Glamour and glitter: space toys carry that special aura with their blinking lights, surprising movements, and vibrant colors. Both the toy and box design radiate the excitement of the space race. Japanese makers like S.H. brought real-life capsules and rockets to life in miniature form. While some space toys first...
Vintage Chinese Tin Toy Hydraulic Forging Press – Shanghai, 1960s
Lots of today's toys are made in China. Tons of plastic toys are coming every day to give joy (for a day or a bit more) to children.What a difference with this 1960s "toy". A forging press is not directly connected with a toy. The box cover was already impressive.This...
Vintage Diorama Scenes with German Toys
Many toys spend their lives in (plastic) boxes or lined up on shelves. The latter can be impressive, but wouldn’t it be nicer to create temporary mini dioramas? It takes little effort, and building a small scene feels more rewarding. Take a few pictures and move on to the next...
Ernst Plank Live Steam Locomotives – Antique Tinplate Models
Pair of live steam toy locomotives by Ernst Plank (Germany), circa 1880s. These early tinplate models showcase the beginnings of live steam engineering in toy manufacturing. Notably, the “Vulkan” example features wheels without flanges, indicating it wasn’t designed for tracks – a rare and intriguing design choice for floor operation....
Antique Tinplate Toy Carriage – Attributed to Rock & Graner (1880s)
An exceptionally crafted tinplate toy carriage likely made by Rock & Graner (Germany, ca. 1880s). Although unmarked, the detailed woodgrain-style paintwork, construction technique, and proportions closely match known examples from this renowned 19th-century manufacturer. Features realistic curved shafts and spoked wheels, representing the high level of craftsmanship from this era....
EPL (Ernst Paul Lehmann) – “Tap Tap” the Porter
Produced by Lehmann (GERMANY), known for their inventive tin toys powered by clockwork mechanisms. This piece, numbered 560, features the iconic "Tap Tap" porter pulling a cart. The name refers to the tapping sound of the boots as he walks. Patent markings include “D.R. Patente”, “Engl. Patent”, and “PATD U.S.A....
Bullmark Tinplate Baragon Monster Toy Japan 1960s
This tinplate walking monster toy represents Baragon, a kaiju character from the Japanese Toho universe. Manufactured by Bullmark in the mid-1960s, it features bright lithographed detail, oversized ears, and a wired remote control unit. Bullmark was known for producing high-quality kaiju-related toys during Japan's postwar monster boom. This battery-operated Baragon...
SAKAI Hydroplane Speedboat with Johnson Outboard Engine
Speed records have always driven human innovation, also on water. In 1955, Donald Campbell set a new record by boat on Ullswater in the UK, sparking worldwide interest in hydroplanes. These boats relied on planing rather than buoyancy to reach higher speeds. Toy manufacturers followed with their own interpretations, like...
Ernst Heinrichsen Antique Tin Figures with Non-European Themes
Toys reflect the situation and developments in real life. Since the early 1900s there was an increased interest in dynamic toys—trains, cars, ships. But during the 1800s and before, toys were mainly static, like these antique tin figures by Ernst Heinrichsen (Germany). These hand-painted figures depict scenes from daily life...
Fleischmann Representative Presentation Box with Union Pacific Models
Once we bought an entire Fleischmann collection from a collector. When we picked up the collection from the friendly owner, we encountered a very special surprise. This present came out of the blue as the cherry on top of the cake. Every time we see this presentation box, the special...