Arcade Andy Gump “The Gump’s” Sidney Smith Cast Iron #348 Gump Mobile Racecar for Sale *SOLD*

Arcade Andy Gump “The Gump’s” Sidney Smith Cast Iron #348 Gump Mobile Race Car

If you try to place yourself in the early 1920’s Andy Gump and his Arcade “Gump Mobile” cast iron toys were a breath of fresh air.  Black Model T cars and trucks were the norm.  Toys were just beginning to grow from their humble “educational” uses.   Then here comes a bright comic character toy by Arcade, “Old 348”!

Andy Gump was a popular comic character and Arcade Toys was incredibly lucky to affiliate with this winning brand.  We have a very early character toy in cast iron.  This more deluxe model is circa 1924 and in very good condition.

The toy is original with the proper hand painted wheels, just with a bit of play wear, and the proper hand painted Andy in his blue suit.  We do note that the steering wheel, which often falls out, is a replacement.  Grill and rear plates are deluxe treatment and pickled, they read “348”, a comic book reference to “Old 348”.

The Gump’s was a comic strip about a middle-class family. It was created by Sidney Smith in 1917, launching a 42-year run in newspapers from February 12, 1917, until October 17, 1959.

A brief history of Arcade Manufacturing Company of Freeport, Illinois:

The Arcade Manufacturing Company of Freeport, Illinois was originally founded as Novelty Iron Works by Edward H. and Charles Morgan in 1868, and conducted business in two small buildings with a staff of ten people.

The company operated between the years 1868 to 1946. They began making toys and coffee mills and then moved to a new site in 1893 (after fires, financial issues, and changing their name from Novelty Iron Works).

Arcade toy catalogs appear to start at 1902 and as late as 1939. Arcade`s toy line included over 300 toy items. Yellow Cab was their first successful toy followed by Andy Gump in 348 and Chester Gump in His Pony Cart. Arcade also made toy banks, doll house furniture, and cast-iron penny toys.