Ernst Plank German Desk Display Car Cigarette & Match Holder *SOLD*

Ernst Plank “SmokersCar” German Desk Display Car Cigarette & Match Holder

We have for you a “Ernst Plank Raucherauto” desk display or cigarette and match holder from Ernst Plank, E.P.  We received help from a kind collector and verified the heritage from Walter schaffer Wissen auction house.  Thank you both!

We speculate that parts were supplied or there as cooperation from Bing Toys of Germany.  Without a doubt, the coved wood sides are from the 1903 auto pictures in yellow and red (Bing’s was tin with wood with lustrous hand painting).

This piece is of wood and steel construction with Bing style rubber tires that are still intact and in good aged condition. The seats at one point were leather and are coming off, but we think this adds to the spiffy look of this piece. The light on the front end is a non-working piece added (we will be looking for proper lanterns). The brake lever works to stop the car so it doesn’t roll off your desk. We included a cigarette and some Sir Walter Raleigh matches to add to the ambiance of the display. We did note that there was a restoration to the hinges.

Tires are original.  Wood and finish is original.  Leather is original and varnished to preserve it in place with the wear.  One arm rail replaced, with other brass hardware and wheels original.

Our example of this piece is in excellent all original condition the noted restoration to the hinges and headlight. It is in overall excellent condition with the usual dust, patina, scratches, scuffs and chips that are seen with age and use. The whole toy is approximately 7 ¾” L x 3 ¾” W. We encourage you to examine the photographs to further determine condition and quality.

*note, a picture from the auction house is included to show proper lanterns.  Our internal wood divider and “carpets” are more intact, as is our steering column with horn.  Inside is a note dating it to 1910 with provenance.

A brief history of Bing Corp./Gebrüder Bing:

Bing Corp. New York City, New York

Operated between 1924 – 1935

Founded by: John Bing

Bing Corp. was a spin-off of their German firm, Gebrüder Bing. The mainly served as jobber for their parent firm with mechanical boats, zeppelins, and steam engines.

Gebrüder Bing Nuremberg, Germany

Operated between 1866 – 1933

Founded by: Brothers Ignatius and Adolph Bing

Gebrüder Bing specialized in a wide-range of spring-driven toys, cars, buses, boats. Perhaps its biggest coup was a line of trains initiated in 1882. Bing went under during the crash of 1929; Karl Bub acquired the toy trains division and Fleischmann the toy boats.