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Friction Toy

Mid Century Japanese Tin Litho Toy Car Ford Falcon Friction C1960
Mid Century Japanese Tin Litho Toy Car Ford Falcon Friction C1960

Mid Century Japanese Tin Litho Toy Car Ford Falcon Friction C1960

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fabulous Ford Falcon Japanese Tin Litho Friction Toy Car C1960. In excellent vintage condition with minimal, if any wear.

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Industrial Toys

Materials

Metal

Vintage Toy, Small Motorcyclist, Made in Japan, 1960s
Vintage Toy, Small Motorcyclist, Made in Japan, 1960s

Vintage Toy, Small Motorcyclist, Made in Japan, 1960s

Located in Roma, IT

This Wind up Boy on Tricycle is an original vintage toy. Vintage friction toy representing a motorcyclist on his bike.

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Toys

Materials

Metal

Nike SR-7 Space Rocket Friction Tin Toy N Mint in Box Working Japan 1960's
Nike SR-7 Space Rocket Friction Tin Toy N Mint in Box Working Japan 1960's

Nike SR-7 Space Rocket Friction Tin Toy N Mint in Box Working Japan 1960's

Located in Nuernberg, DE

A fantastic vintage Nike Space Rocket tin friction toy, manufactured by Masuya of Japan and dating from the mid-20th century.

Category

20th Century Japanese Space Age Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Original Vintage Toy, Friction Motorcyclist, 1960s
Original Vintage Toy, Friction Motorcyclist, 1960s

Original Vintage Toy, Friction Motorcyclist, 1960s

Located in Roma, IT

This friction motorcyclist is a vintage tin toy. Vintage friction tin toy representing a motorcyclist on his blue bike.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Toys

Materials

Metal

Vintage Marx Fire Chief Friction Action Toy Sedan American, Circa 1930
Vintage Marx Fire Chief Friction Action Toy Sedan American, Circa 1930

Vintage Marx Fire Chief Friction Action Toy Sedan American, Circa 1930

By Marx Toy Co.

Located in Incline Village, NV

This original vintage friction activated toy sedan" Fire Chief" Car by The Marx Toy Company, circa 1930, is a difficult toy to find, especially in this variation, which I have not se...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin, Steel

Midcentury Friction Tin Litho Soft Top Toy Car Fiat 600 by Bandai Japan
Midcentury Friction Tin Litho Soft Top Toy Car Fiat 600 by Bandai Japan

Midcentury Friction Tin Litho Soft Top Toy Car Fiat 600 by Bandai Japan

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fabulous and in near mint condition Fiat 600 with a rollback cloth convertible top. From a lot of seventeen that were probably stored from day one, and never played with. Made by Ban...

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Industrial Toys

Materials

Metal

Rare 911 Porsche Friction Tin Toy by Bandai Toy Co. Made in Japan Circa 1960's
Rare 911 Porsche Friction Tin Toy by Bandai Toy Co. Made in Japan Circa 1960's

Rare 911 Porsche Friction Tin Toy by Bandai Toy Co. Made in Japan Circa 1960's

Located in Incline Village, NV

Offered here is a whitish/cream colored friction tin toy 911 Porsche circa 1960's, marked at the bottom; "Porsche" in addition to the Bandai Toy Company logo embossed, along with "Ma...

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Folk Art Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

1930s German Tin Climbing Monkey from Lehmann
1930s German Tin Climbing Monkey from Lehmann

1930s German Tin Climbing Monkey from Lehmann

By Lehmann

Located in Esbjerg, DK

Antique German tin toy - climbing/friction monkey, 1930's. Manufactory: Lehmann Materials: Lithographic tin Model: TOM 385.

Category

Vintage 1930s German Bauhaus Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Recent Sales

Early Tin Friction Police Car
Early Tin Friction Police Car

Early Tin Friction Police Car

Unavailable

H 6 in W 15 in D 6 in

Early Tin Friction Police Car

By Louis Marx and Company

Located in Sheffield, MA

Toy friction operated police car made by Louis Marx and Company in New York City in the 1930's or '40's.

Category

Vintage 1940s American Toys

1950s Distler Porsche 356 Electromatic 7500 Germany Friction Toy
1950s Distler Porsche 356 Electromatic 7500 Germany Friction Toy

1950s Distler Porsche 356 Electromatic 7500 Germany Friction Toy

By Distler

Located in Buffalo, NY

1950s Distler Porsche 356 electromatic 7500 Germany friction toy. Nice early model made in the 1950s, Germany.

Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Futuristic Roadster 1956 Japanese Tin Car Friction Toy by Line Mar
Futuristic Roadster 1956 Japanese Tin Car Friction Toy by Line Mar

Futuristic Roadster 1956 Japanese Tin Car Friction Toy by Line Mar

By Line Mar Toys

Located in Buffalo, NY

Futuristic Roadster 1956 Japanese tin car complete with acrylic bubble. This particular car from Line Mar completely captures the 1956 future car concepts and puts it in tin and wit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Tin

Rare 1950s Atom Jet #58 Tin Litho Friction Race Car Space Toy Yonezawa Japan
Rare 1950s Atom Jet #58 Tin Litho Friction Race Car Space Toy Yonezawa Japan

Rare 1950s Atom Jet #58 Tin Litho Friction Race Car Space Toy Yonezawa Japan

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

"It was made in Japan in the 1950s and was one of the last large tin friction toys ever made," said Rodney Ross, museum curator.

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Toys

Materials

Tin

Toy "Good Humor" Ice Cream Truck, circa 1952
Toy "Good Humor" Ice Cream Truck, circa 1952

Toy "Good Humor" Ice Cream Truck, circa 1952

Located in Incline Village, NV

This heavy tin friction toy was made in 1952 by Tatsuya in Osaka, Japan, and is an exact replica of the full sized truck, bearing all of the markings, menus and "\Watch For Children"...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Toys

Materials

Tin

1960s Japanese Friction Bat Mobile by Asc Aoshin
1960s Japanese Friction Bat Mobile by Asc Aoshin

1960s Japanese Friction Bat Mobile by Asc Aoshin

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Rare and collectable toy tin friction car by Asc Aoshin of japan, circa 1966.

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Industrial Toys

Materials

Tin

1960s Bandai Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Hardtop Sedan Friction Car
1960s Bandai Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Hardtop Sedan Friction Car

1960s Bandai Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Hardtop Sedan Friction Car

Located in New Windsor, NY

Bandai metallic blue Japanese metal and plastic Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud Sedan hardtop. Made in Japan in the 1960s. Metal body with rubber tires. Rear window and steering wheel is ...

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal, Tin

Monkeys Monkee-Mobile Toy Car
Monkeys Monkee-Mobile Toy Car

Monkeys Monkee-Mobile Toy Car

Sold

H 3.63 in W 12 in D 4.5 in

Monkeys Monkee-Mobile Toy Car

Located in Fulton, CA

Rock & Roll era toy friction car. "Monkee-Mobile". Stylized version of the muscle car, 1967 Pontiac GTO convertible.

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Collection of Vintage Toy Cars
Collection of Vintage Toy Cars

Collection of Vintage Toy Cars

Sold

H 5 in W 5 in D 5 in

Collection of Vintage Toy Cars

Located in Redding, CT

Collection of vintage toy cars. 28 total. It includes a large green tin litograph Friction Marx V89 toy convertible Car.

Category

Vintage 1950s Folk Art Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal, Iron, Tin

Mid Century C1960 Japanese Tin Litho Friction Toy Car Chevrolet Corvair
Mid Century C1960 Japanese Tin Litho Friction Toy Car Chevrolet Corvair

Mid Century C1960 Japanese Tin Litho Friction Toy Car Chevrolet Corvair

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fantastic tin litho friction Chevy Corvair c1960 in very good condition, near mint.

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Industrial Toys

Materials

Metal

Tin Plastic Gama Mercedes Benz Friction Toy Car Vintage Germany 1960s
Tin Plastic Gama Mercedes Benz Friction Toy Car Vintage Germany 1960s

Tin Plastic Gama Mercedes Benz Friction Toy Car Vintage Germany 1960s

Located in Nuernberg, DE

Gorgeous vintage sheet metal and plastic Toy car. Operated by a friction engine. Functions include - flashing police light.

Category

20th Century German Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

Tin Plastic Futuristic Blizzard 2000 Friction Toy Car Vintage GDR 1960s
Tin Plastic Futuristic Blizzard 2000 Friction Toy Car Vintage GDR 1960s

Tin Plastic Futuristic Blizzard 2000 Friction Toy Car Vintage GDR 1960s

Located in Nuernberg, DE

Gorgeous vintage sheet metal and plastic Toy car. Operated by a friction engine. In very good condition, with Aging in a few spots but is still a great collectible.

Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

San Francisco Trolley Toy Friction Car. Japan, circa 1950s
San Francisco Trolley Toy Friction Car. Japan, circa 1950s

San Francisco Trolley Toy Friction Car. Japan, circa 1950s

Located in Incline Village, NV

Also, my example works (see video). It is a friction toy, while others are simply free rolling.

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Toys

Materials

Tin

Mid Century Tin Litho Friction Police Highway Patrol Helicopter, C1960, Japan
Mid Century Tin Litho Friction Police Highway Patrol Helicopter, C1960, Japan

Mid Century Tin Litho Friction Police Highway Patrol Helicopter, C1960, Japan

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Fabulous friction helicopter from Japan C 1960. Toy works great, push copter and the blades start spinning.

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Toys

Materials

Tin

Vintage American Tin Toy "Teetor Totter" by The "Gibbs Toy Company" Circa 1905
Vintage American Tin Toy "Teetor Totter" by The "Gibbs Toy Company" Circa 1905

Vintage American Tin Toy "Teetor Totter" by The "Gibbs Toy Company" Circa 1905

Located in Incline Village, NV

The "gravity" feature to initiate the operation is what sets this toy apart from other wind-up and friction generated action toys.

Category

Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Toys

Materials

Tin

Vintage Free Wheeling Green Lithographed All Tin Racing Car. French, Circa 1930
Vintage Free Wheeling Green Lithographed All Tin Racing Car. French, Circa 1930

Vintage Free Wheeling Green Lithographed All Tin Racing Car. French, Circa 1930

Located in Incline Village, NV

Not being a wind-up or a friction toy, this racing car was pushed across the floor by hand or/and used as an accessory in a toy train layout setup.

Category

Vintage 1930s French Folk Art Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

1960’s Japanese friction bat mobile by ASC Aoshin
1960’s Japanese friction bat mobile by ASC Aoshin

1960’s Japanese friction bat mobile by ASC Aoshin

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Rare and collectable toy tin friction car by asc aoshin of Japan circa 1966.

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

Vintage Tin Toy Mercedes-Benz W-196 Racing Car by Jnf, Western Germany, 1950s
Vintage Tin Toy Mercedes-Benz W-196 Racing Car by Jnf, Western Germany, 1950s

Vintage Tin Toy Mercedes-Benz W-196 Racing Car by Jnf, Western Germany, 1950s

Located in Esbjerg, DK

This Mercedes Benz racer was made by JNF in Western Germany in the 1950’s. It’s a tin friction operated toy, and its 33 cm/13.25? long. It features: Pressed tin carcass, Red original...

Category

Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

DAYTON FRICTION TOY  TRUCK
DAYTON FRICTION TOY  TRUCK

DAYTON FRICTION TOY TRUCK

Sold

H 6 in W 13.25 in D 4.75 in

DAYTON FRICTION TOY TRUCK

Located in Essex, MA

Yellow and red painted pressed steel toy friction dump truck with removable driver by made by the Dayton Toy & Specialty Co. , Dayton, OH, c. 1909-1935.

Category

Early 20th Century American Toys and Dolls

Dayton Tin Friction Touring Car Toy
Dayton Tin Friction Touring Car Toy

Dayton Tin Friction Touring Car Toy

Sold

H 7.125 in W 13.5 in D 4.325 in

Dayton Tin Friction Touring Car Toy

Located in Sheffield, MA

Manufactured by Dayton Friction Toy Company, Dayton, Ohio, a major producer of friction toys.

Category

Early 20th Century American Toys

LARGE DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY HILL CLIMBER  LOCOMOTIVE
LARGE DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY HILL CLIMBER  LOCOMOTIVE

LARGE DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY HILL CLIMBER LOCOMOTIVE

Located in Essex, MA

Antique Dayton Company friction toy hill climber/coal locomotive with detachable coal car, in all original red paint,with gold trim.

Category

Early 20th Century American Toys

DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY DELIVERY VAN
DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY DELIVERY VAN

DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY DELIVERY VAN

Sold

H 7 in W 11 in D 5 in

DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY DELIVERY VAN

Located in Essex, MA

Dayton Toy Company paint decorated pressed steel friction toy delivery truck with removable driver.

Category

Early 20th Century American Toys and Dolls

LARGE DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY ROADSTER COUPE
LARGE DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY ROADSTER COUPE

LARGE DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY ROADSTER COUPE

Sold

H 6.75 in W 17.5 in D 7 in

LARGE DAYTON ANTIQUE TOY ROADSTER COUPE

Located in Essex, MA

Antique Dayton Toy Company roadster coupe friction toy car in all original red, green and yellow paint, with removable painted cast iron driver who can sit on the right or left hand ...

Category

Early 20th Century American Toys

Large Tin Friction Drive, Express Train Toy by ATC, Japan, 1950s
Large Tin Friction Drive, Express Train Toy by ATC, Japan, 1950s

Large Tin Friction Drive, Express Train Toy by ATC, Japan, 1950s

Located in Retie, BE

Impressive Tin toy train by his size! This Toy express train is 26.57 inch / 67.50 cm long, and made in Japan by ATC in the 1950s.

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Toys and Dolls

Materials

Tin

STRAUSS DOUBLE DECKER TOY BUS
STRAUSS DOUBLE DECKER TOY BUS

STRAUSS DOUBLE DECKER TOY BUS

Sold

H 6 in W 10.25 in D 5 in

STRAUSS DOUBLE DECKER TOY BUS

Located in Essex, MA

Green and yellow painted 'Inter-State' double decker bus friction tin toy by the Ferdinand Strauss Company, New York City, circa 1920s.

Category

Early 20th Century American Toys and Dolls

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Friction Toy For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal friction toy for your home. Frequently made of metal, tin and plastic, every friction toy was constructed with great care. There are many kinds of the friction toy you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. When you’re browsing for the right friction toy, those designed in Mid-Century Modern and Industrial styles are of considerable interest. Distler, Line Mar Toys and Louis Marx and Company each produced at least one beautiful friction toy that is worth considering.

How Much is a Friction Toy?

Prices for a friction toy can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $295 and can go as high as $6,500, while the average can fetch as much as $1,238.