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Josef Wagner / Germany
Josef Wagner operates in a village near Nuremberg, the
original clockwork toy-making centre of Europe. It's a real family business: two
generations, both living on the premises. From outside it looks like the smithy,
and perhaps was. Inside, improbable machines clank and whirr. One cannot believe
that anything complies with current regulations concerning Health and Safety,
but the staff seem happy enough, with all their limbs in place, as does the cat.
"All is how it was," says Herr Wagner, and we believe him.
These tinplate (or tin p collectors clockwork toys do not comply with current Toy
Safety requirements, and we have always had to observe many procedures to ensure
that they were sold to and for adult toy collectors only.
The following pages shows a collection of some of the best sellers from
our range of ' tinplate (or tin plate)plate (or tinplate (or tin plate) plate)plate (or tinplate (or tin plate)plate
(or tinplate (or tin plate) plate) tinplate (or tin plate)plate (or tinplate (or tin plate) plate) plate) (or tinplate (or tin plate)plate (or tinplate (or tin plate) plate) plate) Clockwork Toys for Collectors'
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£6  |
£20 |
£40 |
£10 |
| clockwork ladybird
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clockwork tractor
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clockwork elephant
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clockwork duck
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TURNING
CLOCKWORK LADYBIRD
Moves in a circle, and cleverly will not fall off the table. The
keyhole is subtly disguised as one of the spots. Clockwork, 10cm.
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TRACTOR
AND TRAILER
Long-run motor with three forward gears, reverse, brake and
steering-wheel operated steering. Heavy-duty, robust and well finished.
The remarkable, in fact perhaps unique, feature is the gearing. The
tractor can reverse, of course, and not only does it travel at different
speeds in each of the three forward gears, but its load-pulling ability
also really changes. This must be by far the most ingenious piece of
precision engineering in any tinplate (or tin plate)plate (or tinplate (or tin plate) plate)-plate toy in current production. Clockwork,
33cm overall.
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CLOCKWORK
CATCHING ELEPHANT
The long-running motor spins the propeller on the elephant's head and
turns the augur which carries the balls upward. At the top they roll down
the chute, drop through the elephant's basket, and run down the slope back
into circulation. It is particularly colourful and interes tinplate (or tin plate)plate (or tinplate (or tin plate) plate)gly-printed,
a decorative ornament even for non-collectors. Clockwork, 9" tall.
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DUCK ON TRICYCLE
This is a re-make of an old German original and is of the same high
quality as the rest of the range. Although use of plastic for its legs is
regrettable, the mechanism is exceptionally efficient allowing several
revolutions. Clockwork, 20cm.
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| £20 |
£10 |
£10 |
£10 |
| clockwork carousel |
clockwork dancing doll |
clockwork ice doll |
clockwork bus track |
GLOBE CAROUSEL
The Globe Carousel is a good example of one of the few high-quality tinplate (or tin plate)plate (or tinplate (or tin plate) plate)
toys being made in Germany. The powerful pull-and-release mechanism gives
a long, quiet run making the boats fly out horizontally as in the real
thing. Sturdy with excellent print detail and finish, they are an
attractive ornament even when not in motion. 18cm tall.
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DANCING
DOLL
The Dancing Doll is some 6" tall, made in Russia, well finished
and finely printed. Propelled by an unusual and long-running motor, she
glides gracefully on hidden wheels, doing pirouettes in both directions
and moving her head gently from side to side as she goes, all very pretty.
Clockwork.
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DANCING
DOLL
The Dancing Doll is some 6" tall, made in Russia, well finished
and finely printed. Propelled by an unusual and long-running motor, she
glides gracefully on hidden wheels, doing pirouettes in both directions
and moving her head gently from side to side as she goes, all very pretty.
Clockwork.
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MINI BUS
TRACK
The raised tray has two revolving circles on each of which travel three
miniature buses which spin round passing in and out of the tunnels.
Delightfully old-fashioned with evocative and detailed prin pping
of the mechanism. Clockwork, 23x10cm.
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Josef Wagner operates in a village near Nuremberg, the original clockwork
toy-making centre of Europe. It's a real family business: two generations, both
living on the premises. From outside it looks like the smithy, and perhaps was.
Inside, improbable machines clank and whirr. One cannot believe that anything
complies with current regulations concerning Health and Safety, but the staff
seem happy enough, with all their limbs in place, as does the cat. "All is
how it was," says Herr Wagner, and we believe him. | |
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