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San Francisco Trolley Toy Friction Car. Japan, circa 1950s
About the Item
San Francisco trolley toy Friction cable car; made of all tin; important to note because this was the first of it's kind having been made in the 1950s. They were all tin (no plastic); 7 1/4" long (not shorter); green (not red or multi-clored); "Bay and Taylor St" placard; #504" and most importantly the figures are actual FIGURES made of formed pressed steel and then hand painted and lithographed. Cheaper later models were simply lithographed into the flat sheet steel. Also, my example works (see video). It is a friction toy, while others are simply free rolling. A friction toy worked by rubbing the wheels along the floor a few times while holding the toy in your hand; then placing it on the floor and releasing it. Watch it go. (Request 8 second video). So, this is an ORIGINAL while many others out there are later versions.
Though unmarked, this particular example was made by the Hishimo Sangyou Toy Company, left unlabeled probably because of the anti Japanese sentiment early on after the war.
This cable car toy is in excellent and all original condition. There is no repaint or touch-up of any kind and no restoration. If you want a San Francisco toy cable car for your collection; this is the one you want.
Dimensions: 7 1/4" long x 2 1/4" wide x 3 3/8" high
Provenance: Recently acquired from an esteemed collection of tin toys in Los Angeles.
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys, which is important when confronting fakes and reproductions.
it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage tin toys that I have listed for sale; it would create an immediate quality collection, as most of these toys came, either from a long time premium California collection or from my own shelves. It would take quite some time and effort to accumulate toys this clean, authentic, original, operable and in excellent condition.
See my other listings of vintage toys.
- Dimensions:Height: 3.38 in (8.59 cm)Width: 2.25 in (5.72 cm)Depth: 7.25 in (18.42 cm)
- Style:Folk Art (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Tin,Metalwork
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1955
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Incline Village, NV
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU973232882862
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 1976
1stDibs seller since 2013
246 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
Associations
Art Dealers Association of America
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Incline Village, NV
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
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