Old Antique Toys: Max Berry Collection

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The Carpenter Two Ladder Burning Building-Part I

Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Overcast and cold with chance of rain

The Carpenter Two Ladder Burning Building
Part I

Yesterday, I presented then exceptional and large Ives fire station and horse-drawn pumper. I mentioned that I'd be writing about today's "surprise", and so I have. This is one of the large cast iron toys made in the 1890's that was made by the Carpenter Company. It's titled the "Two Ladder Burning Building".

You have to remember that in the 1890's and into the early next century, there were no real fire safety codes in the USA. Building were made mostly from wood, and would burn very fast when a fire happened. Wood burning stoves were very common as were oil-burning lamps, so fire was more prone to happen that in todays' times. Also , there wasn't the underground water supply system that modern cities have today, so pumpers moved by horses were the norm at the time. Fire trucks with gas-driven engines were come into existence in about 20 years, give or take a few years, and they were rare.

Fires in those days would be big, and naturally, crowds would gather to watch fire crew combat and try to put out the fires. Even I, when I was young would be attracted to watch a fire, just like a moth is attracted to light. And so it was with toys.There were lots of toys, especially cast iron toys in the USA modelled after fire-fighting equipment and figures (people) of the time.

Please click here to visit this exceptional American auction Company

This item is current;y up for auction. It's from the exceptional collection of Mr. Max Berry, whom I have mentioned in several recent posts. What distinguishes this toy is that it has two ladders. I 've seen the Carpenter burning fire buildings but only with one ladder. The description mentions that there were three versions made, so I'll certainly have to kook for the third one or try and buy an old Carpenter catalogue or reproduction.

The lady on the balcony has her arms in a circle. When the fireman on the left side climbed the ladder, his right arm and harm were extended out, and he would "catch" the lady via her hands and arms that were in a circle.

The photo below show you that the lady is now safe in the arm of the left fireman, while the fireman on the right side hgas descended to the bottom of the ladder.

I have no idea what the lady on the wheeled platform to the left would be doing. Perhaps, there was a lever that released as the firemen saved the lady on the balcony, and she rolled out of the building.

Today's toy was made from wood and cast iron metal. It must be quite heavy, since yesterdays' was smaller and weighed in at 14 pounds or 6.36 kg.

I'm not sure that the inside cord and pulley is to the right side, but perhaps it connected to the lever that I "guessed" before might have allowed for the release of the lady on the wheeled platform.

You can see the words and numbers "Patented Jan 19, 1892" in the lower left corner. Also, in the shadows to the left and behind, you can see a small platform inside the building. Perhaps there is a lever action to release the lady on the wheeled platform, after all.

The opening asking bid for this item is in the 5 figures. I'm sure, that like all big toys that were "costly" in 1892, there were not as many sold as the lower-priced toys. Consequently, they were rarer then, an as they are today.

Somebody who wins this fine toy is going to be a very luck boy, or man or girl or lady!

But sadly, not I!

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be,

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com

Monday, October 27, 2014

The Ives Fire Station and Pumper

Monday, October 27, 2014
Mainly sunny and seasonally milder

The Ives Fire Station and Pumper

It's the time of year when you have to prepare fir winter - at least for those of us who live in the Northern hemisphere, and especially Canada. Yesterday, I built a small shelter to cover our swimming pool hear pump and water filter, repaired a broken fence slat, and then replaced the central air filter and the batteries for the smoke alarms. I also had to replace 2 smoke alarm detectors.

SInce I just received an excellent Ives, Blakeslee, and Williams Company reprinted catalogue, I examined it again, and found a fine fire station and pumper. This particular toy is quite large. I had found tomorrow's post time earlier in the week, but was looking for an item to compliment that "piece de resistance" and to start this week. And so I found the Ives station, and tomorrow, you will see a really spectacular item - both part of the exceptional Max Berry Collection to be auctioned via Bertoia Auctions.

Please click here to visit this fine American auction house

The fire engine house and the fibre engine (pumper) certainly were the "de riguer" (very fashionable ).Ives and partners had used an entire catalogue page to present this pair of toys. What of special interest is the fact that these two items were very expensive at $ 5.00 and $ 1.00 respectively for 1893.

It would be interesting to know if the value of an antique toy is directly related to its original price . In other words ,I would think that the more expensive the toy, the fewer that are sold, and the rarer they become in 100 years when antique you collectors vie for them at auction or buy them at antique toy stores.

Have a look at the weight of the fire engine house itself at the bottom left part of the above page.

It weighted 14 pounds or 6.36 kg

I now understand why the toy was made both of wood and cast iron. Had the entire toy been made of cast iron, it would have been both too expensive to sell, and would have weighed too much for the average child to move about. Even at 14 pounds or 6.36 kg, it's a super-heavyweight!

The toy must have been lots of fun for young children. The key wound up the clockwork mechanism. A release would fling open the from doors and the fire engine (pumper) with the horses would come out of the inside.

There are a few of these old fire stations left in Montreal, but they've been relegated to tourist attractions or use by the City of Montreal for tourism.

These particular toys are rare, and have received excellent final prices at auction, but not what I would have thought. However, tomorrow's fire-related item is even much rarer!