Antique & vintage toys have enduring charm
by Lorraine Syratt
While the paint may be faded and slightly worn and the mechanical parts may be slow and tired, antique toys were made to last and still have an endearing charm. The 19th century and early 20th century manufacturers of dolls, tinplate mechanical wind-up and battery operated toys, board games and play tea sets paid attention to every detail. And the beauty of that workmanship and attention to detail has kept antique toy collectors collecting.
Over the past 20 years, toy collecting has become a serious business, with collectors paying exorbitant prices for toys simply for investment purposes. While a rare occurrence, some antique toys have sold for $100,000 or more.
Collection of antique and vintage toys found at Heirlooms Antiques, Calgary, AB,
visit www.antiquescalgary.com
–photo by John Syratt
Mechanical toys began as clockwork toys in the mid-19th century. Then came spring-driven mechanical toys later in the century, with spring-driven tin plate toys in 1908. These very early mechanical toys sell for thousands of dollars today, with some very fine antique mechanical toy banks selling for tens of thousands of dollars.
It’s still possible, however, for collectors to find mechanical toys from the first half of the 20th century for less than $100.
Antique dolls from the 19th century, have been widely collected for decades. They are easily found in nearly every antique shop and mall, as well as numerous online venues.
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