Sunday, April 7, 2013
The Gong Bell Toy Company
I keep wondering if I'm ever going to run out of old and antique toy companies to find. Yet yesterday, I find another one from the late 19th century in the USA. The Gong Bell toy company was created in 1866 by 4 people - Mr. H.H.Abbe, Mr. E.C.Barton, Mr. E.C.Cone, and Mr. A.H.Conklin.
In 1872, Mr. Barton patented a unique toy (at the time) called "Revolving Chimes". The toy was described in the patent as " a pair of cast bronze gongs, mounted between two malleable iron wheels". From that 1 patent and design,the company flourished and expanded to make many toys based on that idea. The company produced mostly toys with bells, and as you'll see, their very specific type of toy is easily recognized as a Gong Bell. The company stopped production in the mid-1960's, almost lasting a century.
Gong Bell incorporated in Connecticut (USA) in 1899. Along the way, the company made the first bell for a car, and later a toy telephone with a bell and a moveable receiver hook. Wooden toys were also made,and like all companies, went into war production during WWII. They manufactured hardware for parachutes . Sadly, like many other companies, the late 1950's and early 1960's had plastics gain a large market hare for toys, and Gong Bell could not compete,nor were their toys as popular as they once were earlier. The company eventually closed down for good in the mid 1960's.
AS the toy is pulled along with a string (pull toy), the 2 goats rise and fall. THey do so via their connection to 2 L-shaped axles. They alternately strike the bell, so that there is a ring-ring sound.
The toy above is interesting in terms of its bell-ringing. An irregular rear axle causes the "tramp" character to rise and fall as the toy is pulled along with a string. This subsequently causes the 2 small round metal shapes attached to the chains on each side of the bell to hit the large bell in an intermittent manner.
As you can easily see, there are 3 main characteristics that will most-eality identify these toys as made by Gong Bell.
1. The bell and accompanying parts to hit the bell.
2. An interesting character represented by an animal or person
3. The beautifully intricate wheels
I'd bet that if you ever see a toy like this at an auction, toy fair, or yard sale, you will definitely know it as a Gong Bell toy!
Thanks for dropping by,
and as always, have a great part of the day,
wherever you may be.
Stacey
