What’s in the Attic?
Linda Hamer Kennett

The Fisher Price Toy Company was formed in 1931 by Herman Fisher, Irving Price, and Helen M. Schelle. While none of the three had much experience in the field of toy manufacturing, they shared a vision to produce a line of toys that would stimulate the creativity of a child. As stated in their first catalogue it was the goal of Fisher-Price to manufacturer toys with “intrinsic play value, ingenuity, strong construction, good value for the money and action.”

The company, that would one day grow into the world’s largest producers of children’s toys and furniture, started in a 3 room concrete-block building in East Aurora, New York with 16 toys. The very first toys ever sold by Fisher-Price were the Doctor Doodle and Granny Doodle pull-toys. These brightly colored ducks made of Ponderosa Pine with steel construction, were decorated with non-toxic lithographs and quacked and waddled as they were pulled. This pair of ducks have been known to bring $1,500-$2,000 each MIB {mint in box}.

The 1950′s saw the introduction plastic toys when “Buzzy Bee” hit the market. Realizing that plastic could help the company manufacture a product that would be brighter colored and longer-lasting, they expanded their new line to include 39 plastic toys by the end of the decade. Do any of you remember the “bubble mower” which produced a stream of bubbles when pushed, the “popcorn popper” with it’s bright colored balls that flew around inside a plastic dome, or the pull-toy trains driven by Mickey Mouse? These, and many other of the toys from the 1950′s are considered “Fisher-Price Classics” and are still being produced today.

In 1959 Fisher-Price manufacturer a group of little figures with animal and human characteristics that would evolve into the longest-lived line of toys in modern history. These tiny wooden figures ,with no arms and no legs, remain one of the most collectible of all the companies efforts and they were simply called… Little People.

The Little People have undergone six major body configurations since their inception. Early figures were wooden. All had a cylinder shaped body with females identifiable, for the first years, only by their eye make up. After 1965 you will find a wider shape used for boys and men and a conical upper shape for girls. The first group of figures were sold in 1965 as the Lacing Shoe with Play Family. The set, containing a Mom, a puppy, and four child figures, is a “must have” for any serious collector.

In 1968, Fisher-Price introduced the first Little People playset, the Play Family Barn which featured doors that “moo-ed” when opened. It was followed in 1969 by the Play Family House, the Play Family Action Garage in 1970, School is Cool in 1971 and the Little People Discovery Airport in 1972. Playsets, with all of their pieces, may take a while to assemble but are of considerable value.

In spite of their popularity the Little People faced the threat of extinction in the mid-1980′s when a picture of three of the characters were featured on the cover of the Edward Swartz publication “Toys that Kill”. The book addressed the choking dangers to small children presented by many popular toys of the day. It was taken very seriously by the major toy companies and Fisher-Priced replace their Little People with a larger version called the “Chunky People” in 1986.

For a good over view of Fisher-Price through the years, check out www.fisherprice.com, where you will find a virtual tour, a timeline of production, and many other very useful tools. Until next time… Linda

{Linda Hamer Kennett is a professional liquidator specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the valuation of estates and may be reached at 317-3556-7856 or lkennett@indy.rr.com}

Some current live auctions on eBay for Fisher Price Collectibles:

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• 1939-40 Fisher Price Granny Duck Pull Toy #540

$49.99 (0 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:22:11 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Vintage Fisher Price Bunny Bell Drummer 508

$50.00 (0 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:47:11 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Vintage Fisher Price Bunny Drummer 512

$75.00 (0 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:53:31 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Vintage Fisher Price The Toy Wagon 171

$75.00 (0 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 8:00:44 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Fisher Price Snoopy Pull Toy #181 with Original Leash

$49.99 (0 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 10:17:25 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• 1942 FISHER PRICE DONALD DUCK CART WOOD PULL TOY

$99.00 (0 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 19:52:02 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• 1942 FISHER PRICE THE TOY WAGON HORSE PULL TOY MINTY

$199.00 (0 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 19:52:10 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• ONLY 1 ON EBAY RARE REDUCED FISHER PRICE ANTIQUE 1949 RABBIT

$45.00 (0 Bids) End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 6:44:37 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Antique Mickey Mouse Fisher Price Wooden Pull Toy!

$59.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 11:04:40 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• 1955 Fisher Price #175 Stagecoach w/ mailbags

$67.00 (3 Bids) End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 16:43:03 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Another day, another dollar (especially if you buy and sell collectibles at internet auction). This summer, consider dipping into your vintage porky piggy bank to buy some vintage toys. Think of these toys as potentially good investments – sort of like stocks, except you can play with them.

Due to the Recession, many great vintage toys can be had for a song (or much less than what they were selling for last year). Many of the good-selling old toys, listed below, were junked or donated long ago by Mom or Grandma, as the case may be, with the result, demand today pretty much e…

Read the Full Story here: Making Money on Hot Collectibles: Vintage Toys

The author lists his/her top ten (well actually eight) as:
(Links are live eBay Auctions)
1. 1950s Japanese metal (tin) toys
2. 1950s Roy Rogers, Lone Ranger items and vintage Western TV Show and Movie toys
3. Smurf figures and play-sets
4. 1972 Kenner Blythe doll
5. Snoopy, Peanuts Gang and Disney collectibles
6. Michael Jackson items
6. TV show related items (50s to 70s)
7. Fisher Price toys

(OCEANSIDE, N.Y.) – A 1954 Superman vs. The Robot lunch box in mint condition – widely regarded as the Holy Grail of rare and vintage lunch boxes – soared to $11,865 at a three-day multi-estate sale conducted Oct. 22-24 by Philip Weiss Auctions. Around 1,200 lots changed hands at the event, held in the Philip Weiss Auctions showroom at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside.

The lunch box, by Universal, showed Superman flying at The Robot on the front. The reverse showed Superman carrying an airliner, breaking a chain across his chest and smashing through a brick wall. The piece tied for top lot with a 1901 Caille New Century Puck upright 5-cent slot machine in good working order. The highly collectible machine also brought $11,865.

Overall, the auction grossed nearly $500,000. “There were a few surprises, hardly any disappointments, and by and large I was very pleased with the results,” Philip Weiss said of the sale. He estimated 200 people attended the event in person over the course of the three days. Phone and absentee bidding was also brisk, while online bidding was facilitated by Proxibid.

“With regard to Internet bidding, it’s quite remarkable what we see happen,” Mr. Weiss said. “At the start of the auction, we may have 100 or so registered online bidders, no more. But as the sale goes by, hour by hour, more and more bidders log on. And a lot of them are first-timers. This has been a trend, and it’s a good one. I love that our auctions are on the Internet.”

Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

An extremely rare Planter’s Mr. Peanut coin-operated scale, standing 44 inches tall and made by the X-Cello Scale Company (Toledo, Ohio), went for $9,040, key included. Also, a pair of Pennsylvania Railroad posters from the 1930s promoting Atlantic City, by the illustrator Edward M. Eggleston (1883-1941), both 23 inches by 33 inches, garnered $7,345 and $5,368.

A Tete Deposse French bebe doll, 25 inches tall with composition body, closed mouth, fixed eyes, finely painted brows and lashes, pierced ears, a ball jointed body and leather shoes went for $4,294, despite the worn and dirty dress. Also, a turn-of-the-century monkey automaton, 20.5 inches tall, with a baby monkey on its back, possibly German, brought $3,673.

A mechanical “Baker Boy” Sanitary Chewing Gum machine, patented by the Manikin Vendor Company (Portland, Ore.) and with the instructions printed on the brass name plate (“Drop penny – turn crank clear over”), breezed to $4,068, while a Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty circus tent with animals set in beautiful condition and showing only minor paint loss hit $2,712.

A single lot consisting of four albums loaded with assorted size photos and ephemeral material pertaining to the career of actress Linda Darnell made $2,938. The archive included images of Ms. Darnell during shootings as well as before, after and home shots. Also, another multiple lot – of stills, press photos, ephemera and negatives from various movies – hit $1,582.

From the toy trains category, a brass locomotive and tender by Tenshodo, made in Japan, HO scale with the railroad name “Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railway,” in mint condition in the original box, never run, sold for $2,317. Also, a Lionel pre-war 700E scale Hudson 5344 with tender, both showing some wear with scuffs but overall in excellent shape, made $1,187.

Philip Weiss Auctions will conclude 2010 with two more blockbusting estate sales, the first of which is planned for the weekend of Nov. 20-21. The Saturday, Nov. 20 session will be dedicated to a full day of Disney, animation art, comic art, comic books and sports memorabilia – over 600 lots in all. The Disney items will feature convention pieces, rare posters (to include two 1939 Mickey Mouse posters, Standard Gasoline and National Credit Card), animation art, Lladro and other porcelains, and Snow White animation cels with Courvoisier backgrounds.

Nov. 20 will also feature vintage comics and comic art (including a Peanuts daily and a Sunday page featuring Snoopy), sports cards (including complete sets from the ’40s, ’50s and up, early sports cards by makers like Sports Kings, Play Ball, Goudey, Topps, Bowman and more), sports autograph memorabilia (including jerseys, helmets and photos), and balls (to include a single signed Babe Ruth baseball with PSA letter, and a 1942 golf benefit pass signed by Ruth.

The Sunday, Nov. 21 session will present fresh material from a fabulous Park Avenue estate, to include high-end original paintings, part of a large single-owner Hummel collection, tobacco jars, sterling silver, Armani figurines, a Toulouse Lautrec poster (La Revue Blanche), an Alphonse Mucha JOB poster, Part 2 of a collection of pig-related collectibles, fine porcelains, a Chagall china set, sconces, bronzes, and period furniture, such as a Louis XVI-style card table.

The December auction will he held the weekend of Dec. 17-19. The three-day event will kick off on Friday, Dec. 17, at 4 p.m., with approximately 200-300 ocean liner items, to include Part 2 of the Bushnell Collection, with additions. Featured will be tin signs, lithographs, prints, posters, models, paper ephemera, books, china and other assorted ocean liner memorabilia items.

Saturday, Dec. 18, beginning at 10 a.m,, will be dedicated to toy soldiers, toy trains, Fisher Price toys and more. Featured will be Part 2 of the Edward Ryan Collection, including paper toy soldiers, plus sets by Parker Brothers, McLoughlin and other makers. Toy soldiers from a variety of estates will be offered, including Britains, Manoils, Barclay, Durbar and others.

The day will also feature Part 2 of the Lawrence Kozsey “HO Brass” train collection, to include locomotives, cabooses, tenders and passenger cars by Samhongsa, Dongjin, Atlas, Tenshodo and others. Also included will be a miniature elevated railway that was built in the ’20s or ’30s, which features a power house, switching control house, floodlight towers and track. The Sunday session (Dec. 19, also starting at 10 a.m.), will be highlighted by Part 2 of the Great Lakes Collection of stamps and covers. Also featured will be four major estates loaded with album collections, a Midwest estate housed in special albums and more. Also sold will be currency, silver and gold coins (sold as single and group lots), rare books, autographs and maps. Previews will be held on the days leading up to, and including, the auction dates, for both upcoming sales.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (516) 594-0731, or e-mail them at phil@prwauctions.com. To learn more about Philip Weiss Auctions and the firm’s calendar of upcoming auctions, to include the Nov. 20-21 weekend event, log on to www.prwauctions.com.

Some current live auctions for vintage lunch boxes:

With a body modeled after May West and an attitude to rival Madonna’s, she has evolved into a cult figure with thousands of fans world wide. Although only a cartoon character, her obvious sensuality and her “I can do anything a man can do” approach to life, have earned her as loyal a group of fans, as any flesh and blood woman. This year she celebrates her 80th birthday, and she is still going strong. She is the incomparable Betty Boop.

Betty started life as a dog type character with a human body in the 1930′s film “Dirty Dishes”. Created by Max Fleischer with the help of animator Grim Natiwck, she was originally intended to be the love interest of Bimbo, the lead dog in the Talkartoons cartoon series. Bimbo met with moderate success, but the public instantly fell in love with the nameless little girl/dog. Within a year she had evolved from semi-canine to full human form and was given the name Betty Boop. In early 1931, with her new name and an ever growing audience, she appeared briefly in the film “Kitty From Kansas City”. Later that year in “Silly Scandals” she delighted audiences with her rendition of “You’re driving Me Crazy”, during which her blouse kept slipping down revealing a frilly bra underneath. Her next release “Ups and Downs” pushed the boundaries of good taste even further containing a scene with her dress blowing up. This scene would be recreated many years later by another famous screen vixen, Marilyn Monroe, in “The Seven Year Itch”.

Created at the very end of the “Roaring 20′s”, Betty’s risqué nature was generally accepted by an American public that was relatively uninhibited about sexuality. Her cartoons were geared to an adult audience and as a result were rather explicit, especially in the early years. Interaction between her character and the male leads in her films was suggestive, to say the least, and on more that one occasion her catch phrase “Boop-oop-a-doop” could be interpreted to be more than just scatty nonsense. From 1930-1934 she was a top box-office draw, but as the moral attitude in America shifted, Betty found her self on shaky ground.

In the mid 1930′s women’s clubs, church organizations, and various reform groups began organizing demonstrations at theaters across the country, calling for censorship of Hollywood films. With Will Hays, the head of the Motion Picture Producers and Directors Association, as their spokesperson, studios were held to new standards of decency. Under the guidelines of the “Picture Producer’s and Distributor’s Code” and the “Hays Act of 1935″ heavy fines were levied against studio that did not comply. In addition Hays created the “Purity Seal” . Movies that did not qualify for this stamp of approval were not allowed to be shown in PPDA-affiliated theatres, which most major theatres were.

Betty Boop received a complete makeover. Her wardrobe was altered to skirts that reached below her knees and shirts that fully covered her cleavage. No more clothing that slipped off or back lighting to expose her ample silhouette. Films from 1935 forward saw her as a baby sitter, teacher or housewife. Gone were the great jazz songs of the 1930′s that had been the back drop for many of the early films, removed due to their questionable lyrics. The surrealism of “Minnie the Moocher” and “Snow White” was replaced with story lines about Betty and her new pet monkey. In fact, by the time the censors finished, Betty was all but unrecognizable and the public gradually lost interest in her films. After appearing in “Yip, Yip, Yippy” in 1939 Betty Boop retired. In the nine short years of her career she had worked with such greats as Rudy Vallee, Cab Calloway, Don Redman and Louis Armstrong and appeared in over 100 animated features

The risqué little girl with an air of innocence still enjoys a following of loyal fans who are willing to pay top dollar for authentic 1930′s Betty Boop memorabilia. Recent auction results include results include a string holder for $250, a celluloid bobble-head Betty for $450, a twelve inch chalk carnival figure for $1,994 and a linen-matted 1930′s Paramount movie poster for a whopping $7,455. Now that’s a lot of Boop-Oop-A-Doop! Until next time………Linda

Linda Hamer Kennett is an associate member of the International Society of Appraiser specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-356-8967 or lkennett@indy.rr.com}

The three-day weekend event will be held in Ann Arbor, Mich., by Showtime Auction Services.

(ANN ARBOR, Mich.) – Nearly 2,000 lots from several major collections in an array of categories – firefighting items from the Granite Handtub Museum in Newmarket, N.H., a private arcade machine collection, around 150 rare toys and banks and more – will be sold Apr. 9-11 by Showtime Auction Services, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The three-day Spring “Live” Auction will also feature advertising, country store, barber shop, coin-op, gambling, general store, soda fountain, Coca-Cola, breweriana, petroliana, automobilia, Western Americana, tobacciana, saloon, brothel, die cabinets, showcases, store fixtures, Black Americana, salesman’s samples, Native American items, trade signs and more.

The first day of the sale (Fri., Apr. 9, noon to 5 p.m.) will be for live attendees only (no phone, absentee or Internet bidding). The Saturday and Sunday sessions (Apr. 10, 9-6, and Apr. 11, 9-4) will have live bidding plus phone, absentee and Internet bidding (via iCollector.com). A preview will be held Friday, Apr. 9, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, with a free hot breakfast from 8-10.

The top lot of the auction is expected to be a vintage pistol-operated Mermaid “The War Game” coin-op arcade machine (est. $200,000-$300,000). The exceedingly rare coin-op arcade machine, one of only twelve made and one of only ten known to exist today, was made by the Matheson Manufacturing Company. It was repainted and is in overall good working condition. Seventy other coin-op machines, most of them rare arcades, will also be offered at the auction.

Also expected to do well is a beautifully restored Hunneman hand-drawn hand tub/fire pump (est. $30,000-$40,000), one of three handtubs in the auction and one of over 200 fire fighting items from the Granite Handtub Museum. Built in 1854 (Button #364), the handtub originated in Cleremont, N.H., and was purchased in 1860 by the town of New Ipswich, N.H.

Another item from the museum is a decorated lamp for the button handtub used by a veteran firemen’s organization called the Red Jackets (est. $5,000-$10,000). In 1892, the tub was entered into a pumpers’ competition at a local muster in Massachusetts and won first prize. The piece was considered the most decorated tub of its time and still resides in Massachusetts.

Vintage toys will include three examples by Buddy L: an extremely rare toy bus that was once ridden by children who would steer it from side wheels (est. $8,000-$12,000); a red baby toy truck in excellent condition with the original tag (est. $6,000-$10,000); and an outdoor toy train with nine cars, complete with five pieces of track and connectors (est. $12,000-$20,000).

Another one of the 150 or so rare toys to be sold is a pre-war Japanese early tin toy race car, very rare and in very good condition (est. $2,000-$4,000). From a completely different category, but not to be overlooked, is a handsome Cigar Store Indian, possibly a Samuel Robb, but with no signature (est. $25,000-$40,000). The piece’s later re-paint has an emerging patina.

Over 20 rare mechanical banks will be offered, to include a cast-iron Boy Scout Camp example in excellent original condition, with 90 percent of the original paint still intact (est. $1,000-$3,500); and a rare circus bank (est. 2,500-$5,000). Also sold will be an extremely rare Pepsi-Cola can in the shape of a spool of thread, the only one Showtime has ever seen and in excellent condition (est. $2,000-$3,000).

A dozen automatons will include a one-cent, coin-operated gambling automaton, featuring a monkey who waves a magic wand, causing a dice table to drop down and then pop up quickly again, sending the dice rolling (est. $10,000-$20,000); and a store window automaton depicting a clock works gentleman. Wind him up and his head moves back and forth (est. $4,000-$8,000).

Additional top lots include a Studebaker & Rockne Authorized Service & Parts two-sided porcelain sign, the only one known and in very good condition (est. $7,500-$10,000; Note: Rockne cars were only manufactured for two years); an 1891 calendar for The Great Rock Island Route Train Company, with full pad (est. $3,000-$6,000); and a Mosley folding bath tub, the same type used in brothels in the 1800s (est. $8,000-$10,000).

Mr. Eckles, owner of Showtime Auction Services, said of the auction, “This is the most diversified selection of merchandise with high quality and rare items in over 60 antique collector categories represented.”

The preferred hotel for the auction is The Weber’s Inn in Ann Arbor, Mich., located about 25 minutes from the Detroit airport (DTW). The phone number for reservations is (734) 769-2500. Room-hopping is encouraged. A flyer providing more auction info has been printed. A full-color catalog is also available, at a cost of $35 (to order one, call Carol, at 316-721-5236).

The Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds (the venue of choice for Showtime Auction Services over the past several years) is located at 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road in Ann Arbor. Showtime conducts only four auctions a year (two live, two absentee), and they need to be held somewhere commensurate with the importance of the auction. The Apr. 9-11 sale is important.

Showtime’s next auction after this one will be a Summer Absentee, Phone and Internet Auction, scheduled to end July 9. Featured will be a fabulous collection of arcade, firefighting memorabilia, advertising, country store, barber shop, gambling, coin-op, toys, banks, general store, Coca-Cola, breweriana, petroliana, automobilia, Western Americana and much more.

After that, Showtime will hold a big Fall “Live” Auction Oct. 1-3 (also at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor). Then, a Winter 2011 Absentee Auction will end Jan. 15, 2011. Flyers will be mailed out mid-December and an online catalog will be posted about Jan. 1. The categories for these sales will be similar to those of the Apr. 9-11 and Jul. 9 auction events.

Showtime Auction Services is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call Michael Eckles at (951) 453-2415. His e-mail address is mikeckles@aol.com. To learn more about Showtime Auction Services and the Apr. 9-11 auction, please log on to www.showtimeauctions.com. Updates are posted often.

Some current live auctions for Mechanical Banks on eBay:

bank (Category: Mechanical Banks ): bank (Category: Mechanical Banks )

• VINTAGE ANTIQUE “PROFESSOR PUG FROGS GREAT BICYCLE FEAT” BANK c 1875 COPY

US $88.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:50:35 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Antique Black Americana Cast Iron Jolly Black Man Bank N/R

US $100.99 (2 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:50:38 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• AUTHENTIC BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE TAMMANY CAST IRON MECHANICAL BANK . . . . Boss Tweed

US $69.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 9:25:54 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• two cast iron banks. Both work but missing plug to hold coins in

US $50.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 9:49:41 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• 1920 ‘s STYLE GAS PUMP REPLICA BANK – INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER Lmtd. Ed. Gearbox

US $49.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 10:32:29 PST Buy It Now for only: US $60.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• Mechanical Spise a mule ” jocky” cast iron Bank

US $483.00 (11 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 12:40:05 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Monopoly Train Collector Bank 1996 Hasbro Inc – Mechanical – Cast Iron

US $74.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 13:00:11 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Original William Tell Mechanical Bank

US $800.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 13:45:12 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Cast Iron Butting Buffalo Book of Knowledge Mechanical bank

US $69.99 (11 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 14:08:28 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• ORIGINAL & AUTHENTIC MUSICAL & Mechanical Cast Iron Crank Bank…WATCH THE VIDEO

US $69.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 14:15:13 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Some current live auctions for Toy Banks on eBay:

bank (Category: Toys & Hobbies ): bank (Category: Toys & Hobbies )

• Harley Davidson 1941 Willys Coupe Street Rod Die Cast Metal Rare bank

US $49.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:47:19 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• 1931 Gilmore Hawkeye Tanker Bank die cast metal

US $48.50 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:48:56 PST Buy It Now for only: US $59.50 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• 1:24 1995 Rusty Wallace Action Platinum Series Diecast Bank 1 0f 6210

US $42.09 (11 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:49:29 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Terry Labonte #5 ActionRacing MIB Limited Edition Kelloggs/Corn Flakes(bank)

US $49.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:52:18 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• A. C. Williams 1918 TANK BANK, NICE, NO RESERVE

US $81.00 (11 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 8:00:41 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• ANDY BELMONT #59 METAL ARRESTER 1/18 SCALE BANK

US $55.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 8:17:34 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• DALE EARNHARDT SR. #3 1996 OLYMPIC SPORTS IMAGE 1:24 ACTION BANK DIECAST MIB

US $44.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 9:15:40 PST Buy It Now for only: US $69.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• 2/43 1995 7&7 CHAMPIONS EARNHARDT & PETTY 1:24 ACTION BANK SET DIECAST MIB

US $64.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 9:17:50 PST Buy It Now for only: US $89.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• AUTHENTIC BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE TAMMANY CAST IRON MECHANICAL BANK . . . . Boss Tweed

US $69.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 9:25:54 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• 5 Wings of Texaco Airplane Banks, Numbers 2,3,5,6,and 7 Mint in Original Boxes

US $100.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 10:11:25 PST Buy It Now for only: US $125.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

(RAYMOND, Ill.) – A monstrous two-day auction dedicated to farm and construction toys, Lionel toy trains and vintage toys will be held the weekend of Feb. 20-21 at a former furniture store building in Raymond, Ill., located halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, Ill. In all, nearly 1,000 lots will cross the block. Online bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid.com.

The sale will be a collaboration of two auction houses: Matthews Auction Company, based in Nokomis, Ill., and Gavin Pope Auction Company, headquartered in Raymond. A crowd of around 80 people is expected for the two days, while pre-registration for Internet bidding has been brisk, according to Dan Matthews. “I expect many of these items will sell online,” he said.

The Saturday, Feb. 20 session, beginning promptly at 10 a.m. (CST), will comprise over 500 lots of farm toys and construction toys. Featured will be a fabulous John Deere memorabilia collection, to include oilers, pencils, pens, pocket knives, calendars and more. The Sunday, Feb. 21 session will boast over 300 lots of Lionel toy trains (mostly new in the box), circa 1950s-’90s.

Feb. 21 will also feature more than 75 intriguing vintage toys, to include pedal cars, toy wagons and more. A partial listing of what will be offered both days may be viewed on the Matthews Auctions, LLC website, at www.MatthewsAuctions.com. A full catalog will be posted online soon. A 10 percent buyer’s premium will be charged on Sunday only (none on Saturday).

The Feb. 20 session will have four primary components: custom toys, John Deere items, International and other farm toys, and construction toys. The custom toys will feature Ertl trucks, highly coveted by collectors. Sold will be a rare IH Loadstar cement mixer (possibly with box); an IH Loadstar wrecker; an IH Loadstar equipment trucks; white cab-over box trucks; and more.

The Ertl brand will cross over into the John Deere category, too. Sold will be Ertl John Deere precision models #1-25, all new in the box (including all the hard-to-find ones); an Ertl John Deere A, with drive and arcade wheels; and an Ertl John Deere A, with two-hole flywheel. Also sold will be John Deere 2-cylinder tractors (1990-2008), all new in the box, in great shape.

Other John Deere pieces to be offered include 620, 720 and 820 industrial examples; a Plow City 1010 crawler; a 430 crawler; 4320 and 6030 examples, new in the box; 4960 and 8400 MFWD; a restored 12A and 30 augur combine; a 6600 combine with metal gear drive platform; a near-mint dirt scraper; combines (Turbo and Titan II); and disk plows and other implements.

International toys will include a 5288 farm set; three Precision F-20s; 1206 and 806 models, both repainted; a 1026 gold; a model 560; an F-20 Iowa Welcome Center; several Cubs; an MTA SE; and several other pieces. Additional farm toys will feature a Tru-Scale combine; an Oliver OC-3 Crawler, new in the box; and Ertl Texaco truck and airplanes banks (No. 1 thru 22).

The farm toys category will also feature a large selection of other Texaco toys; a Buddy L Texaco tanker; a Brown Bigelow jet fuel tanker; and pedal tractors, to include a Case CA; John Deere small 60, 20, 730 and 4430 models; a small Massey model 44; and several other examples.

Custom toys will include a Weber Case with dual elevators; an Allis WD-45, with picker; a Woods Brothers one-row picker; a Cottonwood Acres State Highway truck; a Standard tank truck; a Riecke F-20; a Freiheit International Harvester Farmall 300; a Hartz-Partz John Deere 330; a Nolt John Deere L; a custom John Deere AR; and a custom Yoder John Deere model 730.

Construction toys will be abundant and feature Revell Caterpillar scrapers, graders and bottom dumps; an Ertl Cat motor grader; an NZG or Conrad Caterpillar 1/50 scale truck, almost new in the box; a 2-944 Wheel Loader NZG; D8N and D9N, silver edition; a 797 off-highway truck; a D11R track-type tractor, gold and silver edition; and a 793D off-highway toy truck.

Other construction toys certain to get paddles wagging and online bidders juiced include a 245 excavator; a 245 shovel excavator; a P-450 Profiler; a 988B wheeler loader; a 627push-pull scraper; a D400 articulated dump truck; a 615 scraper; a 769C truck; a 416 backhoe; a 966D wheeler loader; a 215 excavator; a 224 wheeler loader; and a 416 backhoe loader, silver edition.

Matthews Auctions, LLC’s next big sale after this one will be a Spring 2010 Peotone Petroliana and Advertising Auction scheduled for Friday, Mar. 5, in Peotone, Ill., starting at 12 noon (CST). Featured will be the Gulf collection of Pat Lutz. Then, on Saturday, April 24, the firm will conduct a Petroliana and Vintage Advertising Sale in Redlands, Calif., at 2 p.m. (PST).

On Saturday, May 1, Matthews Auctions, LLC will hold a Classic Car, Petroliana, Gas Pumps and Vintage Advertising Auction in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc. Offered will be over 20 classic cars, a great selection of gas pumps and signs, and more. Then, on May 15, an Absolute Petroliana and Automotive Advertising Auction will be held, in Loveland, Colo. Featured will be the single-owner collection of Clyde Hodge. Signs, globes and other collectibles will be offered.

Matthews Auctions, LLC is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them toll-free, at (877) 968-8880. Or, you can e-mail them at danm@matthewsauctions.com. To learn more about the firm and its calendar of upcoming sales, to include the Feb. 20-21 auction, log on to www.MatthdewsAuctions.com
To learn more about Gavin Pope Auction Company, you may call them at (217) 825-8682.

Not much to go on without a product number, but we did track down a Buy it Now on eBay listed as “Lionel Uncle Sam Box Car – #6-7700 – 1975” with a price of US $59.00.

As far as price guides go for Lionel Train products, Allan W. Miller (managing editor of Antique Trader Books) writes on www.lionel.com that, “In the area of Lionel train collecting, there are two respected, affordable, and long-established guides that are considered to be the most comprehensive and authoritative: TM’s Lionel Price & Rarity Guide (two volumes) and Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2010 (Greenberg’s Pocket Price Guide Lionel Trains). Both are updated and published annually, and each has, over many years, developed a devoted following.”

The Greenberg guide is available through the link above from Amazon, and it looks like the TM guide is no longer updated (see www.tmbv.com). Used copies are available on Amazon, though -follow this link: TM’s Lionel Price & Rarity Guide.

For some current live auctions for Lionel train products, see our previous post here >>.

Even though we may only realize it in retrospect, children often display behavior very early in life that points to their destiny. In the early 1890′s seven year old Joshua Lionel Cowen whittled a miniature locomotive from a scrap of wood. It was a remarkable likeness considering his young age. He then tried to fit it with a tiny engine. …and it exploded. He was unharmed, but his mother’s kitchen sustained considerable damage. Many years later, in his early twenties, he would try the experiment again. This time he met with success. He gave his invention his middle name, and the model train was born.

Cowen sold his first model train to a Manhattan shop owner in 1901, by convincing him the small train running through his Christmas window display would draw attention to his other merchandise. The shop owner returned the next day to order half a dozen more tracks and trains. It appeared while the merchandise in his window was getting attention, the customers main question was… “where can we buy the train?” Lionel quickly provided the shop with a dozen train sets consisting of of one electric flat car and thirty feet of track and dubbed it the “Electric Express”. With in twelve months Cowen acquired enough capital to start his own company, The Lionel Corporation.

Though a prolific inventor, Cowen’s marketing skills would prove just as valuable to his success. Working from a German tradition, linking toy trains to Christmas, Cowen approached a number of large department stores in New York City convincing them to incorporate elaborate train set ups around their Christmas tree displays. He provided the trains, tracks, building and landscapes. The public reaction to the displays was overwhelming, sales boomed, and America had officially entered the “Golden Era of Toy Trains”.

The years brought many changes as Cowen constantly improved upon his original concept. In 1902 a train set with a “City Hall Park” trolley and a two foot suspension bridge met with great success. 1903 saw the introduction of the B&O locomotive and the motorized Derrick car. And in 1906 Lionel added a third rail which carried the current and the outer rails, which were the ground rails. Three trolleys, two steam engines, two passenger cars, seven freight cars and a small wall transformer completed this ground breaking set.

In 1907 the Cowen’s became the parents of a son, Lawrence. Not unlike other parents showing off pictures of their little ones, the proud papa placed his son’s likeness on the company emblem. From that year forward it would be seen on all Lionel train boxes and featured in the catalogs. To no ones surprise, Lawrence went on to become the company’s president.

In 1929, Cowen unveiled the “Transcontinental Limited”, which stretched nine feet from its massive headlight to its ornate observation platform, complete with brass rail. It cost an unheard off $110, more than price of a used Model T. Lionel was at the peak of their success when the Depression of the early 1930′s hit. People were struggling to feed their families and very few had money to spend on toys. Obtaining government contracts for his other manufacturing concerns, Cowen managed to keep the Lionel Corporation afloat.

The war years of the 40′s left toy manufacturers with a metal shortage. Lionel stepped up their production of plastic accessories, and once again kept their doors open. When production resumed in the mid-40′s, Lionel turned out trains and accessories that are considered by many to be the best in their long company history. By the mid-1950s, public interest had shifted from trains to airplanes and slot-cars. Christmas of 1953 saw the first considerable drop in sales and with no resurgence of interest to save it, the Lionel Train Corporation and it closed in 1965.

In 1995 a group of investors, headed by singer/song writer Neil Young formed what is known as Lionel Limited Liability Corporation or Lionel LLC. The trains produced by this company, while of fine quality. are of little interest to collectors.

In 1999 the Lionel electric train was recognized as one of the top ten toys of the twentieth-century. The little seven year old boy, who had once blown up his mothers kitchen died in 1965, the undisputed “king” of the toy train industry.

{Linda Hamer Kennett is an associate member of the International Society of Appraisers specializing in the valuation and liquidation of antiques and may be reached at 317-356-8967 or lkennett@indy.rr.com}

Some current live auctions on eBay for Lionel Train items:

Lionel: Lionel

• 6 Lionel New York Central Lighted Cars O/O27 new

US $175.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:42:56 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel Erie Lackawanna GP-9 Diesel Engine O/O27 new

US $150.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:43:12 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel Santa Fe RS-3 Diesel Engine O/O27 new

US $140.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:43:20 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• LOTS LIONEL 2005 VIRGINIAN COAL HOPPER 6-52380 WITH ETD & COAL LOAD NEW IN BOX

US $85.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:46:56 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• NEW LT-702 LIONEL FLATBED W/NON POWERED DIESEL

US $47.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:47:11 PST Buy It Now for only: US $59.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• LIONEL LOTS 2006 TOURING LAYOUT CAR 6-52419 NEW IN BOX LIGHTED

US $80.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:48:41 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel Canadian National Maxi-Stack Flatcar

US $43.75 (7 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:49:40 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• LIONEL ART BOXCAR 6-29966 SET BREAKUP NEW IN BOX LIONEL FOR 1965

US $40.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:49:41 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel Canadian National Maxi-Stack Flatcar

US $41.00 (4 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:50:02 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Lionel Canadian National Maxi-Stack Flatcar

US $41.10 (5 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 6:50:21 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

The world’s Fair of 1893 offered visitors a strange concoction of popcorn, nuts and maple syrup. This confection, unnamed at the time, was an instant hit with the public. For the next three years the inventors of the popcorn treat, William and Louis Ruedkheim, worked to find a way to keep the sticky confection from clumping together. They discovered that by adding a small amount of oil during mixing that the cornels of corn would remain separated. They packaged their tasty treat in a small box bearing a picture of “Sailor Jack” and his dog Bingo. They named it “Cracker Jack”.

While the snack has been regaled in song {“…buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks”} and consumed by millions, it is the “prize” in every box that has sustained it’s popularity for over one hundred years. Is there anyone among us who has not gone “digging” for that elusive “prize in every box”?

In it’s first six years of production Cracker Jack issued 144 different baseball cards featuring such greats as “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson. Other early “prizes” included wooden toys, tin and metal machines and lithographic paper items. The odds of finding any of these pre-1920 pieces are very slim, but well worth the search. If you doubt me, just ask the Rochester, New York man who sent his collection of the 144 original baseball cards to auction where they brought $800,000!

An overview of the prizes through the years offers us a fascinating look at the trends and fads of America in the 20th century. The earliest prizes consisted of paper-dolls, yo-yo’s, baseball cards and song books. The first toys made of wood, tin and metal appeared in the late 1920′s. “Made in Japan” lithograph tin whistles were the best find in the 1930′s. During the 1940′s, propaganda and war toys were a favorite. With the end of the war, the 1950′s Cracker Jack boxes contained toys of a happier nature with dolls and colorful plastic animals being a common find. The race for space in the late 1960′s was reflected with space ships and polyethylene space men. Coin holders, magnifying glasses, and slot machines appeared in the 70′s and 80′s and the favorite toy of the 1990′s saw the return of paper goods in the form of metallic stickers. Cracker Jack toys have delighted children for decades. In fact, Cracker Jack is recognized as fact the world’s largest purveyor of toys, with a distribution of over 17 billions pieces since 1912.

Determining the age of a Cracker Jack toy can be difficult as most of the fifteen million variation were unmarked. An exception to this rule are some of the very early paper dolls, song books and post cards. These may be marked either Ruedkheim Brothers or Reliable Confections. If you are new to this are of collecting beware of pieces with a “CJ” marking on the bottom .This is most commonly found on a piece called the “Toonerville Trolley”. According to company records this was never an official Cracker Jack toy. The letters CJ are rather an indication of the size of the trolley not a company mark.

Other factors used to determine age are the two major changes that came during the 1940′s. In 1945 toys changed from metal to plastic toys, and in starting in 1948 all toys were required by law to be wrapped in paper. Collector have also learned to watch for changes on the box. Reliable Confections sold out to Borden Inc, in 1964, who in turn passed the company legacy to the Frito-Lay Corporation in 1997.

In addition to Cracker Jack toys, collectors also look for mint condition die-cut lithograph display adds, old boxes and advertising material. There is also a considerable interest in memorabilia from Checkers Confections and Angelus Marshmallows, the two sister companies of Reliable Confections.

While finding early pieces in mint condition is rare and costly, there are an abundance of mid-20th century pieces to be had for $10 or under. If you come across miniature toys at flea markets or garage sales they can often be had for pennies! Do you home work and learn what to watch for and you will be surprised just how often these unassuming pieces turn out to be authentic Cracker Jack toys.

Cracker Jack is truly an American tradition, and American’s don’t like their traditions tampered with. Case in point: In 2004 the New York Yankees organization decided to remove Cracker Jack from their concession stand and replace it with a similar product called Crunch ‘N Munch. The public outcry of disapproval was so great that after two weeks…. you guessed it…. the Crunch “N Munch was removed and the Cracker Jack returned.

{Linda Hamer Kennett is the owner of “What’s in the Attic?” Estate Liquidation Service, specializing in down-sizing for seniors, valuation of antiquity and estate tag sales and may be reached at 317-356-8967 or lkennett@indy.rr.com}

Some current live auctions for Cracker Jack items:

Cracker Jack (Category: Cracker Jack ): Cracker Jack (Category: Cracker Jack )

• Vintage Cracker Jack Horse and Wagon-Wonderful Shape

US $30.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 7:57:11 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Vintage Crackerjack toy marked made in the USA and Cowboy w/ movable parts

US $50.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 13:10:47 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• ANGELUS MARSHMALLOW 5 LB. TIN, CRACKER JACK CO.

US $50.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 13:45:05 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Vintage Nos Campfire Marshmallows 1/4 Marshmallow Cracker Jack Co Chicago!

US $99.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 20:54:57 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• cracker jack cardboard toy WALKER hobo 1930s?

US $50.00 (4 Bids) End Date: Monday Feb-13-2012 18:59:25 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• 1979 Marvel Superheroes Cracker Jack box Spiderman Hulk Spider Woman

US $75.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 7:23:01 PST Buy It Now for only: US $100.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• Vintage Cracker Jacks Toy ‘fortune teller’

US $30.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 8:37:49 PST Buy It Now for only: US $50.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• Cracker Jack Doll with Bingo! Still has the surprise inside! NIB, MINT!!!

US $34.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 9:22:58 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

• Vintage Antique Cracker Jack Prize Herby 1930′s Metal Mint Oval REDUCED PRICE!

US $59.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 15:54:30 PST Buy It Now for only: US $69.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

• 1940-50′s Gumball/Crackerjack Charms on Chain Older VHTF

US $45.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 16:48:46 PST Buy It Now for only: US $60.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Cracker Jack

Cracker Jack is a U.S. brand of snack consisting of caramel-coated popcorn (caramel corn) and peanuts. It is also well known for being…

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Get one for any topic!

There’s no question that it was a cinematic tour de force, but at the risk of bringing on the ire of the hardcore fans, we (I) was a little disappointed with the screenplay, as there were some moments that tested the limits of my withholding of incredulity.

That being said, there is no doubt that the late Heath Ledger pulled off on of the most chilling performances I’ve ever seen. When we saw the following figure from Entertainment Earth depicting the Joker in the opening sequence, we (I) knew we had to order one:

Batman: Dark Knight 1:6 Scale Bank Robber Joker Figure “Who’s going to kill the bus driver?” Incredibly detailed. Amazing accessories. Get on board with this! “Who’s going to kill the bus driver?” Dumb question! From The Dark Knight, this incredibly detailed figure of the Joker really brings that ruthless scene from the film to life in your living room. He stands about 12-inches tall and features a disquietingly lifelike image of Heath Ledger, along with a surprising assortment of accessories and real cloth clothing. Get on board with this amazing collector’s piece if you dare!