An Item that Went to Auction and Soared in Price

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Overcast and Damp

2° C/ 35° F

A Less-Noticed Item that went to Auction 

and Soared in Price

(from the Lloyd Ralston Gallery)

I've been writing blog posts for the Lloyd Ralston Gallery for a while. The Ralston family has been in business for 47 years., and have become well-known for their fine and well-organized auctions, with lots of interesting items up for sale. They've allowed me to write about their fine toys, and I'm much appreciative to them

It's always nice to see a company continue from generation to generation, as well as mature and expand over time.

"In 1978, Lloyd and Ruth Ralston got their first antique you collection for auction, and it's been a success story ever since. Now run by Glenn and Liane Ralston, they hold 8 to 10 auctions a year and have a large and loyal worldwide clientele."

Please click on this sentence to redirect to their history

I was looking on the Internet fort what to write today, and decided to write a post about a  recent Lloyd Ralston Gallery auction. The Gallery is now on LiveAuctioneers, and that is where I went to see their latest auction. 

However, when I went to their main page on LiveAuctioneers, I noticed something that caught my eye.

Please click on this sentence to redirect to their Main Page on LiveAuctioneers

What caught my attention were 2 words - "Record Results". What that meant were the results of items that had very high final bid results. I redirected to that page and found an item that was interesting for the fact that it was a cardboard container box for a set of Lionel Trains

from 1928!!!

Whoa! Now that's something. A beautiful lithographed and coloured cardboard

container that was in very good condition from 1928 - 97 years old,

and soon to reach a century - 100 years!!!

Please click on this sentence to redirect to the auction result of this rare item

I hope you'll be as surprised as I was to see the final winning bid price

on this beautiful box that once contained a beautiful train set. 

There's a old famous expression:

"Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater"

What it means is that something might accidentally be thrown out without realizing its' true value.

So the next time, you buy something with a nice container,  keep it.

Keep it first to protect what you purchased, but keep the container for 

protecting that item. And in the cast of colour, keep the

item out of direct sunlight.

You never know, what the value of the container may be.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

My name is Mr. Stacey Bindman

and I can always be reached at 

toysearcher@gmail.com

A Wonderful Memory Comes Back to Me

Sunday,February 9, 2025

-4° C / 25°F

Sunny and finally a 

warm winter day

A Wonderful Memory Comes Back to Me

I started my day today a bit later than normal. Even though I'm "older", I still can't get used to winters up here in Montreal. So, I woke up later than usual, ate, and went to my computer. I decided to write a post from the Lloyd Ralston Gallery.

The Company was created by Mr. Lloyd Ralston and his wife Ruth until sadly, 

they both passed on. Today, Mr. Glenn Ralston, their son, has taken the fine company to the next generation and the next level. What I recently noticed is the excellent degree of photography that the toys are presented. 

For today, I found an interesting toy that was sold on their latest auction

of  February 1, 2025.

Please click on this line to visit this fantastic auction

I was going to present a lot of great toys, but one toy in particular,

 caught my attention.

The toy is described as:

"Motor City MC-22S 1948 Chrysler Town & Country

white metal, tan, Leo Carillo limited edition w/steer, original box & insert, C9."

What caught my attention were a steer skull with a pair of horns on the front 

of this beautiful car. What also caught my curiosity was the name "Leo Carillo"

in the description. Who could that be? 

So I did a Google search for "Leo Carillo", and I take a flashback into the late 1950's

when I would watch The Cisco Kid on TV,  from  the American station, 

WCAX TV from Vermont.  At that time, we had a TV antenna.  

The series lasted from 1950-1956."

* Research writing was found on the Wikipedia website

Mr. Leo Carillo was the Cisco Kid's "sidekick "Pancho", and the Cisco Kid was played by Mr. Duncan Rinaldo. I am assuming that Leo Carillo actually had

a 1948 Chrysler Town & Country car with the "ornament"  at the front of the car.

"The Cisco Kid" was a 1950-1956 half-hour American Western television series

starring Duncan Renaldo in the title role, the Cisco Kid, and Leo Carillo as the jovial sidekick, Pancho. The series was syndicated to individual stations, and was popular. with children. Cisco were technically desperados wanted for

unspecified crimes, but were viewed by the poor as Robin Hood figures who

assisted the downtrodden when law enforcement officers proved to be corrupt,

or unwilling to help. It was also the first television to be seen in color, although

few viewers saw it in color until the 1960's.

Synopsis

The Cisco Kid was a. charming ladies' man, dressed in a highly-embroidered outfit,

and his sidekick Pancho brought humor to the series with his heavy accented

comments. Duncan Renaldo said of Leo Carillo playing Pancho: " His accent was

so exaggerated that when we finished the picture, no one in the cast or crew could talk normal English anymore. The Cisco Kid rode a horse named Diablo, and Pancho rode Loco.

Someone else (the final bidder of the auction toy) most-certainly also liked the TV series The Cisco Kid"as I did, when I was a kid way back in the 1950's.

The final winning bid for this toy was US $ 2800.00 

plus the Buyer's Premium of 18% ($ 500.00).

I'm sure the person who bought that model toy is enjoying

the model car and for sure bringing back memories from a 

long time ago.

Thanks for dropping by to visit my blog,

and have a great part of the day or night, wherever you may be.

My name is (Mr.) Stacey Bindman

and I can always be reached at 

toysearcher@gmail.com

A Wonderful Auction of Small-Sized Toys from the Lloyd Ralston Gallery

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Clear Skies and Very Cold

-12° C / 10° F

A Wonderful Auction of

Small-Sized Toys 

from the Lloyd Ralston Gallery

(LiveAuctioneers Auction - August 10, 2024)

    The way I select my next post is to check up on whom I haven't written 

about in a while. So when I searched my blog posts, I noticed that I

hadn't written a post for the Lloyd Ralston Gallery.

Below is their logo, and I always remember the logo without the type.

It's so very suitable  as a symbol that I am always reminded to whom this

logo belongs.

There was a excellent auction on August 10, 2024

Please click on this sentence to visit the completed auction

This was a fantastic auction, as the listings were mostly small-sized toys, of different companies. such as Corgi, Dinky, and Tootsietoy. 

What's great about LiveAuctioneers, is that you can look at past and present auctions, and be able to research all kinds of toys from all over. The site is akin to a giant library where you can Research out toys.Of course, LiveAuctioneers lists auctions with all kinds of merchandise going to auction.

Description (Below):

Tootsietoy 6665 Model A Sedan, C7-8

Description (Below):

Tootsietoy# 713 Sedan, red, rubber tires replaced,

#715 Convertible Sedan, blue & cream, paint & tires worn, C5-7

Description (Below):

Tootsietoy 5220 Army Set

Contains # 4644 Mack Searchlight, 4643 Mack AA Truck, 4635 Armored Car,

2 #4647 Renault Tanks, treads replaced, all are camouflaged, 2 #119 US

Army Planes, green 1030 Zeppelin, 719 Crusader, silver & blue, 3 # 4642

Cannons, 2 Midge Airplanes, original box rough, missing 4" of 1 side panel, 

with 2 inserts.

Description (Below):

2 Tootsietoys 716 Doodlebugs, C7-8

Description (Below):

2 Tootsietoy Cadillacs,C6-7

Description (Below):

Contains 4675 Seaplane, orange, 4660 Aero Dawn Seaplane, green,4659

Auto Gyro, tan & blue, 717 DC-2, blue & yellow, each propeller missing 1

blade, 4649 Trimotor, red, paint flaking on wing, rubber tires word, 

with 6 pilots, original box & insert minor war.

Description (Below):

2 Tootsietoy Chevrolets,  

6201 Roadster, orange and black,

6202 Delivery Van, green & black, C6-7

Description (Below):

4630 Adam, Medrum & Anderson Co, Store Van,

maroon, 1 front fender chipped, touch up on edges.

Description (Below):

 115 Convertible Sedan, tan & brown, 114 Convertible Coupe, green & tan,

grille & tires replaced, 111 Sedan, green, 113 Wrecker, red ,C5-6

Description (Below):

Tootsietoy 5211 Fire Department

Contains Mack Hook & Ladder, Pumper, Chevrolet Ambulance, 

Mercury Fire Chief Car, 2 helmets, ladders, tools & badge, original box & insert worn with tears & tape, C6-7

I've only selected 10 nice auction items to show. However,

if you visit LiveAuctioneers or go to the Lloyd Ralston Gallery website,

you will see the whole completed auction.

Excellent websites like the Lloyd Ralston Gallery website and a great resource.

You can learn a lot about toys just from visiting these sites.

So that's it for today, and I hope that you enjoyed thiblog post.

Thanks. for visiting, and as always,

have a great part of the day or night, wherever you may be.

My name is (Mr.) Stacey Bindman,

and I can always be reached at toysearcher@gmail.com

The Times They Are a-Changin'

 Sunday, December 31, 2023                                                                                                         

-3 Celcius / 26.6 F

Overcast with some flurries

    There's a song title by the famous American folk singer, Bob Dylan. The name of the song is

"The Times They Are a-Changin". And so it goes with toys and toy auctions. In the last couple of years, well-known American toy auctioneers have joined an ever-growing auction website by the name 

liveauctioneers.   

    I haven't contacted the many auctioneers whom have allowed me to write about them, and of course use their excellently-photographed toys at their auction websites.  But in the last 2 years, I've noticed that several respected and renowned auctioneers have joined 

liveauctioneers.

    Interestingly, many of them still retain and maintain their websites, along with the ability to view their auctions. Bidding takes place on LiveAuctioneers, and I'll have to contact one of the fine American toy auctioneers to see if bidders can still bid on both their websites, as well as on

 liveauctioneers.

Liveauctioneers is a website that  has become very popular and has got quite large. It's a website that allows all kinds of different types of auctioneer companies to present their merchandise and auctions there. If you go there, you will see all kinds of different types of merchandise. Naturally, I've only written and presented old and antique toy auctioneers.  I've only presented a small number of companies that I've written about, but there are also, many more that you will find on this website.

CYBERTOYAUCTIONS is another well-known American auction company that now can be found on liveauctioneers.   

The 3 companies shown below happen to be owned by CYBERTOYAUCTIONS. Old Toy Soldier Auctions USA, is a special auction company that specializes in "old toy soldiers". 

You can go to the liveauctioneers website by clicking on the link below:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/

Once you are on the liveauctioneers opening page, you can search for the auctioneers that I've

listed today, and you will be redirected to any of the companies that I've added to this post today. 

You will also be able to search out for other toy auctioneer companies.

As always,

Thanks for dropping by.

Have a great part of the day or night.

My name is (Mr.) Stacey Bindman

and I can always be reached at:

toysearcher@gmail.com

And one final note:

To all of my readers, thanks for dropping by,

and have a Healthy and Happy New Year.

  

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                         

Lloyd Ralston Toys Revisited

Thursday, May 14, 2020
Sunny with clouds
12 C 54 F

Lloyd Ralston Gallery Toys Revisited

I've been visiting people and their stores to see how they are doing in 2020.
This fine store was founded by Mr. Lloyd Ralston, 
who sadly passed away some years ago. The company  ( Shelton, Connecticut, USA)
is now run superbly by his two sons.

Like many auctioneers, the Lloyd Ralston Gallery has signed up with Liveauctioneers.
Liveauctioneers is a unique website that signs up antique dealers of all kinds, including the special area of antique and modern toys. It has a vast linkage all over the world.

A great asset of this company is the fact that it has the resource of seeing toys from previous auctions, as well as their corresponding final prices of the toys. However they lack the capability of entering the  brand name or descriptive words of their merchandise. Nevertheless,
it still is a fantastic source of information about toys.

The auction occurred on May 2, 2020, and consisted
mostly of railroad train, cars, and accessories.

I've added the final prices of the these toys that went to auction. These are
the higher-priced toys, but there were lots of other toys that buyers selected at lower prices.


Please click here to visit their website

Please click here to arrive at their link on Liveauctioneers


Lionel 400E Locomotive and Tender
400T Tender 
Final Price: $ 750.00 US + Fees + Taxes




Bing 7116 Post Car
0 Gauge
Hand-painted tin with Interior
Both 4-wheel trucks articulate
Final Price: $ 1100.00 US + Fees + Taxes



Ives 800 Trolley
O Gauge
Lithographed Tin, Windup  Mechanism
With Trolly, Pole & Cowcatchers
Circa 1910
Final Price: $ 4200.00 US & Fees & Taxes




Lionel 1928 Store Display
Lithographed Press-boards
60" x 22" (558 mm x 154 mm)
Final Price: $ 16, 000.00 + Fees + Taxes


Lionel Train Set
0 Gauge
Twin Motor Engine and Assorted Cars
Final Price: $ 1300.00 US + Fees + Taxes



Lionel 2624M
Manhattan Pullman
0 Gauge
With Original Box
Final Price: $ 1500.00 & Fees & Taxes



Buddy L Trench Digger
Painted Pressed Steel
L x W x H  24" x 14" x 20"  610 mm x 355 mm x 509 mm
Weight:  28 pounds  /  12.72 Kilograms
Circa 1928
$ 2500.00 US + Fees + Taxes (Unless out-of-state)
© 2020
Lloyd Ralston Toys


I'd seen these Buddy L trench diggers before, but hadn't 
realized just how heavy and big they were. Also, I  thought
that they were manufactured much later in the 20th century.
This one was produced about thye 1930's!



MarklinDT800 Rail Car
HO Gauge, First Version
  Final Price:  $ 800.00 US + Fee + Taxes
Lloyd Ralston Toys



Ives 490R Universal Fast Freight Jr. Set
0 Gauge
Assorted Cars
Original Boxes
Circa: 1930
Final Price:  $ 2700.00 & Fees & Taxes


Ives 117 Suburban Station
0 Gauge
Lithographed Tin
Circa  1906
Final Price:  $ 1000.00 plus Fees & Taxes



Wow!
The time sure is moving fast.
In 5 weeks it will be summer, 
but with this pandemic it most certainly doesn't have the elation
of looking forward to  the nice weather, and having a vacation.
Nevertheless, it's what it is, and we all have to make the 
best with what we have.

Take care, and be safe.

Thanks for dropping by

Stacey Bindman
toysearcher@gmail.com

Promotional Tabletop Cars

Friday, October 19, 2018
Overcast (clouds)
12 C 54 F

Promotional Tabletop Cars

    I've been looking at my older posts in order to find new material for present and future blogs. I decided to visit Lloyd Ralston Galleries to see what I might discover. 

Please click here to visit the Lloyd Ralston Galleries website

Please click here to visit the Lloyd Ralston Gallery on the Liveauctioneers website

Lloyd Ralston Gallery has been one of the busiest and best auction galleries since its inception. The primary focus has always been full-color, professionally-described cataloged auctions of vintage collectible antique toys, trains, soldiers and die cast vehicles.

Family owned since 1978, it is located in Shelton, Connecticut. The 10,000 sq. ft., showcase-lined gallery has seating for 100 people. Fully air-conditioned and heated, it offers a comfortable atmosphere for attending bidders. The hours are 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday or by appointment.

When you contact us at Lloyd Ralston Gallery, you are speaking directly to a helpful and knowledgeable owner who is ready to assist you. Their goal has always been to maximize consignor's profit while also making the auction friendly and easy for the buyer.

We are members of the Antique Toy Collectors of America, the Train Collectors Association, and the Mechanical Bank Collectors of America.

 Not all model cars are toys. There are companies that manufacture models for the car manufacturers, as well as large dealerships. These companies were much more popular in past times, but there may still be a few left.  National Products was one of these companies that existed from the 1930's-1950's.  They would manufacture model vehicles for cars and these would either be sent free or charged to the dealerships. These models were usually 7" - 10"  (178 mm - 254 mm) long, and made of rubber or metal. Sometimes the models would have the names of the car dealership on them, and other times there was no writing on the models.

As I was checking for these models, I was fortunate to come across a large selection of these items on Liveauctioneers, specifically from a Lloyd Ralston Gallery Auction. What garnered my attention, when I did a search for sales descending from the highest price to the lowest, was the fact that these fine car models did in fact receive final high bids. 

Thus, this is what I decided to write about for today's blog.

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