Call Us! 1-727-777-4206 Today!

Vintage ca. 1930’s Unique Art Tin Lithographed Windup “Kiddy Cyclist” with Box for Sale

Vintage ca. 1930’s Unique Art Tin Lithographed Windup “Kiddy Cyclist” with Box

We have for you a ca. 1930’s tin, windup, lithographed “Kiddy Cyclist” manufactured by Unique Art Manufacturing Company Inc. of Newark, New Jersey.

This little guy comes in his box that is in great original condition. The working clockwork mechanism has a dedicated key that when wound makes the boy move forward, pedal his bike, as a bell rings and the bike moves from side to side. The box touts that “He pedals by himself, he rings then bell, and weaves in an out of traffic.” There is an on and off lever on the back that works as it should stopping the bike so he can be wound again or just to give the little guy a rest.

Our example of this Kiddy Cycle is in excellent all original condition with no breaks, restorations, repairs, or touch ups. This piece shows the usual patina, dust, chips, scuffs, surface rust, scratches, and wear that are to be expected from age and play. It is approximately 7 ¾” L x 4 ¼” W x 8 ½” H. This would be a great and impressive addition to collection. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.

 

 

A brief history of Unique Art Manufacturing Company Inc. of Newark, New Jersey:

Unique Art Manufacturing Company Inc. was an American toy company, founded in 1916, and based in Newark, New Jersey.  They made inexpensive toys, including wind-up mechanical toys, out of lithographed tin. The “Rap & Tap in a Friendly Scrap” was one of its earliest products. Other toys they manufactured were, comic/character tin mechanicals including “Li`l Abner Dogpatch Band” and “Gertie, The Galloping Goose”.

Unique’s president, Sammy Bergman, was a good friend of toy magnate Louis Marx, and the two men’s companies at times cooperated, with Marx providing tooling to Unique and sometimes acting as a distributor for Unique’s products. Unique Art’s eventual fate is unclear but the company appears to have disappeared by 1952, with some evidence of Marx picking up the line later on.

Additional information

Weight 5.75 lbs
Dimensions 12 × 12 × 12 in
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop