TEXAS TOY MAN

Ice Cream Truck, Friction Powered, c-1950′s

The ‘Golden Era’ of the Japanese tin lithographed toys began after World War ll in the early 1950′s and continued through the 1960′s and into the early 1970′s.

Even though these tin toys were very popular because of their colorful exteriors and attention to details, there was pressure to discontinue production from groups that felt toys manufactured in tin were more dangerous to children. The pressure from these groups eventually won out and resulted in companies discontinuing the manufacturing of these great toys.

During the ‘Golden Era’ there were many different models of toys, like automobiles made in the United States, as well as many robots, character toys, ferris wheels, race tracks, play sets, etc.

Many of the toys had unique modes of action, i.e.,

• Friction drive
• Wind up
• Battery-operated
• Combination of both

These brightly painted, litho toys can be found in sizes ranging from eighteen inches all the way down to a very small 1-inch in size.

In today’s market, the collecting of tin toys is still one of the largest segments of toys that you can still find and enter into at very low cost. In my opinion, I would recommend that you buy a current toy price guide so that you can be come familiar with, properly identify and purchase your toys at a good price. Not knowing the market value can really cost you in the long run if you don’t do your homework with a good price guide.

Mystery Toy No. 5 – Green-head Duck

Mystery Toy No. 5 was difficult to identify due to the multiple clues. This toy is the green head duck manufactured by Gescha, Made in US Zone Germany (c 1948-1952). It is also marked ‘PATENT angem’.

Estimated book value for this toy is $250-350.

Watch for Mystery Toy No. 6 coming soon.

Action = VALUE$

I can’t believe it’s already Monday. I had such good intentions to put up a couple of posts over the weekend BUT here in Texas the weather outside was gorgeous Saturday and Sunday – perfect in fact, sunny and mid-60’s – so I ended up working outside in the garden.

Now Monday morning – I’m back on the computer (still pretty outside BTW) ready to talk toys.

In case you don’t already know it, all toys – including tin – are valued not only by their condition but also by the number of actions that the toy can make or putting it another way how many different ‘moves’ it can perform.

The US Zone Germany clown pictured here is a good example of a multi-action toy in that it’s . . .

1. ‘Shirt’ moves up and down
2. Head bobs
3. Eyes open and close

The value you can assign to this ‘3-action’ toy would increase for every action.

For example: If this were a non-action toy it might have a value of $25.00. However, since it has 3 actions, it would be valued at $75.00 ($25 x 3 = $75).

– when you have a vintage wind-up toy – do NOT over wind it. If you are considering purchasing such a toy – wind it just enough to make sure it works. The value quickly decreases if the toy does not perform as originally built.

TIN TOYS POST-WAR

US Zone Germany Tin Wind-up Toy

Before World War I most home-made toys were very primitive and mostly made from either wood, cloth or even pebbles. The most popular purchased toys were toy soilders. The very rich could afford some toys made out of metal – although these toys were very scarce. Most children had to be content with the more common wooden toys.

The beginning of ‘toys’ as we call them today started in Nuremberg (Bavaria, Germany) which is considered the ‘historic center’ of the toy industry. The use of the word ‘toy’ was used here many years before the rest of the world adopted its use. It is believed that Nuremburg’s pewter trade started the tin-plated toy industry for which the town was to become famous for.

These old tin toys were hand-made from sheet iron plated with a thin, protective coat of tin to help prevent rusting. Later – after the industrial revolution – powered machinery was used for mass production of tin and molded toys. Germany dominated the commercial market until the 1920′s and 1930′s when Japan as well as the United States began production of tin toys.

Fast forward to after World War II – Germany and Japan tin toy manufacturing had just about run its course due to a lack of supplies. After the war the Allies noting that both countries needed to rebuild, aided them in re-starting their toy manufacturing. Most of the toys produced during this time spanned the gammut from very simple to very intricate – some almost ‘clockwork’ in their detail. These toys have become highly collectible today.

Special marking on these toys are:

Germany, US Zone toys are from the period late 1945 – early 1950′s

Occupied Japan toys are from the period late 1945 – 1948

It is possible that you could find some toys that would not fall into these time frames. For more toys and pictures visit my Texas Toy Man page in Texas Antique Mall

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO COLLECTING TOYS?

Barclay Transporter

The best kept secret to buying toys (or any collectible) with the thought of maximizing an ivestment is simple good, common sense. Always buy the best condition item you can afford. This translates to your purchasing the closest to MINT condition you can find. And, the older the toy the better you want the condition.

With the older the toy, the conditon becomes even more important when you are buying for investment. Remember buying poor condition will almost always mean a loss or lower monetary return on your investment.

This being said. . . why DO people collect toys?

1. Investment
2. Recapture their childhood
3. For their children (or grandchildren)
4. Display purposes (say, let’s decorate the play room!)
5. Collect a particular model of car, boat, plane, character
6 Just for fun!

I collect because I like wheels. Why do you collect?