Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Looks to be very nicely made!!!

I don’t think its from any of the toy steam makers… they are all tin, this looks cast?

Agreed!

I have never come across this one.

It looks very well made.

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Thank You for all the suggestions / observations.  I continued my searches focusing on USA, no luck.  I think it must be USA made given Santa Clause (USA style), Cowboys and Indians.  For now back on the shelf.  I think at some point I will accidentally find out who made.


Nick, you commented:

I don’t think its from any of the toy steam makers… they are all tin, this looks cast?

I was not sure what you were referring too.  Here is a photo in my cabinet with cast items, Jensen, Wilesco, and some unidentified.  Did Marklin have cast machine tools?

Gen

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Thank You for all the suggestions / observations.  I continued my searches focusing on USA, no luck.  I think it must be USA made given Santa Clause (USA style), Cowboys and Indians.  For now back on the shelf.  I think at some point I will accidentally find out who made.


Nick, you commented:

Quote from: Nick on March 16, 2025, 02:59:08 pm

I don’t think its from any of the toy steam makers… they are all tin, this looks cast?

I was not sure what you were referring too.  Here is a photo in my cabinet with cast items, Jensen, Wilesco, and some unidentified.  Did Marklin have cast machine tools?

Gen

(Attachment Link)

I meant I have never seen a cast carousel, I have several from the 20’s - 30’s but they are all tin and quite flimsy

Do you think it’s original? The combination of Cowboys, Indians, and a Santa Claus seems odd??

I have collected toys for over 40years and I have never seen this toy either. However, I would suggest that you search through some of the early cast iron toy makers. Makers like Ives, Hubley, Arcade, Dent, Kenton, Shimer, Ideal, Wilkins, etc.. I would especially look at early Kenton and Arcade toys. This toy probable originally had a "Plinky" windup motor on the bottom. Something does strike me as  odd. The figures represented on the toy don't strike me as especially old while this type of cast iron base would suggest significant age. Could this be a "put together" toy; a top and bottom that didn't originally come together? This is a real problem with old, original horse drawn cast iron toys.