Archive for the ‘Nursery Rhymes’ Category

Time to Wind Down

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

Here’s a look at even more little toys I picked up at the Allentown Antique Toy Show. They’re old wind-up toys.

This first guy is just a goofy-looking sheriff with rifle-in-hand and an arrow through his head. I love the expression on his face. It’s the “Crap! Did that just go through my head?” look. He has no markings other than “Made in Japan,” so who knows where he comes from? He’s cute (even with his badly painted ammo belt and rifle that looks like a tommy gun).

Also, I think he’s a boozing sheriff. Just look at that red nose :o

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Antique Sheriff Wind-up toy

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Antique Sheriff Wind-up toy

The next two are marked “©1967 Frankonia” (I haven’t found any reliable info about this company, but I have gathered that they produced various tin and wind-up toys). The keys and walking mechanisms still work for these two, but they are a bit slow. I’m guessing they’re from a series of Nursery Rhyme wind-up toys.

I picked them up, because they’re just really funny looking. I love the genuine expressions of sadness and concern on their faces. They’re not your typical children’s toys emotional states, that’s for sure.

This guy looks like he could be Little Boy Blue.

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Little Boy Blue Wind-up ©1967 Frankonia

Look at the truly sad expression on his face! Poor kid! They must’ve just woken him up (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out the original nursery rhyme for clues).

Little boy blue, come blow your horn
The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn
Where is that boy who looks after the sheep?
Under the haystack fast asleep
Will you wake him? Oh no, not I
For if I do he will surely cry

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Little Boy Blue Wind-up ©1967 Frankonia

The other is Humpty Dumpty (Wow! The second Humpty Dumpty toy on the blog!). I’m sure you all know his story. Looks like this is the “pre-fall” Humpty. He may even be on his way to a formal. Top Hat? Cane? Cumberbund? C’mon!

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Humpty Dumpty Wind-up ©1967 Frankonia

He’s worried he can’t make it over that wall.

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Humpty Dumpty Wind-up ©1967 Frankonia

If anyone has any info on Frankonia or any of these wind ups, feel free to share. Thanks!

Humpty Dumpty

Friday, October 5th, 2007

So, this is the 3rd and last toy I found at the White Horse Road Flea Market last Sunday. One of the vendors had a stack of these things selling them for a buck each. They were actually produced in 1986. It turned out to be an 80s toy weekend.

It’s Humpty Dumpty!
He’s not as cute as I remembered. He looks a bit freaky. Maybe even maniacal.

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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy

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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy

So, the Humpty Dumpty was peculiar enough, but it was the unique box that sold it to me. Just look at this thing.

At first glance it looks like any old Playskool toy. Ya know, the blue/red striping, the red logo, etc.

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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy Box

Waitaminit! It’s made by Krypton? Isn’t that Superman’s home planet?
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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy Box - Playskool Ripoff

Wow! You know you’re in bad shape if your hoping to score some sales by ripping off Playskool.

Playskool Toy logo

Krypton Toy Logo - Playskool Logo Ripoff

Another great thing about this package are the funny product “callouts.”

“Now with ‘Had a Great Fall!’ Action!”
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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy - Had a Great Fall - Package Detail

You know how much kids love learning to save money.
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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy - Saving Money - Package Detail

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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy - Had a Great Fall - Package Detail

“And You ‘CAN’ Put Him Back Together Again…” if you feel inclined….
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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy - Put Humpty together again - Package Detail

And I just love this encouraging instruction sheet. At the end, it reads: Remember puzzles are not supposed to be simple. “So if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy - Instructions

Well, looks simple enough. I hope the kids learn something.

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Humpty Dumpty Puzzle Bank Toy - Broken in Pieces

Just for kicks, here’s a unique perspective of Humpty Dumpty by Ricky Gervais: