Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. ca. 1920’s Pressed Steel Windup #775 “Aerial Ladder Truck” Fire Engine Ladder Truck *SOLD*

Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. ca. 1920’s Pressed Steel Windup #775 “Aerial Ladder Truck” Fire Engine Ladder Truck 

This toy is a ca. 1920’s pressed steel, windup #775 “Aerial Ladder Truck” that was manufactured by Kingsbury Mfg. Co. (also see Wilkins Toy Co.) of Keene, New Hampshire    

The catalog states that this truck has a white body and red wheels. The ladder springs upright when the truck meets any obstruction. It has non-skid rubber tires and a powerful spring motor. The white rubber tires are still intact, but as per usual with toys of this age, they may have petrified, discolored, warped, and/or cracked. Wheels roll as they should. The windup on this mechanism is in working order and the ladder springs up when the bumper is pushed in.   

This piece is in very good 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 18” L. We encourage you to examine the photographs to further determine condition and quality.      

A brief history of Kingsbury Mfg. Co. (also see Wilkins Toy Co.) of Keene, New Hampshire:   

 Active: 1919 – 1942   

Wilkins Toy Co.   

Founder: Harry T. Kingsbury   

Specialty: In 1895 Harry T. Kingsbury bought Wilkins and combined it with the Clipper Machine Works, which specialized in farm equipment. In the early 1900s, toy automobiles were introduced to the company line. The Wilkins line was dropped following WWI in favor of Kingsbury, which was by now an established name in the field. Kingsbury specialized in copying famous models of aircraft and assembly-line, trucks, and buses. WWII saw Kingsbury shifting to war contracts and never returning again to toy production. All production equipment was sold to Keystone in Boston. The company still exists, but as Kingsbury Machine Tool Division, a subcontractor for such giants as IBM, General Motors, and GE.