Two Exceptional Toys are

Sold at Bertoia Auctions

(May 7-8-2020) 

Please click here to visit this exceptional toy auctioneer

Mikado Mechanical Bank

(Kyser and Rex Co.)
Circa 1886

blue table version, an extraordinary design with remarkable action, coin deposited involves placing it under right hat, turning rear crank and watching, the coin reappears under left hat, intriguing and rare. Minor enhancement to face, otherwise paint appears to be original throughout with a clear-coat varnish applied to brighten and preserve paint, (Excellent Condition)

Freedman's Mechanical Bank

Manufacturer: Jerome B. Secor (Bridgeport, Connecticut,USA)

Circa 1880

Manufactured by Jerome B. Secor, Bridgeport, CT, circa 1880, less than ten known examples still exist in what has come to be considered one of the best known historically important banks ever made. The front panel reads, "Freedman's Bank," which gains its inspiration from the Freedman's Bank for newly freed slaves as established by U.S. Congress. When coin is deposited and clockwork is activated, the seated black man is able to thumb his nose, as if to give a jeering look to all depositors, quite a remarkable concept that must be seen to be appreciated!

Both of these toy mechanical banks are extremely rare, hence the high prices 

that were purchased at auction.   The Mikado Mechanical Bank was purchased for a final price of $ 46,600.00 USD, while the Freeman's Mechanical Bank went for $ 36,000.00 USD. It's great to see that during these trying times of the pandemic, people still are trying to continue with caution, but with their normal routines.

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day or night.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

Matching 1928 Keystone Toys to a Butler Brothers Catalogue

Friday, March 21, 2020
Sunny
27 C.  81 F

Matching 1928 Keystone Toys

 to a Butler Brothers Catalogue

It's always fun to find toys on the Internet and match them up to a catalogue.

Bertoia Auctions is having a current auction now with a lot of Keystone toys.

However, my 1927 Butler Brothers catalogue does not have these toys.

Coincidentally, when I did the Internet search, I came up with the page that I was looking for.

I found page 266 of the Butler Brothers 1928 (December) catalogue.

All of the toys are pressed steel with  rubber tires, and some of them have been restored.

Please click here to view this June 18, 2020 auction

If you are reading this after the end of the auction, then simply

go to the Bertoia Auctions website, and search for past auctions and June 18, 2020*

The "Packard Combo 49 Truck measures 28" (710 mm).

The other toys seen above are also large toys.

If anyone has any of the other Keystone toys featured above,

please feel free to send me your photos, and I will add them to this blog post.

Just e-mail me beforehand, so I can tell you the size of the photos, 

and how to light the toys for best results.

Returning to reality, up here in Canada, and my province of Quebec, 

The Covid19 virus statistics are starting to show the data stabilizing 

and/or the falling. The governments  (federal and provincial) are starting to 

ease up on the rules. Soon, I will be able to get a haircut and to 

go to large stores that were previously closed.

Nevertheless, if people start to go beyond the rules, then they will

endanger everyone. I hope people understand this.

So that's it for today.

Thanks for visiting,

and have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey BIndman

toysearcher@gmail.com

Life Goes on Remotely in the Digital Age

Monday, May 11, 2020
Sunny with Clouds
8 C 46 F

Life Goes on Remotely

in the Digital Age

Please click here to visit Bertoia Auctions website

Please click here to visit Bertoia Auctions on Liveauctioneers

There's a terrible virus going around, and it's affecting people differently around the world. 

I'm doing blogging, one friend who is an endodontist (root canal) is reading more books at home, with minimal emergency work in his office. He's visiting his 2 children and grandchildren in another Canadian city, but he and his will be wearing masks and keeping that 2 meter / 6 foot distance from everybody else. I'm also cycling whenever the weather is warm. So far, April was terrible, and May is continuing with low temperatures. It even snowed earlier in the week.

My wife, a teacher teaching interior design, has not taught for 2 months now. She now is communicating with her fellow teachers over the Internet with something called "Zoom" that communicates over the Internet via conferencing. 

This week (I think), larger department stores will start opening. There is one side saying that it's too early to open, and others saying go ahead.  Meanwhile, food chains, Costco, and large hardware store chains are now open to all.

Today, on Liveauctioneer, I checked to see what the results were for Bertoia Auctions first day of their  annual spring auction. People did bid on the Net, and the results appeared excellent 

(from my point of view).

Below is a sampling of just some of the old toys that went to auction. 

The auction was very successful, and the prices were excellent, from my point-of-view.
Today's Auction (May 10, 2020) is the second part  of the total auction.
Todays' bidding in many cases is above the estimate that Bertoia Auctions started at.

Below:

Air Mail plane

Cast iron

Wingspan:    8" 203 mm

Manufacturer: Kenton  

USA

Below:

Motor Driven Stake Truck

Pressed metal with rubber tires

Length:  25" 635 mm

Manufacturer: Kingsbury

USA

Below:

Jonah and the Whale Mechanical Bank

Cast iron

Circa: 1900's and later

Manufacturer: Shepard Hardware Company

USA

Below:

Hold the Fort Mechanical Bank

Cast iron with brass trigger

Circa: 1900's and later

Manufacturer Unknown (Designer Samuel Clark)

Below:

Large Racer

Cast Iron

Circa: 1929

Length: 11"  / 280 mm

Manufacturer: Vindex

 USA

Below:

Jaeger Cement Mixer Truck

Circa: 1930's

Cast iron, nickel plated rotary cement mixer drum

Length:  9"

Manufacturer: Kenton

USA

I hope that you too are finding things to do safely during these times.

Thanks for dropping by,

And have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

You can reach me anytime at:

toysearcher@gmail.com

Bertoia Auctions now on Liveauctioneers

Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Cloud with sunny periods
8 C  46 F

Liveauctioneers

Please click here to visit Bertoia Auctions on Liveauctioneers.com

Please click here to visit Bertoia Auctions Website

There is going to be an exceptional 2-day auction from Bertoia Auctions. You can visit either of the 2 websites above to see the 1682 lots. I'm always amazed with Bertoia Auctions. Just when I thought I've seen so many toys, they manage to list others that I have never seen before/ 

What I like about Bertoia Auctions is that they have excellent photography and large-sized photos.
Another feature of their website is that you can search for toys in a range of choices:

1. Type of Toy
2. Priced low to high
3.Priced high to low

You can look at the image below in the upper left corner to see other choices of how to view the 
toys that are up for auction. They even have a catalogue book that you can purchase  weeks in advance from them before the auction.

GUNTHERMANN FIRE LADDER TRUCK | A nice early rendition of a working fire ladder patrol truck with extending ladders, gears and cranks, the four original figures complete the piece nicely. 16" l. ( 417 mm)| Areas of gold re-gilded, ladder supports are re-soldered, toy has some flaking and appears to have been clear coated to stabilize paint loss, overall (Very Good Condition) | $2,000 - $3,000

GUNTHERMANN HORSELESS CARRIAGE | Scarce toy, lithographed auto with hand painted driver and rubber wheels. 5" l.  (127mm)| Original driver figure is worn and flaked, overall in (Very Good Condition) | $1,200 - $1,800

LARGE GUNTHERMANN TROLLEY | Wind-up floor toy, nice colors, catenary pole on roof, brass headlight feature on each end 10" l. (254mm)| (Excellent Condition) | $300 - $500

DENT FREEMANS DAIRY TRUCK | Embossed "Guernsey A Milk" on side and "Valley View Dairy" on doors. 8" l. (204mm) | (Pristine Condition) | $500 - $750

 LARGE ROCK AND GRANER PADDLE WHEELER | Clockwork, hand painted boat in attractive R&G colors of red, green and brown, long bow sprite, single stack, sleek hull tapers to a point at stern, shaft for wind up mechanism is accessed through fender on side of ship Provenance: Norm Schaut Collection. 26" l (660 mm). | Outside of paddlewheel covers overpainted black likely to cover the name, one cover and motor box are re-soldered, overall in (Excellent Condition) | $15,000 - $20,000

 MARKLIN DRAISINE INSPECTION CAR | Rare, Clockwork, Gauge 1, circa 1904, catalog #2431 `"Draisine" track inspection car, features two railroad men in boots and striped shirts who "pump" the machine down the tracks while the track inspector looks on at the rails, very detailed figures in fabric clothing and hand painted moustaches, machine itself features elaborate faux wood benches and large attractive red drive wheels with fine yellow detail on their spokes. Provenance: Tony Annese Collection. 9" l.( 228mm) | Rear pumping figures are added, (Excellent to Pristine Condition) | $7,000 - $10,000

If you have the time, please visit either of the sites that you can see. Either on Liveauctioneers or Bertoia Auctions website. There's lots to see, and lots to learn.

Thanks for dropping by,

 have a great part of the day or night,

and please take care of yourselves during these hard times

I can always be reached at:

toysearcher@gmail.com

Stacey Bindman

A Very Rare and Historic Antique Toy Comes to Market

Sunday, April 30, 2018
Cloudy and raining
7 C   48.6 F

A Very Rare and Historic 

AntiqueToy Comes to Market

www.bertoiaauctions.com

Manufactured by Jerome B. Sercor

Bridgeport Connecticut, U.S.A.

Circa 1880

"Less than known examples still exist in what has come to be considered one of the 

best known historically important banks ever made.The front panel of this exceptional 

museum quality piece reads "Freedman's Bank", which gains its inspiration from

the Freedman's Bank for newly freed slaves as established by the U.S. Congress.

The added detail of the seated black man able to thumb his nose and give a jeering look

at all depositors when the clockwork is activated is so amazing in concept, it must

be seen to be appreciated. The provenance is just amazing. It was discovered in a market in 

Mexico and sold to an antiquities dealer who was diligent enough to distinguished collector, Andrew Emerine's wanted ad, and the rest is history, and here documented with the 

actual letters of this bank's incredible journey.

Provenance: Andrew Emerine to Edwin H. Mosler Jr. to Stanley Sax

to Max Berry Collection.

Minor repair repair to head, and redressed using original cloth material.

(Excellent Condition)

                              Estimated:  $ 100,000.00 - $ 200,000.00 USD

History of the Freedman's Bank

At the end of the American Civil War, the poor economic conditions of the formerly enslaved freedmen was aggravated by the economic devastation of the Southern states. The newly freed African Americans had few economic resources or capital and even less exposure to private enterprise. Many soon turned to sharecropping and forced labor in the South. To help alleviate their socio-economic conditions, the Republican-controlled U. S. Congress established the Freedmen's Bureau, passing an act of incorporation and a charter for the Freedman's Saving and Trust Company, which was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1865. Originally headquartered in New York City, the first branch of the company opened in Baltimore, Maryland. By 1866, the bank had established 19 branches in 12 states, mainly in the South. The national headquarters was moved to Washington, D.C. the following year.^]*

The company had been created specifically as a depository for African-American veterans, as well  as former slaves and their families to build their savings. However, it also enabled numerous community organizations to increase their financial strength and expand their activities. The company attracted a large number of societies, churches, charities, and other private organizations that opened accounts and established trusts with the company. With the assistance of the company, numerous hospitals, schools and institutions, such as the St. Elizabeth Home for Colored Children and the St. Francis Xavier Church's Orphan Aid Society, were established. Noted community leaders and civil rights activists served as the management of several trusts and held other important positions in the bank. A large number of African American soldiers and veterans of the war opened savings accounts in the banks; the management of their funds was organized through an allotment system supervised by the officers of the various army regiments.*

*Courtesy of Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedman%27s_Savings_Bank

 (The above web address will redirect you to Wikipedia for further reading 

on the Freedman's Bank)

An Upcoming Exceptional Auction by Bertoia Auctions

Sunday, April  15, 2018
Overcast with freezing 
0 C  32 F

An Upcoming Exceptional

Auction by Bertoia Auctions

Please click here to visit this fine auction

Please click here to visit one of the largest and fine auction websites in the world

Auction Date:
Friday, April 27, 2018

Yesterday, I already posted a nice collection of Popeye toys for sale. These toys are from the same auction that I'm posting about today. The reason for my calling this auction "exceptional", is that many of the toys from this auction are toys that I have not seen before, or that I think I've not seen before. What also is great about this auction is that the photos of these toys are extra-large, so that you can see the fine detail of the toys.

Citroen Au Louvre Delivery Van

Detailed features such as nickel radiator, hand crank for starting the motor

and front axle with functioning steering knuckles.

Hand painted and clockwork driven.

Length:  15"  38 cm

Pinard Open Touring Car

Hand painted clockwork touring car, with

wonderful pin striping, brass door handles, cast metal headlamps and horn.

Length:  14 .5 "  37 cm

Rico Auto-Cars-Turismo Tour Bus

Spanish tour bus, clockwork driven, lithographed driver

and luggage rack on roof. Spare tire missing rubber.

Length:  19"  48.2 cm

Carette Two Seater Car

Classic form of a 1906 German toy luxury auto,

lithographed tin throughout, clockwork driven,

with removeable headlights on the sides. 

Figure and steering wheel missing.

Pinot Boat Tail Open Touring Car

Hand painted French convertible touring car

with large attractive head lamps, detailed fabric

cushions on seats,floral patterns on door handles,

and hand operated horn running from the driver's side to the left fender.

Provenance:  Jack Hubert Collection

Length:  18"  45.7 cm

French Convertible Touring Car

Battery operated head lamps, elaborate brass handles on each of

its two opening doors, a fabric convertible top, glass windshield,

large nickel headlamps mounted on its' hood, Missing front headlamps.

Length:  17"  43.2 cm

Early German Cloth Dirigible

Attributed to Ernest Plank, 

cloth covered body, tin wire frame support, gondola highlighted in red, 

single propeller, clockwork driven.

Circa:  1908

Length:  13.5"  34.3 cm

Tippco (Boxed) Bomber Airplane,

Lithographed tin airplane with bomb graphics

appearing on wings, seated composite pilot, cleverly designed

with lead cap bombs/weights placed under wings and able

to drop when clockwork is activated.

Provenance: Donald Kaufman Collection

Wingspan:  14.5"  36.8 cm

Jep Seaplane with Pontoons

French lithographed tin sea  plane,

Strong clockwork driven motor winds from the cockpit,

features seated composition pilot.

Length:  19"  48.3 cm

Kingsbury (USA) Bi-Wing Airplane

Wind-up motor-driven airplane.

Circa:  1930's

Length:  15"  38 cm

Dent (USA) Tri-Motor Ford Airplane

Includes sample toy tag #493, red paint

with gilt lettering. Second casting.

L x W:  12.5" x 11"   31.8 cm x 28 cm

There are 1,035 lots (items) in this auction, and there are all kinds of toys ranging from motorcycles, airplanes, cars, bicycles, and may interesting items. Due to the high-quality and file size of the images (as well as the  excellent photography), it's well worth it to visit either the Bertoia Auctions website, or Liveauctioneers, where the auction is also listed.

That's it for today.

THanks for dropping by,

and have a grea tpart of the day or night

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com