time.  

  My wife Heidi and I had Buddy for 17 years and he passed away 2 1/2 years ago. It was also very hard when he left us. We said we'd never get another dog, but we did! My wife teaches interior design and commercial window display, and happens to have a friend who is a breeder of Brussels Griffins. We've visited her and her dogs a few times, but never even thought about getting another one. However, 4 months ago, Heidi said should we get another dog, and we both said yes. Percy is a Brussels Griffon from originally Belgium. This breed were bred for catching rats in barns, but now they are pets. Percy has what to me is an "interesting" fave. But once you get to know him, his face became "cute".  He's a puppy, and we've certainly learned a lot in terms of taking care  of him, to sat the least.

Lola

Buddy

Percy

It's hard to believe that it's November 13 already, and quite soon, the American Thanksgiving holiday will be celebrated. This is one of the major festive holidays where families and friends return to their home towns to celebrate. 

So if I don't write another blog post soon,

I'd like to wish all Americans a very happy Thanksgiving holiday.

And to Chris, my friend, I hope that you will recover from your loss of Lola in due time.

Thanks for dropping by,

and please feel free to write to me anytime, 

as I'm looking for people and their toys to be able to continue my post. 

My e-mail address is toysearcher@gmail.com