Gebrüder Bing Tin Lithographed Windup Torpedo Boat #155/231 from the Richard T. Claus Collection *SOLD*

Gebrüder Bing Tin Lithographed Windup Torpedo Boat #155/231 from the Richard T. Claus Collection

This is very detailed and beautiful tin lithographed windup Torpedo Boat #155/231 manufactured between 1915 and 1928 by Gebrüder Bing of Nuremberg, Germany. This was purchased from the Richard T. Claus collection. This exact torpedo boat can be found in Richard T. Claus’ catalog The Allure of Toy Ships: American & European Nautical Toys from the 19th and 20th Centuries on pg. 83

This ship comes with its key and when wound the propeller turns. The clockwork mechanism works as it should and is strong. We even included a small to scale captain for the ship to add to the detail.

Our example of this piece is in excellent all original condition with no breaks, restorations, repairs, or touch ups. It is in excellent overall condition with the usual patina, scratches, scuffs, surface rust and chips that are seen with age and play. The whole toy is approximately 21” L (22” L with Rudder). We encourage you to examine the photographs to further determine condition and quality.

A brief history of Bing Corp./Gebrüder Bing:

Bing Corp. New York City, New York

Operated between 1924 – 1935

Founded by: John Bing

Bing Corp. was a spin-off of their German firm, Gebrüder Bing. The mainly served as jobber for their parent firm with mechanical boats, zeppelins, and steam engines.

Gebrüder Bing Nuremberg, Germany

Operated between 1866 – 1933

Founded by: Brothers Ignatius and Adolph Bing

Gebrüder Bing specialized in a wide-range of spring-driven toys, cars, buses, boats. Perhaps its biggest coup was a line of trains initiated in 1882. Bing went under during the crash of 1929; Karl Bub acquired the toy trains division and Fleischmann the toy boats.