A Reader Asks for Names of Repair Shops

Saturday, October 6, 2018
Overcast with Rain
12 C  54 F

A Reader Asks for

Names of Repair Shops

     From time-to-time, I get requests for recommendations  for toy repairs or restorations.  I've only used a repair shop once, and this person was mostly a repair person for painting and clocks. He also did repairs for electronics. Sadly, he closed his business as people began to through out their old toasters and radios and buy new ones, rather than repair old ones. The cost of a new replacement was less expensive than repairing the old one. In the past, I used to keep "old" toasters for a long time. I found them better than the newer plasticized ones!

     Anyway, I recently received an e-mail from Mr. Greg Niederwerder asking me if I could help him out in recommending to him a toy repair person. I sent him 2 names. One that I am familiar with, and one that I wasn't familiar with.  I try to suggest more than one person or repair shop, so that the owner of a toy can ask questions, and then make a choice. I also add a caveat, that I do not really know the people and that the toy owner should ask questions to get a sense as to the person who would be selected for the repair. Another point is that any repair of anything can cost a lot. A repair even for an old toy might cost more than the toy itself. Of course, if the toy is of sentimental value, it's worth the cost, especially if its' your grandparents or parents legacy.  Greg's toy happens to be from his father. 

I just remembered that I did one repair at a local repair shop. I had purchased a Teddy bear at a garage sale and had it cleaned. The arm came off, so I went to a local porcelain and art work repair and restorer to see if he could do the repair. He did, and I think the repair cost more than the garage sale purchase. But it was worth it to me  for sentimental reasons!

What is needed for this smaller-sized toy are a wheel replacement and a repair to the wind-up mechanism. When I finish with this blog post, I'll ask Greg what has happened since I wrote him back, in order to see if he has chosen someone to go ahead with the repairs, and then I can write about it on my blog, by adding the new information to this post. When I finish with this blog post, I'll ask Greg what has happened since I wrote him back, in order to see if he has chosen someone to go ahead with the repairs, and then I can write about it on my blog, by adding the new information to this post.

"Ferdinand Strauss Co. was founded in New York City. Strauss specialized in importing tin mechanical toys and produced toys from 1914 to 1927.Strauss hired Louis Marx, whom later founded the Marx toy company.Strauss produced (wind-up) toys for the Abraham & Strauss Department Stores and was a pioneer in the friction tin toy industry." (Citation www.fabtintoys.com/strauss/)

     One other thing - Can anyone tell myself and Greg when this Ferdinand Strauss toy might have been made, and what the value might also be?

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a nice day.

Stacey Bindman

 One other thing - Can anyone tell myself and Greg when this Ferdinand Strauss toy might have been made, and what the value might also be?

Come Fly With Me.....

Friday, December 27, 2013
                    (Mild and overcast)

Come Fly With Me.....

    I remember the American Airline motto and song that always appeared on Tv in the 1960's-70's when we used to watch American NFL Football every sunday.  As usual, I was browsing through ebay's website, when I came across this beautiful orange and blue toy. It's a 1941 pull toy from 1941.  Being a toy having been produced during WWII, I would presume that it was purposely made from wood,as metal was in short supply and was being used for the war effort.

    I was fortunate enough to find this toy at Randy's Toy Shop, a fine seller with whom I have the pleasure and permission to use his great selection of toys, and excellent (as usual) photography.  With the photographs, you can see the ingenuity as to how the propellers work. 

Please click here to visit's always interesting e-bay store

   The above low-camera angle photo is excellent in terms of the way it adds a sense of "majesty" to the toy, as well as illustrating exactly how the propellers work.  Metallic coiled spring wires are attached to the axles on the inside of the wheels. As the toy is pulled along by a string (missing), the wire turns two axles inside both wings. Those axles  are connected to directly to the propellers.

There's another photo (above) to illustrate  how the propellers rotate - ingenious!

The design graphics are great! 

What I also like is the ingenuity of the rear support for the airplane - a bent wire.

I like old-style fonts, and the Fisher-Price logo is just that - circa 1941!

Another great photograph with a wide-angle effect.

What's interesting is the fact that the wood is so coarse, and wasn't planed and sanded smooth.

I wonder of that had to do with the conservation of electricity during WWII times, or just was made like that for a "folk-art" effect?

As usual, Randy presented a most -interesting toy with great photography.

What more could we ask for?

Thanks for stopping by,

and as always, 

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

 toysearcher@gmail.com

Randy's Toy Shop - A Master Restoration

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Randy's Toy Shop- A Master restoration

  When I make a request to someone or a company, I am aware that these people are quite busy. Consequently, although I may have 1000's (I am very inquisitive) of  questions, and many requests, I can only ask for so much. Randy, of Randy'sToyShop who has an outstanding store on E-Bay and also his own website  http://www.randystoyshop.com is a successful and well-respected toy seller. However, he's also a master craftsman (in my opinion), when it comes to restoration. He even emphasizes that well on his own website (Please click here). 

  I've written about Randy before, but didn't want to bother him in asking for samples of his restorations. My blog later this week is exactly about restorations - but in that case, it will be about restored antique toys that have sold. So when I was on E-Bay, I somehow caught a glimpse of a nice red firetruck for sale, and it was restored. Not only that, but it was restored by Randy!

  I'm going to post this today, and then e-mail Randy and surprise him. I've removed the background from his numerous photos for the sale on E-Bay (Please click here to go to E-Bay and Randy's listing).

(Please click here to visit Randy's fine website)

"HERE WE ARE SELLING A 1929 BUDDY L WATER TOWER TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAS RECEIVED AN IMMACULATE RESTORATION. YOU PUMP UP THE AIR PRESSURE THROUGH A BREAST PUMP UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO A WATER TANK AT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. RAISE THE TOWER INTO THE AIR AND SHOOT A WATER STREAM FROM 30 FEET RIGHT LEFT UP OR DOWN. YOU CONTROL IT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE FIRE TRUCKS MADE BY BUDDY L AND MEASURES A WHOPPING 43 INCHES LONG. BEAUTIFUL BRASS AND CHROME ACCENTS ON THIS TRUCK"*

*http://www.ebay.com/itm/1920s-BUDDY-L-WATER-TOWER-PRESSED-STEEL-TRUCK-IMACULATE-RESTORATION-/230897122283?pt=Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item35c28a7beb

Randy did not do this restoration, but he has in fact restored plenty of toys excellently.

What's also impressive with this 1929 Buddy "L" toy is that it measures 43"  or 1.092M. What also interests me is the fact that this toy can spray to a distance of 30 feet (9.15M).

Now that would be a "blast" to play with my dog Buddy on a hot summer day.  

Of course , my wife Heidi would  call the SPCA to complain about animal cruelty!

Thanks for visiting,

and have a great part of the day, 

wherever you may be.

Stacey

(toysearcher@gmail.com)