Vintage ca. 1940’s J. Chein Pig in Checkered Pants Windup Lithographed Tin Toy for Sale

Vintage ca. 1940’s J. Chein Pig in Checkered Pants Windup Lithographed Tin Toy

We have a vintage ca. 1940’s J. Chein & Co. Pig in Checkered Pants windup tin toy that features colorful lithography of a winking blue eyed pig with yellow shirt, red suspenders, blue bow tie, red and black checkered pants and a matching red hat. He is very reminiscent of a Porky Pig type character. He has a built-in wind-up mechanism with a dedicated key. This piece is marked “J. Chein & Co. Made in USA” on his bottom. When the key is wound and you release the pig’s feet he walks across flat surfaces. His windup mechanism is strong and he works as he should.

Our example of this piece is in good all original condition with no restorations, repairs, breaks or touch ups. The lithos are in good overall condition with the usual dust, patina, scratches, surface rust, scuffs and chips that are seen with age and play. It is approximately 4 ½” H x 1 ¾” W. We encourage you to examine the photographs to further determine condition and quality.

A brief history of J. Chein and Company:

J. Chein & Co. was founded in a loft in New York City, New York by Julius Chein. They produced toys from 1903 until about 1979. Chein specialized in tin mechanical toys, banks, drums, and tea sets. Chein’s tin toys were mostly lithographed. Chein`s line of comic and circus tin toys received wide acceptance in the 1930’s and leading up to World War II.

In 1907, Chein moved to its full production plant to Harrison, New Jersey. In the 1920’s and early 1930’s, Chein produced a popular line of toys under the “Hercules” name, rather than their own name. In the 1970’s Chein became known as Chein Industries, Inc.

In 1979, toy manufacturing was phased out entirely. Then in the late 1980’s, Chein Industries, Inc. was sold to the Atlantic Can Company, who then changed its name to Atlantic Cheinco Corporation. The company was beset with problems with manufacturing resulting from environmental issues. Due to their issues, in 1992 they filed for bankruptcy protection. Atlantic Cheinco Corporation’s assets were then purchased by Ellisco, In. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was a division of CSS Industries, Inc. In 1994, CSS then sold Ellisco to the U.S. Can Company of Baltimore, Maryland, who continues to produce stamped metal products.