Looking for antique toys and automata? A new store hits the web!

Shopping on eBay for automata and antique toys can be fun; your never know what you may find. The down side is that you often have to sort through a lot of stuff that isn't exactly relevant. A new online shop has opened and you should know about it. Called simply Antique Automata and Toys, the store sells just that. They offer automata, American toys dating from the 1860s to the 1960s, European toys, toys made in Japan, and toys by the Schoenhut. There is a lot to see! Take for example this toy they are offering for sale: an early American Brower's Automatic Toy Dancer dated to around 1873.

From the clockwork dancing toy description:

This toy features a clockwork driven dancing black man performing in front of a paper on board background scene of a Southern plantation and the neighboring sharecroppers shack. The figure is dressed in his all original clothes. We believe the entire toy to be in its original condition....The clockwork mechanism is functioning well and when wound the gentleman will "dance" tapping his feet.

The toy has the original gold stenciling on the back side of the tin box which protects the clockwork mechanism. The printing reads "BROWER'S AUTOMATIC DANCER PATD SEPT 23 1873".

Here is where you can see 10 detailed photographs of the the Brower's Automatic Dancer Toy. You can also buy it directly from the site. Be sure to check out the rest of the site too!

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Cobbler shop automaton for window display

Here is a great antique window-shop display featuring cobblers busy at work. The maker is not listed in the eBay description, but we know that Schoenhut made moving-picture type automata and some of them specifically depicted shoe-maker's shops. One of these can be seen in Mary Hillier's book Automata and Mechanical Toys.

This one measures 19 inches wide by 13 inches high and it appears to work quite well. Here is a video of the automaton in action:

Here is a link to the eBay listing with many very detailed photographs (including the mechanism) of this cobbler shop automaton.

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Schoenhut clockwork picture of a man & mouse

I posted a video earlier this year showing a mechanical picture automaton of shoemaker's shop. The piece looked like one made by Albert Schoenhut found Mary Hillier's book Automata and Mechanical Toys. Albert Schoenhut, originally from Germany, set up shop Philadelphia, Pennsylvania not long after the Civil War ended.

From the Item description:

This clockwork driven picture features an old man dressed in his night cap and robe opening and closing his mouth as if to be yelling, and raising and dropping his arm as if trying strike a mouse which is darting in and out of the cupboard. Behind the scene is a strong brass clockwork motor driving an assortment of cams, a pulley, and wire levers causing the action.

Here is a link to the current ebay listing with a very detailed description for this Shoenhut clockwork living picture of a man and rat.

[ Thanks Jennifer! ]

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Mechanical picture automaton of shoemaker's shop

Here's a charming little video of a gentleman showing off a tableau style automaton of a shoemaker and his apprentice at work. As one of the YouTube comments notes, it is very similar to one depicted on page 96-97 of Mary Hillier's book Automata & mechanical toys: An illustrated history. The one in the book is attributed to Albert Schoenhut. The one shown here is very, very similar, though it does not feature the third figure of the woman on the right side of the piece.

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Gnome picture automaton from around 1890

Here is a wall-mounted animated picture depicting a group of gnomes. The automaton was probably made by Schoenhut of Germany and dates back to before the turn of the century. It measures 35cm wide by 27cm tall by 12cm deep.

From the YouTube description:

The picture features a replaceable section for advertising purposes, probably of a bar or cafe. In good original condition with very few repairs evident. There is a later added musical movement playing "La Traviata" which can be removed if required.

See this and other amazing antique automata at www.automatomania.com.

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