Another Reissue of a Spammed Post

Friday, October 17, 2014
Overcast and colder

The Buddy "L" Cement Mixer
(Reposted from Original date of June 2013)  

 This is one of the original posts that was spammed for the last 18 months. Google won't or says it can't do anything, 

so what I did was inform google through feedback (which they never read) that I would remove each and every post that was spammed, and  keep it in the draft and edit mode. The spam stopped  almost overnight,but I can't be sure it was actually due to my note to Google. I was again spammed today about 20 times, but that was because I changed 

a safety check on comments.This "blogger issue" will be updated periodically for anyone who has this inconvenience of having been spammed.

The Buddy L company began in 1910. At that time, it was the Moline Press Steel Company. IN 1921 the production of toys began. The owner, Fred Lundahl sold trucks and farm machinery, but made toys for his son Arthur. Arthur's nickname was Buddy.  The toys became so popular, than soon all of Buddy's friends wanted them also. Eventually, Fred Lundahl, changed the direction of the company to manufacturing only toys. If you do a search for Buddy L toys, you will find lots and lots of very well made toys ,as well as playful toys for young children.

   Yesterday, I wrote about cement trucks and portable cement mixers  exclusively from the Kenton Company. I had seen other brands, but decided to wait. So today, I'm writing just about the Buddy L cement mixer.

This particular toy was designed after a "real" machine of that time.  If you look closely, the toy has a  boiler, with a door for opening it to feed the fire. It has a water tanks with a faucet, as well as tracks and a pulley to move the trough. As far as toys go, this particular one has lots of details.

Today, I'm presenting 4 toys that are all the same. The only differences are that 2 were repainted and professionally restored. One of them is missing the tracks. The third one is also missing its tracks, and the fourth one is original and untouched. 

Please click to be redirected to Bertoia's fine website

#1

 # 2

 #3

#4

Winning Bids ( + sales commission - not included)

#1:   $  5,175.00

#2:    $ 1,725.00

#3:       $ 862.50

#4:      $ 431.25 

    As you can see, the prices descend depending on the condition of the toy, as well as it having all of its parts. The highest winning bid was for the original toy in its original condition. The second highest was a very nice toy, but missing its original tracks. The third and fourth toys were restored, but the last one was missing its tracks.

   If you're a collector that needs to have the "original, original" toy,then of course you'll have to pay more. If you'd be someone, like myself who'd like to have the toy, but couldn't afford the high price, I'd be bidding on the bottom 2 toys. What's more, is that you can find replacement parts either from  the Classic Tin Toy Company  or from Thomas Toys, Inc.

   I just thought of something that someone who's more an expert on antique toys might want to provide an answer to my question:

  If you were able to purchase 2 of these toys in less than ideal conditions, and were able to take original parts from 1 and attach to the other, how would that be bid at an auction, and how would that toy be classified or considered on the antique toy marketplace?

Thanks for visiting,

and have a great part of the day,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

Introducing Fontaine's Auction Gallery

Wednesday, January 22, 2013
                 (Sunny but very cold)

Introducing Fontaine's Auction Gallery

   I've decided for 2014 to add "non-toy" old and antique items whenever I can. If I had more time, I'd be writing more blogs about other antiques besides toys. I like "old" and interesting things, and there just are so many interesting items to see on the Net. Earlier this week, I came across a fabulous toy airplane that I saw on Liveauctioneers. The toy airplane which you'll see tomorrow, was sold by Fontaine's Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA.

  Knowing that I also wanted to share "non-toy" antiques, I decided to look at what Fontaine's sells besides old toys. I didn't have to search very long, when I came upon a few items just on the first page of Liveauctioneers.   I wrote to the company, and received permission from Mr. Bob Burke to write about Fontaine's Auction Gallery. He sent me the press release/bio that the company uses, as well as an excellent watermark top place over each image.

He also asked me to inform everyone that the photos that I am presenting today have been retouched by me.  That's to ensure that potential burrs or past burrs mistake what they bought or might by, from the photographs. Of course, I never tough the items, just the foundation. Also, I try to improve only minor areas such as focus, colour-balance, and highlight and shadow details. However, even in these areas, I very rarely had to do much!

I have to say though, that I did not touch the content at all,but just what the items rested on (the foundation as it's called in photographic terms) and the background.  Fortunately, the excellent quality of Fontaine's Auction Gallery photography made today's post all the more easier for myself.

Please click here to visit the most-interesting website of Fontaine's Auction Gallery

Fontaine's Auction Gallery

"With over 50 years of experience, Fontaines is the oldest full service auction gallery in Western Massachusetts, USA.Many of our buyers & sellers have been repeat customers for decades. Rated A+ with the Better Business Bureau and Voted best place to sell your antiques for 7 years in a row.We accept items on consignment for our nationally advertised auctions or will buy outright, one piece to an entire estate or collection.

We are currently accepting consignments for our upcoming auctions.

We specialize in: Furniture by John Belter, R.J. Horner, Herter Bros, John Jeliff, J&JW Meeks, Thomas Brooks, Gustav Stickley, Limbert etc.Lighting by Tiffany, Handel, Duffner & Kimberly, Pairpoint, Williamson etc.18th, 19th & 20th Century American & European Fine Art, Bronze & Marble Statuary, Sterling Silver, Asian Items, Porcelains, Clocks & Watches, Music Boxes, Art Glass & Cameo Glass, Gold & Diamond Jewelry, Coins, Pottery, Russian Items, Brilliant Cut Glass, Porcelains, Toys & Dolls, Mechanical & Still Banks, Decorated Stoneware, Nautical Items, Firearms & Military Items."

* Courtesy of Mr.Bob Burke (Webmaster of Fontaine's AUction Gallery)

Columbia Type  Q, "The Language Phone" Phonograph

DOmed oat lid and oak platform with black painted base plate and nickel from plates; the lid is signed with a banner decal for "The Language Phone, International College of Languages, New York & London". Has an open movement with original aluminum type-D reproducer playing cylinder records through either a nickel horn (11" long x 5.5" wide) or the earpiece which is a black hard rubber (original) attached to the white rubber tubing (replaced). With a set of  German Language records; missing the threaded winding key. Case is 8" high x 10" wide x 7" deep.

Metric Measurements:

Nickel horn:   279mm long x 140mm wide

Case:  203mm high x 254mm wide x 178mm deep

Large Paper Mache Advertising "Nipper" Dog

Manufacturer by the Old King Cole Papier Mache Co., Canton, Ohio (USA).

Has good original paint with minor stress marks around the front legs; signed with red oval tag under the front paw.

42.5" high (  1.08 M)

The story as to how the RCA (formerly Victor)  company came to use Nipper as a mascot is quote interesting.

Please click here to read how Nipper became the RCA mascot

Of course, since I am a toy blogger, I could;t just present the exceptional items above, which are not toys. So below are a few "choice" items for you to see.

Reeves Mfg. C. Giant Roller Coaster Tin Litho Windup Toy.

Has a mechanical lift which climbs the tower, at the top, the platform tilts the car onto a track with 3 humps at the top, and then onto the lower return track, bringing the car back to the lift. As the car passes onto the lift, it triggers the spring riven cam, which raises the lift and automatically releases the car again. Needs a new pulley string to the elevator, otherwise excellent.

12" high x 42"  wide x 2.5" deep

305 mm x 1.067 M x 65 mm

Large Tin Whistling Toy Top

Red painted wood handle on a spiral stem and orange base;the top is  litho decorated with cowboys and Indians on a colourful background. When the top spins at full speed, it makes a whistling sound through 5 vents pierced in the body.

11" high x 10" diameter

278 mm x 254 mm  

Lot of 7 Vintage Cast Iron Cap Guns.

Selection of 4 by Hubley, including the named Target, Pet, Fox, and Buck; one by National, one by Andes, titled "Oh Boy"", and one by Kilgore, titled "Big Bill". Each is very nice and in corking condition, in a display case with printed advertisements.

This introductory post for Fontaine's Auction Gallery was certainly most interesting for myself, and I hope everyone enjoyed it as well. The great photography and well-written descriptions help to make the presentation great reading.

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great part of the day or night, 

wherever you may be.

Stacey

toysearcher@gmail.com

"Don't Cry For Me Argentina"

Sunday, May 5, 2013
    (Holiday: Cinco de Mayo)

Don't Cry For Me Argentina

    I added "Holiday: Cinqo de Mayo" under today's date, as I thought it was "International Labour's day) which was on May 1. AS it turns out (you have to research your material when you write), today's date is a USA celebration of  Mexican heritage and pride,while in Mexico it's a local holiday in Pueblo, Mexico to acknowledge the surprising victory of Mexican troops over the French in the state of Puebla. on may 5, 1862.

    I ate too much frozen cherry and chocolate yogurt  (ice cream style), and as usual had frightful dreams and woke up early (it's now ) 5:10 A.M. EST (North America). Will I ever learn? Returning to the topic, I titled today's post after the play and movie titled "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". Of course, the music I'm thinking of the main song in the play and move written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with Lyrics by Tim Rice.

   Returning of course to the blog, Argentina actually had a famous (mostly to Argentina)  a fabulous toy company by the name of Matarazzo. Historically, the company was called Matarazzo & Cia and produced tin toys from 1934-1959. Constabile Matarazzo founded the company. He was the youngest brother of a wealthy Italian by the name of Count Francesco Matarazzo.

   I was only able to find 5 toys through Bertoia Auctions, but they are very nice albeit their number for today's post.

Please Click to be redirected to the fine Bertoia Website

 Interesting how the writing on the sides of the truck are in Spanish.

The writing translates to Energy for Peaceful tax-Nafta (Google), which I'm quite sure is not exactly the correct translation. So if anyone out there can help with the correct translation, that would be nice!

     As you can see, these toys from Argentina  look like many of the toys made around the world at the time (circa 1930's). They're lithographed tin, and have a clockwork (key wind-up mechanism) for mobility. The twin (2) "woodies" or wood-panelled trucks  also have nickel-plaing on the front grills. Although not written in the description of the 4th item, it also appears to have a nickel-plated grill.

    When you consider that the population of Argentina was 11,896,00* (http://www.populstat.info/Americas/argentic.htm*) 

the idea of creating a toy company there, in 1934 (Great Depression 1929-1939) was a big gamble at the time. However,the company survived and lasted well into the 1950's (1956). Canada's** population at the same time was 10,208.000** 

(http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/98-187-x/4151287-eng.htm**)

A Special Request

If there any  any toy collectors, auctioneers, or toy sellers interested in helping me by sending me photos of their Matarazzo toys, I'll be happy to add them to this post, and give the appropriate credit notices and copyright material. As well, I'll add a link to your e-mail address. You can send me your photos anytime, as I can always edit this post at a future date.

It's off for my morning coffee now at 6:00 A.M.

So thanks for dropping by,
and  as always,
have a great Sunday
 or any other time 
that you may be reading this particular post.

Stacey
toysearcher@gmail.com

The Kelmet Corporation - Continued

Thursday, July 11, 2013
          (Post # 2 of the Day)

The Kelmet Corporation - Continued

   If you came from today's other post, you'll know that I prefer to have only 1 person, seller, collector, or company per post. That's because I like to thank the people by giving them this exclusivity, rather than have 10 different toys from 10 different people. On rare occasions, I've "broken" my unofficial rule, but  I normally keep to it.

   As with all of the fine people I have permission from, Mr. Dan Morphy and his company are great people and resources for my blog, and I can never thank them enough for sharing me with and my readers their fine expertise, as well of course, their fine photography. 

Please click here to visit Morphy Auctions fine website

Have a look at the wheels and tires of the 23 previous fire engines. I think that the cast iron spoked wheels with the ribber tires were produced first. Later on, the disc wheels with rubber tires came later. You can also see this same transition with the black and red flatbed truck.

Between Bertoia Auctions and  Morphy Auctions, I was able to present almost all of the Kelmet toys that I could find through my initial search at Liveauctioneers. The other toy can be found at Liveauctioneers of you do a search for Kelmet toys >> Sold.

It's always great to be able to present almost all of the toys from 1 manufacture, and I think though, this id the first time, I have done this. Most other manufacturers remained in business much longer, or initially had many more toys that they produced.