Strauss/Fischer Nifty Toys Ca. 1922 Tin Lithographed Windup Fountaine Fox “Toonerville Trolley” No.280098 German Toy *SOLD*

Ca.1922 Strauss or Fischer Nifty Toys Tin Lithographed Windup Fountaine Fox “Toonerville Trolley” No.280098 German

We have you this rare ca. 1922 tin, lithographed, windup Fountaine Fox “Toonerville Trolley” made by Strauss or Fischer as Nifty Toys.

**Note that this is an extremely rare variation.  It is a more simple non-shaking variety that most collectors don’t even know of.**

This piece has a rare simple mechanism that is operated by a dedicated key. When wound the trolley moves forward in a whacky rocking motion. Ours does work, but as with many windups of this age it isn’t very strong and needs some encouragement to get going. The trolley is marked “Toonerville Trolley”, “Fountaine Fox”, and “No. 280098”.

Our example of this Strauss/Fischer Nifty Toys “Fountaine Fox Toonerville Trolley” is in excellent original condition with no restorations, repairs, breaks or touch ups. The often lost driver is still on his spring bouncing around. The lithos on this piece are strong and show the usual patina, chips, scuffs, surface rust, dust, scratches, and wear that are normally found with age and display. It is approximately approximately 5” L x 7” H x 3 ¾” W. This would be a great addition to any collection. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.

A brief history of Georg Fischer of Nuremberg, Germany:

Georg Fischer founded his business in the early 20^th century and ceased production in 1958. Fischer specialized in tin penny and other novelty toys. After WWI, Mr. Fischer began using the trademark monogram “G.F”.

A brief history of the Ferdinand Strauss Company of New York City, New York:

The Ferdinand Strauss Company was founded in the early 1900’s in New York City, New York by Ferdinand Strauss. Strauss was from the Alsace region of Germany. In the beginning, Strauss imported various toys that he sold from his New York Shop. Strauss specialized in importing tin mechanical toys and produced toys from 1914 to 1927.

During early 1900’s, European toy manufacturers had already perfected color lithography, and were manufacturing many tin toys and pressed steel toys for the North American market. Like most European toy manufacturers, Strauss also manufactured pressed tin toys that had color lithography on them.  Many of the toys also had wind-up or clockwork mechanisms in order to have them move on their own. In 1912 Strauss hired Louis Marx, who later founded the Marx toy Company.

In 1918 Strauss began manufacturing toys on his own instead of importing them. Strauss produced (wind-up) toys for the Abraham & Strauss Department Stores and was a pioneer in the friction tin toy industry. They managed to capture much of the 1920’s mechanical tin toy craze, but Strauss was eventually out manufactured by other toy companies that had similar toys.

The Ferdinand Strauss Company’s eventual fate is unclear, but it appears that the company faded into history by 1927. There is some evidence that the company was absorbed by Louis Marx’s company as there are several items from the Strauss line that seem to have been incorporated in to Marx’s own line.