All four toys cars are being sold for one price; as a lot. Please see descriptions below. Videos available on request (they display operation).
1) Early Vintage Chein Company All Tin Toy Wind-Up Limousine, American, Circa 1930
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 lithographed and painted in red and yellow, with grey and red balloon wheels. All tin, this car is quite scarce and well proportioned and stream lined with a visor over the windshield, a fancy checkered, red and yellow running board, and three cut out windows to each side of the car; very luxurious and cool looking.
Markings consist of “N.J.-44”; the word “Stop” in a logo of some kind; and Chein logo attesting to “Made in U.S.A.” manufacture. (see image). Also “marked” and of note are the tires “Chein Balloon Cord” “U.S.A.” and “33 x 6 00.6 Ply”
Car is from my own collection and is in very good and all original condition with no touch-up paint or repaint, and no restoration of any kind; fabulous colors and presence. The car works fine; see video for operation of the limousine (on request)..
Dimensions: 7 1/4″ long x 3 1/2″ wide x 3″ high
2) Rare 911 Porsche Friction Tin Toy by Bandai Toy Co. Made in Japan Circa 1960’s
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 “Made in Japan” designation being noted.
The Bandai Toy Company is a post war toy company established in Taito, Japan circa 1950 and is still conducting business today, albeit, it has shifted from toy manufacturing to video toy accessories.
This is a very rare toy and is coveted by collectors of both toys and fast cars. Except for the odd and minor scratch here and there, the toy is in very nice, all original condition with absolutely no restoration or touch up to the paint or mechanism (see images). The action and friction functionality works well (see video on request).
Motor and engine mechanics and nomenclature are colorfully displayed through the plastic rear trunk window (see image); while the colorful interior can be seen through the side window. Car is all tin, with rubber tires and plastic windows.
Dimensions: 10 1/4″ long x 4″ wide x 3 1/4″ high.
Note that this toy doesn’t become available very often and the few that have turned up in recent years , don’t work.
3) Vintage Free Wheeling Green Lithographed All Tin Racing Car. French, Circa 1930
Circa 1930’s free wheeling green lithographed all tin racing car, with attached pressed steel driver; it is probably of French manufacturer (the only time I have seen for sale was from a French toy dealer). This scarce toy has markings resembling early racing cars with the streamlined style graphics in yellow and green; standard grill; exhaust four manifolds to each side, and a spare tire attached to the rear; looks like an early Le Mans type car with the spare (see images). Other markings include the number “3:” on each side; “510 x 1″ on the rear tire”; and probably the makers mark and logo, which I can’t identify, on the top right behind the driver (see images).
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. The car is in excellent and all original condition (remarkable for a nearly 100 year old floor toy), with no dents, no touch-up paint and absolutely no restoration..
Provenance: From my own collection of toys and banks, having been purchased 33 years ago in 1990.
Dimensions: 8 1/4″ long x 2 1/2″ wide x 2 1/2″ high
4) Lehman Auto “Ito” Sedan, Germany, circa 1913
This hand-painted German tin toy was manufactured by the “Lehman Toy Company” in Brandenburg, Germany beginning in 1913. It was made for a number of years after that, enjoying about a 20 year run. Entitled “Ito” it operates by winding up the attached key wind mechanism, placing it on the floor, and watching it go. The car is in very good all original condition with no repairs and no repaint. It runs well. There are a number of markings on the car including “Lehman” with the corresponding logo and the number 679 on the rear. The side of the has the patent information “Pat’d 12 May 1903; 13 Sept. 1904; and U.S.A. 2 Dec. 1913”.
Hand-painted nicely in red and black with black and gold trim; the hand-painted driver is in blue with flesh tones to the face.
Dimensions: 7″ long x 3″ wide x 3 1/2″ 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 and banks; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace
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.