Nonpareil Tin Lithograph Collection of Vehicle Penny Toys, Train, Windup Airplane, Fire Engine, Ladder Truck, Windup Race Car, and Cannon *SOLD-A*

Nonpareil Tin Lithograph Collection of Vehicle Penny Toys, Train, Windup Airplane, Fire Engine, Ladder Truck, Windup Race Car, and Cannon

This is a collection of Nonpareil tin lithographed vehicle penny toys manufactured by Nonpareil Toy & Novelty Co. Inc. in New Jersey, USA. If these look like a super-sized penny toys, it is not without reason. Nonpareil (without equal in French) was an American company that came out with a number of regular penny toys and then some super-sized toys. Like Marx tin toys these are always well made, but tend to be very fragile. These toys are 80-100 years old and because of their fragility, many of these can be hard to find making them a great toy for antique toy collectors.

The first piece we have in this collection is a tin lithographed windup race car. It is has the number “8” on the hood and on the back. It also has the numbers “8575” on the back license plate. It has the Nonpareil, USA mark on the driver’s side door. It has a dedicated windup key, that when wound makes the car go forward. The mechanism works with a tiny push and then it’s off. There is some rusting on the inner side of the wheels, and a spot on the underside of the car. The car also has “Grace Mae ‘26” engraved in the back. This toy is complete and original. The lithos are in very good condition with the usual chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. This race car is approximately 7 ¼” x 2 ½”

The second piece we have in this collection is tin lithograph and gold color plate cannon. This one is in a bit of rough shape, but for the age and fragility of these items it is still in good condition. The string and cork are not original to the item, we restored those. The lever works, but the plunger is dried out so it cannot build up enough pressure to pop the cork. There is some surface rusting and the gold plate on the cannon is not in the best condition. The lithos are in okay condition with the usual chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. The cannon is approximately 9” x 3”

The third piece we have in this collection is tin lithograph ladder truck. This truck is complete and original with no restorations or breaks. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. The ladder goes up and down and the horse pivots at the front wheel easily. Due to the fragile nature of the tabs the horse has some noticeable separation along the seam. There is some surface rusting throughout. The lithos are in good condition with the usual chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. There is a string hitch in the front in case kids wanted to use them as pull toys.  There are a few slots pre-punched on the chassis for the manufacturer to make different models. The ladder truck is approximately 14 ¼” x 3”

The fourth piece we have in this collection is tin lithograph fire truck/engine. This truck is complete and original. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. There is some surface rust throughout. Where the horse pivots the tabs are broke off, so while it displays well it does come apart at that point. The “fire hose” and nozzle are both original to this truck and the reel it is on turns easily. The lithos are in good condition with the usual chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. There is a string hitch in the front in case kids wanted to use them as pull toys.  There are a few slots pre-punched on the chassis for the manufacturer to make different models. This fire truck is approximately 14 ¼” x 3”

The fifth piece we have in this collection is tin lithograph windup “Wings” No. 100 airplane. It has the Nonpareil Bloomfield, NJ. USA logo on the middle section of the wings. This piece is competing and original with no breaks or fixes. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. It has a dedicated windup key, that when wound makes the plane go forward and the propeller spin. The mechanism works with a push and then it’s off. When held up the mechanism is strong, but when on the ground it does need some help to move forward. We did notice that in the mechanism where an elastic band would have been on the wooden spools there appears to be a gold replacement elastic band that we are sure is not original. Such is the nature of a lot of these old windup toys. There appears to be very minimal surface rusting. The lithos are in excellent condition and are still very bright with the usual chips, scratches and wear that is to be expected with age and play. This airplane is approximately 15 ¼” x 16”

The sixth item we have in this collection is a tin lithograph seven piece Pennsylvania Railroad train set. Some parts of this train are in rough condition with surface and through and through rusting, but with these tin items they are so fragile and old sometimes it cannot be helped.

• The first and second parts of this set are the locomotive engine and coal car that are connected by a makeshift coupling. The coal car says “P.R.R.” on the side. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. It appears to be complete and original with no breaks or fixes. There is some surface rusting in places and on the bottom. The wheels roll straight and easily. The lithos are in good condition with the usual chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. This locomotive engine is approximately 9 ¼” x 3 ¼” and the coal car is approximately 5” x 3”
• The third part of this set is a single gray hopper car. The car says “L.S. & M.S D37350” and “31 FT. 6 IN, WEIGHT 39400, CAP’Y 100,000” on both sides. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. It appears to be complete and original with no fixes. The coupling is present on the front. There is some surface rusting in places and on the bottom. The wheels roll easily. The hopper does open and close, but in resting position it only goes partially closed. The lithos are in good strong condition with the usual chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. This hopper car is approximately 9”x 3”
• The fourth part of this set is a red passenger car. The car says “Limited Vestibule Express” and “2297 Adirondack 2297” on both sides. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. It appears to be complete and original with no breaks or fixes. The coupling tabs are present back and front. There is some surface rusting in places and on the bottom. The wheels roll easily. The lithos are in good strong condition with the usual chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. This passenger car is approximately 10”x 3”
• The fifth part of this set is a black tank car. The car says “Standard Oil Line” and “Use Pure National Oil” on one side but due to the rusting it is hard to read much else. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. It appears to be original with no repairs. The coupling tab is present on the front of the car. This one is in some rough shape with surface and through and through rusting. It is also missing the front end cap on the tank. Even though this is in rough condition we included this because it is part of the original set. The wheels roll easily with a little catch. This tank car is approximately 8 ¾” x 3”
• The sixth part of this set is a gray gondola car. The car says “PRR”, “Penn Sylvan IA R.R. and “Air Brake 53264” on both sides. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. It appears to be complete and original with no repairs. It has light minimal surface rusting. The coupling tab is present on the front of the car, but not on the back where it is broken off. The lithos are in good strong condition with the usual chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. This gondola car is approximately 12”x 3”
• The seventh part of this set is a red stock/cattle car. The car says “Pennsylvania” and “53264 Air Brake” on both sides. There are curves and bends in some of the more fragile parts that are to be expected due to its age. It appears to be complete and original with no repairs. It has surface rusting and some through and through rusting. The coupling tabs have broken off on both ends, but on one end there is a makeshift wire coupling. The doors open and close with some effort, and one of the side doors doesn’t close all the way. The wheels roll with some hesitation. With the exception of the rusting and large scrape over the word “Pennsylvania” on the side the lithos are in okay condition with chips, scratches and wearing that is to be expected with age and play. This stock/cattle car is approximately 9”x 3”