Very rare toy by a little known German company “Einfalt”; manufactured circa 1920 by brothers Georg and Johann Einfalt, in Nuremberg. Of note, this company later changed it’s name to “Technofix” in the 1930’s. The toy being offered here depicts a crawling German soldier sniper with rifle in hand “on the ready”. The toy is completely original with no restoration and it operates fine. There is a Marx, American made counterpart toy that was copied from this toy which is not nearly as rare or desirable. The toy is lithographed and hand painted in typical army fatigue green colors and appropriate brown trim, shoes, etc. Markings include “Made in Germany” and “D.R.R.” (Deutschland Republic Registry) German patent marking between the soldier’s legs; and on the side “D.R.G.M.” Deutsches Reichsgebrauchsmuster (see images).
To operate:
wind up the clockwork type mechanism; (with key provided) the winding nut under soldiers belly. Place down and the sniper will crawl along the ground and stop to shoot his rifle every couple of seconds. There is also a visible spark at the tip of the rifle to simulate firing (Movie of toy operating upon request). In addition to being rare because it is a pre-war German toy; it is also scarce because the mechanism was often overwound and thusly, discarded. The clockwork key is an unusual metric size and, once missing, the toy would have been rendered unusable, thus this was another reason accounting for this particular toy’s rarity. This example works fine, just like it did originally.
Dimensions: 7 1/2″ long x 2″ high x 2″ wide.
Provenance: From a fine quality California collection of American and German tin clockwork and wind up toys; recently acquired.
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.