Japanese Wood Torpedo Destroyer by ITO *SOLD*

Spanning close to 2 feet in length, our torpedo boat is a massive presence for any ship or boat collection.

Made by Japanese artisans of wood, this ITO boat takes around eight D cells to power.  As of yet, we haven’t tested it, but the toy looks new new.  Guns swivel and there are four side “torpedos” for war toy action.

Paintwork on this ship is extremely glossy and smooth, likely from profuse use of lead paint, popular at the time.  It is a post World War 2 boat and one of the first toys that Japanese makers were allowed to produce.  Innocuous wood toys based on American designs. -Insert jab of sarcasm, as Japan quickly took over the post war toy world.

Below the deck and above on the tower, we see matching numbers of “298”.  There is a discussion among collectors that these represent the cottage maker’s numbers for tracking payments.  Others wonder if these are production numbers, and as of yet we don’t have confirmation.  A similar ITO line of submarine toys appear to follow the manufacturing production sequence.

Power is from twin “horse shoe” motors coupled to springs (for impact protection), then shafts, then brass propellers.  Direction comes from a manual rudder that sticks into position with friction.

Overall this is a very good to excellent condition boat that would be a jewel within any boat collection.