opens and closes as though singing. Original painted finish with some paint wear, mechanism functions well. Germany, Gunthermann, early 20th century. $800/1000
460. German Painted Tin Mechanical Toy "Cat with Parasol and Mice" by Gunthermann 6 1/2" (17 cm.) The painted tin tabby cat standing on wheeled base, has an amusing painted blue suit and long curly tail; attached to his midriff is a red and white striped parasol upon which four little mice are running about. When wound, the parasol twirls around, the mice appearing to escape. Excellent condition, some light paint flaking, original finish, mechanism functions well. Germany, Gunthermann, early 20th century. $1500/2200
461. German Tin Toy Mechanical Elevator Tower with Two Spectator Cabins by Doll 15" (38 cm.) including flag. The painted tin elevator
457. German Tin Lithographed Monkey by Distler
mechanism and music function well and charmingly. A
tower has embossed
rare toy, Germany, Gunthermann, early 19th century.
shingled roof with gilt flag,
Standing upon a green tin base is a
$1200/1500
tin spectator cars that move
monkey in marching uniform with
up and down the tower
held at his front. When wound, he
459. German Painted Tin Mechanical Singing Frog by Gunthermann
nods his head, twitches his tail and
8" (20 cm.) Painted tin figure of a standing frog with
turned. At the spectator
beats the drum in a vigorous manner.
painted red jacket and yellow suit, green webbed
level of the tower there
Marked "Germany". Excellent
feet and hands, green head with loosely-hinged jaw
is a walk-way around the
condition of lithography although
and painted yellow eyes, is posed holding a paper,
frame, protected by a lattice
slightly darkened, mechanism
supposedly sheet music. When wound, his jaw rapidly
fence with gold railing. Six
cap, a yellow drum and drumsticks
shaft on metal rods when the handle at the side is
functions well. Germany, Distler,
paper-mache spectators sit
circa 1920. $600/800
in the cabins. Condition: generally excellent, all
458. Very Rare German Painted Tin Mechanical Musical Toy "The One-Man Band" by Gunthermann
original finish with some light paint flaking at base. Comments: Doll et Cie,
Painted tin figure of a man with red
founded by Peter Doll
jacket, yellow vest, tan trouser, and
in 1898; the firm was
grey top hat, is standing on a tin
fascinated with the use of
platform, a cello at his front, and a
steam engines as well as the
drum with cymbals attached to his
new inventions of the late
back. When wound, he vigorously
20th century, including
plays the cello, the cymbals clang up
the 1893 Ferris Wheel (see #462) and the elevator, made famous at the Eiffel
and down, and his hat moves up and
Tower of the 1889 World Fair in Paris. The toy operates by hand-winding the
down, too, while a simple musical
side wheel, but was also designed to operate with the firm's toy steam engines.
tune plays. Excellent condition,
Value Points: very rare toy, beautifully-preserved, with historical significance.
minor paint loss, original finish,
$1500/2200
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