Saturday, May 3, 2014

Toonerville Trolley Toy

I'd like to introduce you to my friend Mel Birnkrant, who has one of the most amazing toy collections in the world, concentrating on comic characters from the 1920s and '30s. (Direct link to video).

When I visited him a few days ago, he showed me a favorite, the Toonerville Trolley. Wind it up and it wobbles along, then stops and shudders, until the skipper winds the crank and gets it going again.

I think Mel is like a cross between Gepetto and Santa Claus (he is also a toy inventor himself) and he has rekindled an old fascination of mine: animation of the Golden Age.

If you like these "Mel's Toy Minute" features, let me know in the comments, and we can make a few more of them next time I pay Mel a visit.
------

at

13 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 3, 2014 at 6:03 AM

    I loved it! I notice he has a collection of Bib the Michelin Man. Whee, I can still sing the song from the TV commercial.

    You could do a little video of Bib, right James? Right?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Danielle PershouseMay 3, 2014 at 7:39 AM

    I loved this as well! Please do a few more!

    What an amazing toy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. PMay 3, 2014 at 8:56 AM

    More please. Old mechanical toys can reach a certain spot of bliss and joy in me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PMay 3, 2014 at 9:03 AM

    By the way, have you seen this great little film by Charles and Ray Eames "Toccata for Toy Trains"?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KMZ_M00ISg

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pierre FontaineMay 3, 2014 at 9:16 AM

    Yes, more please!
    I had heard of Toonerville before but never heard of its creator Fontaine Fox. Very interesting history and a wonderful jumping off point to the history of early comics and toy licensing.
    Thanks!
    Pierre

    ReplyDelete
  6. Novice NaturalistMay 3, 2014 at 9:35 AM

    Yes! More, please. Loved the whole look of the toys, the colors and sounds of the video--Please do more.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Robert J. SimoneMay 3, 2014 at 12:08 PM

    Very cool! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMay 3, 2014 at 3:01 PM

    extraordinary, crafting a very unique, very elegant for today's modern times

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nick JainschiggMay 3, 2014 at 5:47 PM

    ...another vote for MOAR.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownMay 5, 2014 at 7:30 AM

    So wonderful toys. This is an awesome post. Thank you very very much for this post. Waiting for the upcoming toys.
    click goals
    premier league live

    ReplyDelete
  11. MrCachetMay 5, 2014 at 8:31 AM

    James, I don't often comment, but I follow faithfully. Does Mel have an email address? Putting my art on old paper has sent me on many happy voyages, including a recent attempt to track down a 'mechanical balloon', which I discovered as a line item on a billhead for the John D. Zernitz Company of Chicago. Although the billhead is dated 1902, I'm wondering if perhaps if Mel has an example of such a toy. Could you reply with either his email address, or pass mine to him? PLEASE! Mine is ddcachets@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. James GurneyMay 5, 2014 at 8:36 AM

    Thanks, Mr. Cachet, I'll pass it on to him.

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownMay 9, 2014 at 5:56 AM

    That was unbelievable! I loved the collection especially the Toonerville Trolley and the way the trolley moved. I would like to see each piece closely as am a big fan of action figures toys

    ReplyDelete

Due to a high level of spam we must moderate comments. Please identify yourself by name or social media handle so we know you're not a 'bot.'