Tin Lithograph Toys
by Roger Morse
The first tin lithographed toys were made in the mid-nineteenth century, originally from thin sheets of tin. Hence the name! They were inexpensively made, originally in Germany. Hand painted at first, the bright designs were printed with offset lithography starting in 1880. These toys were manufactured in Germany, France and England and soon were being made in the US.
The most successful US maker was Louis Marx and company from 1920 to 1960. His company made a huge variety of toys. Production ceased during WW II and after the war, Japan became the major manufacturer of cheap tin toys. In the 1960's plastic toys became the norm and, except for China, tin lithograph toys moved to the background.
Prices for such toys can vary quite a bit. Some can be had for a few dollars. Others can be extremely high: “The record books were rewritten from the very first lot of the sale – a boxed circa-1915 Hubley cast-iron Royal Circus Calliope that reached $22,325. Following closely behind, another toy from the Royal Circus series, a Tiger Cage pulled by plumed horses, mint and accompanied by its original box, earned $12,925. A circa-1890 Kyser & Rex cast-iron circus wagon with revolving bear and kangaroo figures also proved to be a crowd-pleaser, finishing at $8,812.50.” --Toy Collector Magazine
photos courtesy of W. Yoder Auctions, Wautoma, Wi.
photographer Heidi Strauss
