Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

"Boy Riding An Alligator" Vintage Wind-Up Toy by J. Chein Co., N.J., Circa 1935

About the Item

Manufactured circa 1935 by The J. Chein Company in Harrison, New Jersey, this vintage tin toy, when wound up, depicts a young boy in islander garb, trying to ride an alligator who dashes across the floor opening and closing his mouth. Unlike most examples of this toy, my "Boy Riding An Alligator" is in near mint condition and the best example of this toy that I have ever had, thus it is from my own collection. It is in completely all original condition, with bright crisp colors of, yellow, red, and green, to the surface, and complete coverage to the lithography. The boy is complete, and there are no missing parts or any paint loss, and the toy works great (see video attached to the listing). It looks like it has hardly been played with. To operate: wind up the attached clockwork key; place the toy on the floor. The alligator races across the surface, as the boy riding him bounces up and down, while holding the original string reins controlling the alligator's mouth opening and closing. Dimensions: 15" long x 3 1/4" wide x 3 1/2" high Provenance: From my own personal Clive Devenish Collection since 1985 when acquired from a prominent American tin toy collection See my other listings of vintage toys. 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 and children's playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace. My toys operate properly and are as stated and accurately described. 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.
  • Attributed to:
    J. Chein & Co. (Maker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Width: 3.25 in (8.26 cm)Depth: 15 in (38.1 cm)
  • Style:
    Folk Art (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Tin,Metalwork
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1935
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Incline Village, NV
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU973238563942
More From This SellerView All
  • "Boy Riding a Turtle" Wind-Up Toy; by J. Chein, circa 1930s
    By J. Chein & Co.
    Located in Incline Village, NV
    By J. Chein, circa 1930, this tin lithographed and hand painted American tin wind-up toy is all original and in working order. There are a few scratches here and there (from normal play and use); but for a nearly 100 year old toy, it is in very good and all original paint with no touch up or restoration. The turtle is painted in colors of yellow (predominantly) with a turquoise border and red dots, and an orange neck; while the boy is dressed in yellow. The action of the toy portrays a boy riding a turtle; and upon winding up the attached clockwork key and releasing on the floor, the turtle with boy rider, ride away! The turtle moves his head up and down while the boy rocks up and down, as the turtle moves across the floor (see attached 12 second video of operation). Works well (unique for this toy) but occasionally "sticks". Of American manufacturer (marked on the left of center of the shell of the turtle), the J. Chein Company was in Harrison, New Jersey, and one of the premier toy makers of the 1930's. Dimensions: 8" long x 4 1/2" wide x 4" high 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...
    Category

    Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Toys

    Materials

    Tin

  • Vintage Tin Wind Up Toy "Boy Skier" by J. Chein & Co. American Circa 1950
    By J. Chein & Co.
    Located in Incline Village, NV
    Very nice condition all tin, vintage wind up toy by J. Chein Company, New York City, circa 1950, "Boy Skier"; in all original paint and lithography; in ...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Tin

  • Vintage Tin Wind-up Toy "Clown in A Barrel" by J Chein & Co. American Circa 1935
    By J. Chein & Co.
    Located in Incline Village, NV
    Made by J. Chein & Company Circa 1935 in New York City; originally inventoried as #258 (same number as similar looking Popeye toy dated 1932) and was named "Mechanical Clown Barrel Walker". The name of the maker "Chein" is stamped as a logo to the rear of the barrel (see image). This is one of the earlier toys that Chein made. The lithography and hand paint are in gorgeous original condition with bright colors of red and gold to the barrel, flesh tones to the clown, who sports a multi colorful smiling face. The toy works great; simply wind the attached key wind in the back 1/2 revolution; place on the hard surface----the clown waddles across the floor, back and forth, while shaking his head to and fro (see accompanying video with this listing to see it work) In addition to being quite a scarce toy it is even more difficult to find in this fine condition. Often times the head is lacking or replaced from rough usage and surface rarely maintains this beautiful finish. This particular example is completely original with no restorations, repairs, or touch up paint of any kind. There is a small 5/8" superficial indentation to the front top of barrel (see image). This would make a proud addition to any collection of vintage toys or Americana. Dimensions: 7 1/2" high x 3 1/4" wide x 4" deep See my other listings of vintage toys. Provenance: From a recently acquired West Coast collection of fine quality tin toys. 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 and children's playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace. My toys operate properly and are as stated and accurately described. it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage...
    Category

    Vintage 1930s Folk Art Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Tin

  • Vintage Tin Wind-up Toy "Doughboy" by J.Chein Company. American Circa 1930
    By J. Chein & Co.
    Located in Incline Village, NV
    Of American manufacture, by the J. Chein Toy Company in New York City; this early 1930's vintage tin toy depicts a World War I "Doughboy" or American infantryman wearing his back pack and green "fatigues", and when wound up and released on the floor, he walks along (more like waddles along) in a "happy go lucky" manner ------works great! (see attached video). The toy is in excellent and completely all original condition with no restoration and no touch up paint. The lithography and paint is bright and shows little wear except for a couple of superficial scratches on the back (see images). Dimensions: 6" high x 2 3/4" wide x 2 3/4" deep. Provenance: From a recently acquired prominent collection of vintage tin...
    Category

    Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Tin

  • Early Vintage Chein Company All Tin Toy Wind-Up Limousine, American, Circa 1930
    By J. Chein & Co.
    Located in Incline Village, NV
    This is one of the earlier, New York City based, J. Chein Company, tin toy pieces. They started doing lithography in 1930. This toy wind-up sedan was made circa 1930 and is brightly ...
    Category

    Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Tin

  • Vintage Wind Up Tin Toy "Monkey Riding A Horse" by Haji Co., Japan, Circa 1958
    Located in Incline Village, NV
    Made in Tokyo, Japan by The Haji Company (see image for mark/logo), this all tin vintage wind up toy, circa 1958, depicts a "Monkey Riding A Horse". It ...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s Japanese Folk Art Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Tin

You May Also Like
  • Mid Century Tin Litho Windup Toy Skier Girl by Chein C1945
    By J. Chein & Co.
    Located in Port Jervis, NY
    Fabulous working tin Litho toy skier by the Chein toy co. C1945. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear.
    Category

    Vintage 1940s American Industrial Toys

    Materials

    Tin

  • Vintage Wind-Up Tin Toy Motorcycle with Co-Driver and Key
    Located in Schagen, NL
    Vintage Wind-up Tin Toy Motorcycle with Co-driver and key. The piece comes from ca. the 1950s and remains in good condition for it’s age. Normal wear. ...
    Category

    Vintage 1950s Industrial Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Tin

  • 'Rajputana' Tin & Celluloid Wind Up Japanese Toy
    Located in Hamilton, Ontario
    Vintage Japanese tin and celluloid wind up toy. When you wind this toy the top spins around while the babies on the back move from side to side and the el...
    Category

    20th Century Japanese Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Tin

  • Marx Toys Cowboy in Jeep Tin Lithograph Wind-Up Toy
    By Marx Toy Co.
    Located in Fulton, CA
    1950's Marx Toys tin lithograph and plastic wind-up Jeep with Cowboy driver. Notice cowboy boots and steer horns mounted to front grill. Excellent, original working condition.
    Category

    Mid-20th Century American Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Tin

  • Vintage Mechanical tin plated wind up Sparrow Bird toy - 1960's - China
    Located in EINDHOVEN, NL
    Vintage wind-up Sparrow toy with a mechanical tinplated clockwork mechanism - 1960s Manufactured in China in the late 1960s, this sparrow toy features a...
    Category

    Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Metal, Sheet Metal, Tin

  • Animal Wind-up toy dog with spin tail, 1950s
    Located in Delft, NL
    Animal Wind-up toy dog ​​with spin tail, 1950s A wind-up animal toy, colored yellow with brown spots in velvety soft mohair and green glass eyes. On the belly the winding system wit...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century European Toys and Dolls

    Materials

    Mohair, Straw

Recently Viewed

View All