Vintage French Toy "Les Acrobates", circa 1920

Horse drawn trolleys or "horse buses" were the main source of "mass transit", along with trains in the late 1800s in America. Thus they were ubiquitous subject matter for toy makers to exploit as toys for young children. While many tin toy...

This is a very rare toy that I have not seen an example of before, and judging by it's action and appearance, I would venture to say it is post war, probably made in Japan for the American market (boy looks very American). I have called it "Smiling Boy Polishing Boots" which resembles the clockwork movement. To operate: hold the toy in the left hand with thumb on chest and then; wind up attached original key with the right hand several times; and release. With a smiling face, the boy will roll his head back and forth, while diligently shining his black boots, using an up and down motion with his right hand. The toy works quite well and will go on for some time. It is made up of several materials. The head, hands, and shoes are made of composition; it has a tin body; the clothes jersey, hat, and "falling" trousers" are made of fabric. The toy is in good original condition; some wear to boy's hat and jersey in back (see images), a slight "bend" to tinplate in the rear; but for the most part, the toy is very sturdy, works well, has a nice appearance, and wonderful charisma. This is a charming rare toy that operates as it should, and is a "must have" for collectors of post-war vintage wind up toys...

Manufactured by "The Instructive Toy Company" of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1890 and "Patented February 16th, 1886" by Alonzo Smith (see image) this alphabet wooden spelling board was u...

Kobe Toys are very mysterious and not much is known about them. They were created and hand made during the Meiji period in Japan, which covered the years 1868...

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...

Penny Toys were just that; toys made to sell for a penny or very inexpensively. This particular toy was manufactured in Germany (probably Nuremberg) for the ...

A rare early turn-of-the-century English nursery toy. A standing lion with warm smiling face and excellent detail. In hard molded rubber with the original...

Set of 4 hand-painted Swedish wooden traditional Dala horse toy. Designed by Nils Olsson in Sweden, circa 1960. Materials: Wood In original conditio...

Set of 5 handpainted Swedish wooden traditional Dala horse toy. Designed by Nils Olsson in Sweden, circa 1960. Materials: Wood In original condition, with minor wear consistent wit...

American vintage, antique child's pedal tricycle metal toy car in great working condition.

Vintage Raj embroidered large camel toy, India, 1950. Handmade in Rajasthan, India, colorful fabric camel toy. Vintage oversized camel stuffed cotton embroidered and decorated with...

Rare antique wooden child's ride on wooden toy boat by Nautilus Toy Co. London wonderful Folk Art object. 1920s ride on toy made by the Nautilus Toy Compan...