A New Post for the Belgian Monk

Saturday, December 12, 2024
-9° C / 16° F
Clear skies and Sunny

A New Post for the belgian monk

Please click on this sentence to visit the belgianmonk's ebay site

It's been a while since I wrote to the belgianmonk, so it was nice to hear from him. 

He changed the name of his store, but he's still selling and doing alright. John has some other interesting items for sale, such as parts for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and a true antique Grant Brothers sewing machine from 1869-1875. He most certainly has an eclectic grouping of items, but mostly toys currently.

I've only ever written about the Liberty Playthings toy company once before, and if you do a search on my blog you'll find it. I wrote that post on November 24, 2012. The Liberty Playthings company was in business from the late 1920's to the early 1930's, and was located in Niagara Falls (USA). For those who don't know, Canada also has part of the Niagara Falls. They made beautiful toys all fromwood, and many different kinds of toys as well.

For the belgianmonk's post,  I decided to select a: 

1920's Liberty Playthings mechanical windup wood & metal tugboat.

It's made from mahogany wood and metal with a windup "motor" that

still works. The length is  12" or   30.5 cm

It's amazing how somethings last so long over time.  

Aside from being a "collectible", people just like to keep mementoes from 

the past to remind them of the good times they had with their close relatives.

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

wherever you may be.

My name is (Mr.) Stacey Bindman, and I an always be reached at

toysearcher@gmail.com

 

      

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

A 1900's Leymann (German) Wind-up Toy

Thursday, February 25, 2016

A 1900's Lehman (Germany)

Wind-up Toy

Please click here to visit the Copake Auction website

There were plenty of new immigrants that were arriving on a daily basis into the United States. As such, the country was getting larger and larger in terms of its population.aThe June 10, 1910 census

determined the US population to be 76, 212,168 people, which was an increase of 21.1% over the 1890 census. 

With such a larger population already, the country easily surpassed the populations of older established (e.g. European) countries of the world. With immigration, there were new jobs, and a booming economy, which naturally would lead to an increase in commerce with countries around the world.

Although the USA did have toy companies, trading with other countries allowed imports, and thus we come to today's 1900's Lehmann truck, a wind-up toy with a length of 5 1/2" (140 mm).

What makes the Lehmann toy interesting is both the wind-up mechanism, as well as the sophistication of the printing process (lithography) of the toy. Toys in the USa were mostly painted and were pressed steel or even the cast iron "heavies". But a toy from France or Germany would be printed lithography, years ahead of most American toys.

Below:

A photo illustrating the patents in years 1903, 1904, & 1906

The wind-up knob on the left side of the toy allowed the coil to get tense and build up energy. THe energy would be released when the toy was placed on the ground. A series of gears increased the sped of the toy, allowing it to be self-propelled. The front wheels had some leeway allowing the toy to turn.

Below:

The steering wheel allowed the front wheels to be turned 

to allow the truck to move to the left or right.

 Below:

A nice side view of the truck. Notice how Copake Auction likes to place an employ Coca-Cola can in the photo as a reference to the relative size of the toy. For a toy that's almost 110 years old, it's not too bad in its condition.

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be,

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

An Exceptional European Ferris Wheel

Thursday, November 19, 2015

    Overcast,raining, and seasonally warm

An Exceptional European Ferris Wheel

   Bertoia Auctions always seems to find beautiful and rare items that come to auction.  Today's presentation is from  their March 23, 2014 auction from their season opener. Throughout the year when Bertoia staff are not working with their auctions, they are travelling all over searching for 

for items to come to market. As well, clients are coming to see them to offer their collections to auction.

   I discovered this item while looking for cast iron toys. However, realizing the beautiful 111 year old toy was something to share with you, my readers, I deduced to forego cast iron for this fine item.

Please click here to visit this fine American toy auctioneer

                                              DOLL ET CIE FERRIS WHEEL

                                                                           Circa 1904 

                                                                               Height:      16 3/4"    426 mm

Very nicely detailed example, Doll et Cie ferris wheel from Germany is exquisitely hand enameled in rainbow colors, features working hand crank mechanism and composition figures, complete with pennants, lights and ladder.  Canopy needs resoldering at supports, flags repainted, otherwise (VG Cond.)

There are 6 gondolas that make up this fine Ferris Wheel. The toy is wound via a hand crank, then the tension is released, allowing for the riders to rotate in their seated positions.

What'a amazing is that this toy is 111 years old and still is in workable condition.

I'm not sure what the yellow gated platform is. Perhaps, riders could get off and have a standing view high up on the deck of this enclosure.

What's noticeable is to see that the Ferris Wheel was built on a permanent base made of concrete and large stone bricks. Correspondingly, I would assume that actual real-sized Ferris Wheels would be built in the same manner.

A toy of this size standing 16  3/4" (m426 mm) tall, would not have been inexpensive. Considering the toy was built around 1904, only the children of wealthy parents would have been able to play with such a fine toy.

I like how there are so many people dressed in different clothes. Furthermore, like most toys of that era, colour is very rich in saturation and tonality.

One doesn;t often see such com;lldx toys coming to market, so I 'm glad that I found this toy to share with everyone. 

Thanks for visiting,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

'wherever you may be,

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

A Magnificent Toy Comes to Market

Saturday, October 24, 2015
     Seasonally cooler with partial sun

A Magnificent Toy 

Comes to Market

   I've been trying to return to writing, but it's slow. However, I always am encouraged by the wonderful toys of old that I see, especially from Bertoia Auctions. For some reason, I notice lots of things wherever I go.I guess it's the ATD (Attention to Detail) as a photographer.  So when I saw this toy, I absolutely and positively had to post and write about it.

   It was made in 1893,and I thought I 'd add what was happening in 1893 to put the toy into perspective in the USA, since the toy is American.

1.The American Flag has 44 stars representing 44 states.

2. On March 4, 1893, Grover Cleveland becomes the American President

3. 1893 is a mere 25 years after the American Civil War

4. A serious depression in the stock market began in this year

5.The Gilded Age (1870's-1900), a term invented by the great American satirist and writer, 

Mr. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was happening.  

5. The "Progressive Era", a period of social activism and political reform 

was happening at this time.*

Please go to Wikipedia to read all about what I wrote above- it's truly fascinating!

Please click here to visit this exceptional antique toy auctioneer

What's fascinating about this toy, is of course the detail. ANd with all that detail, there is a lexicon of language to identify all those parts.  I have absolutely no idea what the parts are called, except (please excuse my ignorance) the reins, the cart, horse, wheels, lanterns, blinders, hooves,and a few other terms). Of course if you are a horse person, you're probably rattling off all of the terms for the harness that this fine horse has on her/him.

About 2 decades ago (boy how time flies!), my wife Heidi and I went to Washington and of course had to visit the Smithsonian. We stayed 3 days in Washington, but I could have stayed 3 days in one of their museums, the title of which escapes me. It's the one where there is lots of "Americana". Examples included at the time how a lead pencil was made, and a cross section of the Brooklyn humongous support cable for the bridge.  Of course, with the Smithsonian having so many different buildings, we only visited this one for a few hours. 

The photo below is great because you can see the nice detail and casting of the horse and cart.

I like how cargo would be hidden in the space below where people were seated. Of course, if you were a child, you'd "hide" your most dear "mementos". 

For a toy that's 122 years old, I should only look so good if I ever reach that age!

Of course, I'm dreaming in Technicolor, 

but that's what toys are all about - placing and imagining.

Thanks for dropping by to visit,

and as always,

hascve a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be,

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

An Exceptional Pull Toy

Monday, December 30, 2013

An Exceptional Pull Toy

   As soon as I saw the photo of this toy, I know I wanted to see it larger.  I already wrote about the ebay company  -Traders of Lost Art  on November 11, 2013, but I like to revisit people, websites, auctioneers, and collectors again. 

  I can try and explain why I like this in terms of geometry, colour, the subject, but I cant quite explain to you why I like this toy so much. So the best thing that I can do, is show you the photos that Mr. Mradul Singhal took, and let you see if you also like this toy a lot.

Please click here to see Mr. Mradul Singhal's fine ebay store

I like nature and wildlife, so perhaps that's one of the reasons that I like this you. The beautiful rack on this deer , the prongs and so forth are designed so well.  Also the way the front legs are bent, as if the animal is jumping over something. I also like the contrast of the warm and cold tones - orange and blue, as well as the harsh the contrasting shapes (the deer, the antlers,and the radiating spokes of the large wheels.

Fantastic top view photograph!

A detail photo of the underneath of this toy

A close-up photo of the  deer's antlers.

The texture (indentations) of the deer's folds of skin are done exceptionally well!

I saved the  description of this toy for the last.

This was a"surprise" for me. 

The toy is:

A Huge Early Hand-painted German Deer Pull Along Wheel tin Toy, in Good Condition.

It's a very big collection piece.

Size:    18: x 6.5" x 10"      46 cm x 16 cm x 26 cm 

Weight:  2 Pounds 1.11 ounces   1082 grams 

Now that's  certainly a collectible!

Thjanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day, 

wherever you may be.

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com

Come Fly With Me.....

Friday, December 27, 2013
                    (Mild and overcast)

Come Fly With Me.....

    I remember the American Airline motto and song that always appeared on Tv in the 1960's-70's when we used to watch American NFL Football every sunday.  As usual, I was browsing through ebay's website, when I came across this beautiful orange and blue toy. It's a 1941 pull toy from 1941.  Being a toy having been produced during WWII, I would presume that it was purposely made from wood,as metal was in short supply and was being used for the war effort.

    I was fortunate enough to find this toy at Randy's Toy Shop, a fine seller with whom I have the pleasure and permission to use his great selection of toys, and excellent (as usual) photography.  With the photographs, you can see the ingenuity as to how the propellers work. 

Please click here to visit's always interesting e-bay store

   The above low-camera angle photo is excellent in terms of the way it adds a sense of "majesty" to the toy, as well as illustrating exactly how the propellers work.  Metallic coiled spring wires are attached to the axles on the inside of the wheels. As the toy is pulled along by a string (missing), the wire turns two axles inside both wings. Those axles  are connected to directly to the propellers.

There's another photo (above) to illustrate  how the propellers rotate - ingenious!

The design graphics are great! 

What I also like is the ingenuity of the rear support for the airplane - a bent wire.

I like old-style fonts, and the Fisher-Price logo is just that - circa 1941!

Another great photograph with a wide-angle effect.

What's interesting is the fact that the wood is so coarse, and wasn't planed and sanded smooth.

I wonder of that had to do with the conservation of electricity during WWII times, or just was made like that for a "folk-art" effect?

As usual, Randy presented a most -interesting toy with great photography.

What more could we ask for?

Thanks for stopping by,

and as always, 

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

 toysearcher@gmail.com