Nomura (TN) Little Indian Battery Op Japanese *SOLD*

Little Indian Battery Op Japanese for sale

Our beautifully boxed Indian toy is a treasure and horrible, yet awesome!  The toy features tin, a vinyl head, fabric, and fringed pants.  The drum head of rubber disintegrated long ago.

Our toy does not work and should be considered broken.  It is a static piece and must have wiring problems, if not gear issues. However the main value, in our opinion, is in its static display presence as well as box art.  The toy is a beaut, and the box is nearly new (with some cardboard softness from age).

The toy was made by T.N. or Nomura Tin toys of Japan.  They were an industry giant in quality toys, and this is no exception. The hand applications and workmanship is excellent.  Tin is a bit thicker than average, and art is stellar.  They also did Tetsujin 28 toys in the 1960’s.

A brief history of Nomura Toy Industrial Co., Ltd. (T.N) of Tokyo Japan:

Nomura Toy Industrial Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan, also known at TN, was one of the biggest and most prolific of all postwar Japanese toy makers. Nomura is believed to have manufactured toys from the late 1940’s through the 1970’s. The letters “T.N” within the diamond logo means that the company is often referred to as TN or Toys Nomura. A wide range of tinplate toys had this logo emblazoned on its boxes whilst its later die cast toys simply featured ‘Nomura toy’ on their boxes.

Nomura was an early manufacturer in the tin toy world of Japan. They opened their doors in the late 1940’s and quickly dominated the marketplace with colorful, original tin toy vehicles. They produced a wide variety of mechanical and battery (Electromobile) operated toys, military and civilian vehicles, space toys, and novelty items. They are responsible for many Astro Boy and Tetsujin 28 toys. As well as, creating many Robby robot and Sparky robot toys; all were classics.

By the mid 1970′s, like many other Japanese toy companies, it had to make the move into die cast in order to survive.  Their toys designs have even reappeared with the company Masudaya Modern Toys (MT). Nomura continued in one form or another until 1992 when they were bought out by the largest toy company of the time Hasbro.