Dancing rabbit wind up toy, “Uncle Wiggly”, was made by the Chein Toy Company, of New York City, circa 1938. It was designed, and the creation of foremost leading toy inventor Gene Bosch, and it is signed on the underneath by him (see image); autographed in black ink “Gene Bosch J. Chein & Co.”, which was the modus operandi on several of his early entries of toys that he designed. So, in addition to being a highly collectible vintage pre-war tin wind up toy, this particular example has special appeal to the sophisticated collector because of the signature from the leading toy designer who worked for this iconic and prestigious toy manufacturer. The condition is excellent and completely original with no repairs and no touch up paint of any kind. It works great (see the video attached with this listing). Wind him up by turning the attached key in the rabbit’s back and place him down on the floor. He dances around haphazardly for a nice dance.
Dimensions: 5″ high x 2 3/8″ deep x 2 1/8″ wide
Provenance: From my own personal 40 year collection of toys and banks
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
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 vintage toys.