The Arnold Toy Company

Monday, January 7, 2013

The Arnold Toy Company

(Germany)

    As I was looking for my next topic, I came across the German toy manufacturer - Arnold. Needless to say, when I put in a search for Arnold Toys, I ended up with 40% hits of  Arnold Schwarzenegger! Anyway, I figured out to to find the "real" toy company, and that's today's post.

   I'm probably going to post 3 times on this company because they have an interesting history, as well as having being able to survive this tough business for a long time!

   The Arnold toy company - K. Arnold & Co. started in 1906 in Nurnberg, Germany by Mr. Karl Arnold. The company started to produce tin plated steel toys that were lithographed with the usual brilliant colours of similar other makers. The company evolved and succeeded even more when a Mr. Max Ernst was hired as the managing director. (taken from Wipededia).

   For today's instalment, I'm just going to present that much history, and a bit more. During their early years, the company also produced steam engines. I only just discovered yesterday, that  toy steam engines were not made as stand-alines, or toys to be played or watched just by themselves! These toys had all kinds of accessories called - steam engine accessories. For myself, this was a "Eureka Moment". How could I have been writing about toys and steam engines, and not figured out that the steam engine toy would have accompaniments to accessorize the toy and make it all the more interesting? I wonl' write any more than that, and perhaps some of you will "do some research" to see what I mean. I will continue in the near future with part ! of the Arnold company and steam engine accessory toys.

   What I find most interesting about toys with keys (the wind-ups today) is that the original  keys still come with the toys. I don't know about you, my readers, but I can;pt tell you how many keys Ive lost for locks, or keys that I've saved that I have no idea to what they're supposed to lock or unlock! So without further adieu, here are the early K. Arnold & Co. windup mechanical toys.

 A beautiful 1920's tin canoe operated by a clockwork (wind-up mechanism)

Length: 8" (203mm)

# 2030 - This # was obtained from the Liveauctioneers site .I'm assuming that this number and all of the others below were from the original catalogue of the company, way back then!

What I like about the toy is that key! Now that's a key that won;t get lock so easily!

Here's another clockwork (wind-up) toy, circa 1920's

It's also 8" long (203 mm)

I find it hilarious to have a Native American "rowing" a canoe rather than paddling. However,

for "poetic license", the toy would not have worked with with just 1 paddle instead of the 2 oars.

# 1612

A long submarine at 12" (305mm), and again a clockwork (wind-up) mechanism.

3 2004

 A beautiful 1920's tin rowboat operated by a clockwork (wind-up mechanism)
Length: 8" (203mm)
#1610

I like the small attention to detail that is painted or lithograhed on the rower - the muscles, the shoulder emblem, the cap, and the name of the boat - Conneaut Lake.

 A 1920's boat operated by a  wind-up crank mechanism at the stern (back) of the toy.
Length: 7" (178 mm)

You have to imagine that these toys were all handmade, and that each one had to be soldered carefully, and pressed on a large heavy machine. Later, they would be tested for their "seaworthiness" and lack of leaks.

# 1000/0

 A beautiful 1920's tin powerboat operated by a clockwork (wind-up mechanism)

Length: 8" (203mm). This particular toy is one of my favourites. It "screams" colour at you. Also, the ornate, but functional and exposed wind-up mechanism is outstanding for its design and detail.

# 1625

 A very nice 1930's tin ocean liner.
Length: 12" (305mm)

The description didn't mention the method of propulsion, but I'd assume it was some 
sort of wind-up. I also like the twin-propellers.

 A beautiful 1920's tin canoe operated by a clockwork (wind-up mechanism)
Length: 8" (203mm)

# 1644

What impresses me about old toys like this is that the box still exists. I've seen photos of these old boxes, and way back when, boxes were made well. Except for certain products (Apple Computers), Most items that I do buy that are boxed inevitably tear either when I open the box, or after a few taking out / and putting back repetitions.

   I will be continuing with the K. Arnold & Co. in the next few days.  THeir steam engine toys are certainly interesting, especially because of their emphasis on machines and workers operating those machines. You'll better understand what I mean, when I write up and illustrate the company later in the week.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope that you're all feeling well. I've read this week and last, that this winter, the flu season has been much harder on people than in the last few years.

I was sick last week, as was my wife, and several friends and people that we know. Newspapers in North America have also noted that this season has been tough, and it's only the first week of January.

As always, have a nice morning, afternoon, or evening

wherever you may be.

Stacey

The Lloyd Ralston Gallery - Seeing and Buying the Rarer Toys

Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Lloyd Ralston Gallery

Seeing and Buying the Rarer Toys

The Lloyd Ralston Gallery

Please press on the address above to visit the Gallery

     I already written an instalment about the Lloyd Ralston Gallery. However, thanks to Glenn and Terry, I'll be able to use their photos to write future instalments about old toys. 

    I was looking for rarer toys that I haven't seen on E-Bay,and was able to "harvest"  a nice mini-collection. What's nice about an auctioneers such as the Lloyd Ralston Gallery, is that  sellers come to them in order to sell their collections.  Most people with nice collections don't really want to have 

to list on E-Bay, or Etsy, or Rubylane. Not everyone wants to have to do all the work to photograph and list, then package. As well, many collectors are older (I'm 63), and don't want to have to do all that "computer stuff". So they'll have the auctioneer handle all of the work for them, for a fee of course. As such, I've been able to find some real nice examples of rarer items today.  Some,I haven't seen before on E-Bay, and others I've seen a variation, but not the ones I'm writing about today.

 I've only seen Marklin ships on the Bertoia site. 

A collector of these fine toys used Bertoia to sell his collection. This area of toys is a whole different world from cars, planes, and trucks, and of course way beyond 

my budget.

This is the first time that I've ever seen this Hubley Cast Iron Airplane.

I've never even seen it on the Net! I'm sure however, that I might find it in my giant book of O'Brian's Collectibles - one of the "Bibles"of toy book references.

  I've had all of the Tootsietoy Grahams pass through my hands at one time or another.

I'ver also written about them, and even painted one or 2. But I've never seen so many sold listings by the Ralston Gallery  of original toys in their original boxes. 

I've "heard" about the fine graphic design of the 1930's boxes, and now I get to see it.

THe next time that I buy any Tootsietoy Grahams, I 'll know the right colours to use!

 I mentioned that of the limited toys that I have bought and sold, one segment that I'm more partial to is the cast iron toys. It's that solid and firm feel that gives me that feeling! I don't know about the A.C. Williams enough, but I like the Arcade and Hubley take-a-part toys! 

I have a feeling though, that the A.C.Williams are also take-a-part toys as well.

 Imagine back then in the 1930's that the drivers of cars, planes, trucks, and machines were 

nickel-plated!  The toy-makers know that kids would play out side and get the toys wet. Consequently they nickel-plated the toys so they would last longer and not rust. I wonder if the tracks are also nickel-plated.

The above toy is in great shape, and even has its label!

Getting off-topic for a second, here's something interesting. About 10 years ago , my wife and I went to Rhode Island and went to tour some of the mansions at Newport that the wealthy of the time (1880's-1940's) has for their summer sojourn. We went into the downstairs (I don;t know if it's proper to say basement for a mansion) where the food was prepared. In the kitchen areas was a 

wire-brush on a handle that was used to grind the rust off the knives of the time. That made me wonder when stainless steel was invented!

 I've sold 1 or 2 Kilgore toys. Even time I hear the word Kilgore, I link it with the famous marchers down south  in the U.S.A. called the Kilgore Rangers. The Kilgore toy above is again a toy that I have never seen before.  At 10" (266 mm) long, that's a toy I certainly would like to have my hands on!

 The recent lawsuit by Apple against  Samsung and vice versa about copying designs and software makes me think about these old toys. One of the more "frivolous" parts of the Apple lawsuit was Samsung making their corners on their cell phone "round" thus copying Apple. Now apple is making their IPhone larger, and making their IPad smaller.Will someone now sue them for copying the size?

I've sold several Arcade and Hubley Cast Iron Airflows cars. Now I've seen the Champion one.

All 3 are similar in design, and imagine that all 3 companies at the time could make toys similar in nature, and not have to go through the courts! Those certainly were different times back then!

If you have the time, do a search for the Chrysler Airflow. This particular car was a real marvel at the time, and you'll see why when you see the photos. Unfortunately, the toy companies sold many more of these toys than Chrysler did at the time.. The "real" Airflow was in production for about 3 years (1937-39), and due to lak of demand,  ceased to be made.

 I saw this Arcade Tanker on E-Bay, but after my top bid d of $ 400.00, I watched sadly, as I was outbid, and left in the wind, so to speak. This toy appears to be a combination of tin or pressed steel, rubber, and of course, cast iron. This one is in super shape - FANTASTIC!

Many toy manufacturers kept their popular toys, but changed materials as time moved on. THe Wyandotte car and trailer remind me of this fine Hubley Ford Sedan and Trailer, both of which I've never seen on E-Bay.

What I find interesting is how the paint really sticks to the cast iron. I wonder just how much the lead in the paint at the time had to do with this?

I haven't added any prices of what these toys sold for. However you can register with Live Auctioneers, will then give you a gateway to see the prices of past sold listings.

  I've seen plenty of Arcade busses on E-Bay, especially those Chicago world's fair ones. But this one , I've not seen. Many toy busses on E-Bay have been mostly Greyhound, so this one - a National Trailways Bus, is for me a rarity.

 You don't see that many Kenton toys on E-Bay or anywhere if you try to do a search. I'll have to learn about the Kenton toy company to write about it in the future. Once again, the flatbed truck of the 1930's made from cast iron, carried over into the 1940's as the toys were re-engineered into die cast design.

Car iron toys were made in 2 bi-symmetrical halves ,a left and a right, that were attached together with a metal pin. ONce the pin was placed through the holes on both side, one end was cut off, and then hammered with a pean hammer. The other end had a rounded head, that stayed secure flush with the hole on the other side. Almost all of the cast iron toys of the day were made like this.  "Fakes" were made with a screw and nut that held the 2 sides together. The rare "real' cast iron brand name once in a while was made with the nut and bolt, but you really have to know your toys so as not to get "scammed"!

 I've bought and sold 2 Tootsietoy Lasalle die cast toy cars. I'sure the real LaSalle was a beauty at the time. This one  was made by Dent, which like Kenton was, I assume smaller and less popular than the Arcades and Hubleys of the time. 

It's also most likely a take-a-part toy, and sold to the cores, as toy can see.

It's also rare, as I haven;t ever seen one of these.

When Charles Lindburgh became the  first person to fly across the Atlantic, millions of toy collector and children had to have a part of history. I've seen smaller "Lindys" on E-bay from other manufacturers,but never a Hubley.

This certainly is a faithful design of what I can remember of what the original airplane looked like.

 I think I had one of these pass through my hands, but not with the hook. Most of the tires appear to be replacements, but the cast-iron parts are in their original condition.

I think these toys and their respective parts could be interchanged, just like the Tootsietoy Grahams a decade later. This type of toy was also called a "pull-along", as a cord would be attached to the front of the truck, and the child would pull it along the dirt road.  You have to remember that many rural  areas at the time did not have asphalt roads.

I've certainly enjoyed writing this instalment both from the point of being able to view these photos, and as usual, talking about my personal recollections as they relate to the toys.

The Lloyd Ralston Gallery

Please press on the address above to visit the Gallery

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great morning, afternoon,

or evening,wherever you may be.

Stacey