G.A. Mangold/Gama 1920’s Tin Lithographed Windup Standard Oil Co.’s Best Gasoline Main Street Gas Station for Sale

G.A. Mangold/Gama 1920’s Tin Lithographed Windup Standard Oil Co.’s Best Gasoline Main Street Gas Station

We have for you a ca. 1920’s tin, lithographed, windup Stand Oil Co.’s Best Gasoline Main Street gas station that was manufactured by G.A. Mangold/Gama Toys of Fürth, Germany.  

We have seen this referred to as “autobahn” or highway, but we believe it to be more of a Main Street scene given the more intimate scenes depicted with a traffic cop, subway “underground” sign,  and people crossing the street. We believe this key is original to this piece. When wound with its key this working Main Street has a vehicle that goes around the Standard Oil gas station and when it passes the cop his hands go up and down. We often see this attributed to Distler, but we identified this thru GAMA catalogs and books on GAMA products.

This piece is in very good to great all original condition with no breaks, restorations, repairs, or touch-ups. This piece shows the usual patina, fading, dust, chips, scuffs, surface rust, scratches, missing accessories, and wear that are to be expected from age and play. This is approximately 8 ¾” L x 8 ½” L. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.  

Click here for Info: New Toy Auction January 12th and 13th, 2024 via Liveauctioneers!   

A brief history of Gama Toys of Fürth, Germany:  

According to Edward Force, Gama is the acronym for Georg Adam MAngold, who started the company in Fürth, Germany in 1882 making tinplate mechanical toys. Most toy production up through World War II and up until the late 1950s was lithographed tinplate.  

In the early 1940s, toy tanks were popular and offered in various sizes including 3.5 and 7 inches in length. The destruction of World War II disrupted production as with other German makers such as Märklin and Schuco. In the late 1940s, production was started again under the auspices of the U.S.