Lehmann Tin Lithographed & Hand-Painted Windup No. 490 “Lehmann’s Tut-Tut” *SOLD*

Lehmann Tin Lithographed & Hand-Painted Windup No. 490 “Lehmann’s Tut-Tut” 

This is a tin, lithographed and hand-painted, windup no. 490 “Lehmann’s Tut-Tut” manufactured by the Ernest Lehmann Co. of Brandenburg, Germany.   

When wound with its dedicated key this working windup travels forward in the direction the wheels are pointed. The bellows are still intact, but it does not make a toot toot sound.  The left-arm tab that holds it on is broken. The white on the suit appears to be overpainted, but because it is old and dirty it is hard to tell. The red and green headlight gels are long gone.

This piece is in very good condition with no repairs. 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 6 ¾” L. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.     

A brief history of the Ernest Lehmann Co. of Brandenburg, Germany:       

The Ernest Lehmann Co was founded in 1881 by Ernest Paul Lehmann in Brandenburg, Germany. Lehmann exported vast quantities of toys to the United States from 1895 to 1929 (excluding years of WWI). In 1921, Mr. Lehmann’s cousin, Johannes Richter joined the firm and built on the Lehmann reputation by patenting toys such as the Skirolf skier. After the Second World War, Ernest Lehmann Co. was re-established in 1951 in Nuremberg, Germany.      

Lehmann specialized in lithographed tinplate, mechanical transportation toys, and figures known for colorful patina. Some of the most desirable Lehmanns include Mr. and Mrs. Lehmann, Dancing Sailor, Icarus, and Autobus. They are most famous for their colorfully lithographed and detailed mechanized tin toys. The company really came into prosperity in the early 20th century when it switched to making lightweight yet intricate tin toys in popular themes at a time when most other toy manufacturers were still making only heavy iron toys.