The “See Saw Monkey Circus” American tin toy is not often found in this excellent and original condition. It was made circa 1950 in New York City by The Lewco Products Company established in the 1930’s and ended their business circa 1980.
The toy features three monkeys, each attached to a pole, atop a teeter totter; and, upon a “healthy” wind up (clockwork key attached to the base) the monkeys go up and down mimicking a see saw, while spinning around their respective poles (video available upon request). The toy works perfectly and is in completely all original condition with no repairs, repaint, or touch-up, of any kind. The three monkeys are lithographed to both sides in brown red and white; while the yellow background base is lithographed with characters featuring circus acts; a seal and a lion to the front and back, while a circus clown decorates the side panels. At the bottom of one panel is the makers marks “Pat. Pend. Mfd. By Lewco Prod. Inc New York 16″ (see images).
Dimensions: 7″ high x 11″ wide 3 1/2” wide
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. I thoroughly examine with a loop and a black light all of my toys that I offer for sale and I guarantee them to be as I have 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.
See my other listings of over 100+ vintage toys and antique children’s toy savings banks from which to chose.