A revisit to Morphy Auctions

Friday April 10, 2020
Cloud with some sun
5 C 41 F

A Revisit to Morphy Auctions

       

       I was searching out what to write about, and came across an auction by Mr. Dan Morphy, one of the best auctioneers in the USA. 

      

      I haven't been to Morphy Actions  lately, so I decided to visit this fine American Auctioneer. Mr. Dan Morphy is a  highly-successful auctioneer, and about 5 years ago, he purchased the toy division of James D. Julia's antique, advertising and toy and doll division .  The auction was a great success, and it was good to see that people were buying toys, especially the rarer ones.  You would be very surprised to see the final results of some of the rarer toys. The link below will redirect you to Dan Morphy's website.

Please click here to see this fantastic auction

Made in Germany for the English market. Probably made by Saalheimer & Strauss, the makers of the series of Mickey Mouse tin-litho mechanical banks. Marked on back "By Exclusive Arrangement with Ideal Films Ltd All Rights Reserved Registered" 

Includes almost unheard-of original box, which is complete with great color graphics, marked "Mechanical Mighty Robot Made by M (Mitsuhashi Japan)". Probably the most desirable and rarest of all wind-up robots ever made!

Place a coin in the slot on the roof and press the lever. The skaters glide to the rear of the rink as the coin falls into the bank and the man turns as if to present a wreath to the little girl. To reset, slide the figures back to their original position. 

Comes with English King Edward 7093 engine with matching LNWR tender and one passenger car, also marked "L & WR".  Hinged-roof car shows seating inside. 

Please  redirect by clicking on the

words above where it says:

"Please click here to see this fantastic auction"

Well, that's it for today.

I may add a few more image later on.

Please take care of yourself

and have a great day,

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

If you ever want to, contact me at the web address above

at the top of this page

Two Fine Cast Iron Mechanical Banks

Monday, April 16, 2018
Overcast with freezing rain 
and snow pellets
-2 C  28.4 F

Two Fine Cast Iron

Mechanical Banks

Please click here to visit Dan Morphy's website

Please click here to visit Dan Morphy's Auction on Liveauctioneers

Auction date:  May 16, 2018

Beginning 09:00 AM EST

The reason that I've added two links above is for a reason. The photographs on liveauctioneers are larger. On the Dan Morphy website, the written details of the toys are much more elaborate.

The weather certainly is not springlike up here in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). It's been raining freezing rain on us, followed by snow pellets. This is spring in Quebec. Fortunately, I haven't yet changed from winter tires to summer tires.

Yesterday, I mentioned that Bertoia Auctions had increased the size of their photos. Today, as I was perusing through liveauctioneers, Dan Morphy had also increased the size of his photos. Not only that, but he (his photographer of course) had placed toys against a white background. That's most certainly helped me out, since I no longer have to use Photoshop to remove other backgrounds.

I just selected 2 fine cast iron mechanical banks for today's post. It's difficult to find different ones from the ones I already have on my blog. However, the two banks today were photographed superbly with lots of nice and detailed photos.

Cast Iron Indian (Native American) Shooting Bear Mechanical Bank

This bank was manufactured by J.& E. Stevens of Cromwell, Connecticut.

Pull the trigger under the Native American, place a coin on the gun.

When the trigger is pulled, the Head of the Native American drops, and the coin 

is shot into the slot of the bear's stomach.

Circa: 1883

Length x Height:  10.5" x 7.75"   26.7 cm x 19.7 cm

William Tell  Mechanical Bank manufactured by J. & E. Stevens

Pull the coin launcher back (on the top surface of the gun) until

it is in the locked position. The figure lowers his head as if aiming, 

A coin is placed on the rifle the shooter's right foot is pressed, 

and the coin is fired into the slot above the head and the apple falls

off the boy's head.

Circa 1896

Length x Height:  10.5" x 6.75"   26.7 cm x 17.2 cm

There are a lot of nice toys included in this auction, so have a look 

at both the websites and see if there is anything that you like.

Lowest Cost - Most Appreciation!

Sunday, March 4, 2018
Overcast
2 C  35.6 F

Lowest Cost - 

Most Appreciation

Please click here to visit Dan Morphy on Liveauctioneers

The term  "penny toys" is a name that was used for inexpensive lithographed tin toys. These  toys were mostly manufactured in Germany between the 1880's and 1914, and were sold in the UK, Europe, and America. The toys were sold by the gross (144 pieces) to wholesalers for 8 shillings,

who sold them, as well as selling them to street peddlers, who sold them for a very good profit.

The toys were typically miniatures at a length of less than 10 cm (9.8 cm). The term  "Penny Toy" came about in the UK (United Kingdom), as the toys were sold  for one Penny. The toys could be wheeled on the ground or house floor, and the more sophisticated toys could move up and down, or even rotate. THese toys reflected life as it was in the 1880's-1910's, and as such toys were manufactured for a country's marketplace for what 'real things' were the most popular. 

Omnibuses and ambulances were popular  in London, Postal delivery vans were popular in France, and  train locomotives were popular in the United States. Other toys included mothers and children, horses, other animals, bicycles, motorcycles, and even merry-go-rounds.*

* Courtesy Wikipedia

When I went to visit Liveauctioneers, I found many popular auctioneers

 who had lots of penny toys.  I selected Dan Morphy Auctions because  I hadn't written about this fine company in a while . As well, their photography is always outstanding.

German Tin Litho Penny Toy Motorcycle

Marked CKO on one side and No. 187 on the other side

Also marked Made in Germany

Condition: Excellent-Near Mint

Length: 3"  7.6 cm

Rare German Tin Litho Clown & Dog Penny Toy

Marked Gesch

Near Mint

Sold for (May 30, 2017): $ 2500.00 US

Length:  3"   7.6 cm

Rare German Tin Litho Motorcycle Penny Toy

Has a separate full body tin litho original driver

Length:  4"  10.2 cm

Unusual German Tin Litho Bicycle Penny Toy

Showing 6 bicycles in a race with all numbers on 

the sleeves "#1-#6). Marked 'Gesch"

Works with spring mechanism. 

Puch the bar, and they slowly spin around.

Height:  2 1/2"  65 mm

German Tin Litho Penny Toy Motorcycle

Scarce version with soldier wearing World War I type 

Prussian spiked helmet.

Tin Litho Woman Pushing Sleigh Penny Toy

Length:  3"  76 mm

Tin Litho Hot Air Balloon & Zeppelin Penny Toy

Very scarce crank-operated toy.

Length:  3 1/2"  9 cm

Scarce (Rare) Tin Litho Express Motorcycle Penny Toy

Length:  3"  7.6 cm

Small tin monkey riding dog

Articulated toy that when monkey is pushed, riding dog moves up and down.

Marked 'Gesch'.

Length:  3"  7.6 cm

German Tin Litho Penny Toy Touring Car

MArked 'Gesch' on rear of car

Length:  3 1/2"  9 cm

If you visit Liveauctioneers, and do a search  inn the past auctions for 'penny toys', 

you will come across 1000's of results with all kinds of fascinating toys. Also,

always keep a lookout for these original toys. Once upon a time long ago, they sold for a penny. Now, the rarer ones can sell for up to $ 2500.00 US. That's a profit of 250,000%. Of course, your great-great relative would have had to have money to buy such a "luxury" toy, and then would have had to pass it on to their children, who passed it along to their children, and so on.

So thanks for visiting,

and haver a great part of the day or evening,

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

The J. & E. Stevens Company (Mechanical Banks)

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Sunny with clouds

-7 C  19.4 F

The J. & E. Stevens Company

(Mechanical Banks)

Please click here to visit this Dan Morphy Auction on Liveauctioneers

John and Elisha Stevens  created their company in Cromwell, Connecticut (USA) in 1843. 

Like most cast iron companies of the time, the company cast-iron hardware such as hinges and locks, hammers and some cast iron toys.  The cast iron toys became so successful,that the company

decided to manufacture toys and mechanical banks. Eventually the J. & E. Stevens Company became the largest manufacturer of cast-iron toys in the U.S.A. *

* Courtesy of Connecticuthistory.org/cromwells-iron-made-made-toys-for-boys-and-girls/

J. & E. Stevens Germania Exchange Cast Iron and Lead

Mechanical Bank

Circa 1880's

Place a coin on the goat's tail. Turn the faucet and the goat deposits

the coin in the bank and presents the depositor a glass of beer.

Height x Width:  7 3/4" x 5 3/4"  (198 mm x 145 mm)

J. & E. Stevens Boy Robbing Bird's Nest

Cast Iron Mechanical Bank

Raise the tree limb and place a coin in the slot.

Press the lever and as the limb falls, the coin disappears

Width x Height:  6" x 8"  152 mm x 203 mm

J. & E. Stevens Lion Hunter

Cast Iron Mechanical Bank

Ptented 1911

Cock the rifle, and place a coin in position.

Press the lever and the hunter shoots the coin at the lion

as the lion rears up and the coin deflects into the bank.

Height x Length:  7 3/4" x 10 1/2"  197 mm x 267 mm

J. & E. Stevens Cat & Mouse

cast Iron Mechanical Bank

Patented 1891

Place a coin in front of the  mouse and press the lever.

The coin falls into the bank as the cat appears to hold the mouse.

Width x Height:  5 1/2" x 8 1/2"   140 mm x 215 mm

J & E. Stevens Novelty 

Mechanical Bank

Open the door and place a coin on the tray of the teller.

Release and close the door to deposit the coin.

J. &  E. Stevens Boy Scout Camp

Cast Iron Mechanical Bank

Circa: 1917

Insert a coin at the top of the tent.

Press the lever, and the Scout raises the flag as the coin drops in the bank.

Height x Length:  153 mm x 242 mm

Many of these banks often do not have the lock or the metal trap

 to open the hole, at the bottom of the base of the bank.

This bank has one.

J. & E. Stevens  Eagle & Eaglets

Cast Iron Mechanical Bank with Original Wood Box

Circa 1883

Place a coin in the mother eagle's beak and press the lever.

The mother eagle leans forward as the eaglets rise from the nest crying for food.

Length x Height:   6 1/2" x 8"  165 mm x 203 mm

This bank has the original wood box that the bank came in.

Many mechanical banks that are found do not have their original boxes.

You might want to visit Dan Morphy on Liveauctioneers, because there are 

a  lot more mechanical banks that were sold in this particular auction.

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great day or evening.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com

Smith-Miller Toys Revisited

Monday, February 5, 2018
Partly sunny with clouds
-7 C  19.4 F

Smith-Miller Toys Revisited

Please click here to visit Dan Morphy on Live Auctioneers

Smith-Miller is a modern-day company that has produced large-sized models or toys, depending whether or not a child plays with them, or an adult collects them. They've been around since 1979, however, the original company was formed in 1954. Originally, the company was producing toys under the names "Smitty Toys" and "M.I.C.". These fine toys are 1/16 in scale  or from 16" - 25" (402 mm - 605 mm) depending upon the type of toy. The current owner (1979) is Mr. Fred Thompson who had bought these toys when he was a young boy. Originally, the original company produced only 2 trucks, but today, there are 48 different toys (models). The newer trucks all have serial numbers and are produced in limited editions. The trucks are hand-assembled, and one can even order parts for trucks should the toy or part of the toy break. THe cost of the new toys can range 

$ 995.00 - 1395.00 US dollars, and that includes shipping. For the budget-conscious person, the older versions of toys can be found on ebay or at toy auctions on Liveauctioneers. Prices for the "used" toys can range from $ 500.00 - $ 1200.00 US dollars.

Thanks for dropping by

and as always,

Have a great part of the day or night.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

Cast Iron Doorstops

Tuesday, January16, 2018
Overcast
-3 C  26.6 F

Cast Iron Figural Doorstops

Please click here to visit this highly successful auction company

You've probably read many of my posts about cast iron toys. However, most interestingly, these companies manufactured other products. They produced hardware for houses. This would include door hinges and door locks.  They also produced doorstops. Back in the 1870's and later on, houses weren't built  as well. Many houses also were quite old, so settling of the houses into the ground created some problems. One of these problems was tilting. This might not have been so apparent from the outside of the house, but inside, the doors often would slam into walls if the doors didn't have doorstops. So,doorstops were manufactured to keep the doors against the wall or keep them at any angle needed (such as when keeping the front door open for fresh air in the summertime. Being made of cast iron, these doorstops were heavy, and you had to watch out to ensure that you didn't smash your toes or foot against them! These items are very desirable as collectibles, and can be seen at flea markets and at auctions. The category of these collectibles is Cast Iron Figural Doorstops, as they were manufactured in many common forms, as you can see below. I've only taken a "sampling" of these fascinating items, but if you go to Liveauctioneers, you will see many of these items listed at auctions.

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day or night.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com