American Classical Toys

D. Gottlieb & Co. Painted. Paperwork. Extra light bulbs. 69 1/4" h x 28 3/4" w x 53" d. Condition Paint loss. Scratches. Has not been tested to see if it functions.

"Lot of nine vintage and antique pewter / lead toy soldiers representing a variety of eras from the Revolutionary War to post-World War II; five are by C.C. Stadden (British red coat with a peaked cap hand over sword and leaning on a musket, labeled “British Grenadier 1777 Revolutionary”/ British red coat with peaked cap holding a musket, labeled “Delaney’s Loyal (Tokies) Regiment Revolution”/ Revolutionary War era British red coat with a musket on his shoulder and a tricorn hat / post WWII soldier holding a map, labeled “USA Modern”/ Civil War era Union Cavalry officer with a sword holding a map), one by Greenwood and Ball (World War I era German soldier with a sword on his hip reading a map), and three uncertain (Civil War era Union soldier in a slouch hat and holding a rifle, labeled “US Reg. Infantry Full Dress 1861”/ American soldier at attention in a blue uniform, labeled “USA 1948”/ Napoleonic French(?) Imperial Guard grenadier). “Greenwood & Ball was started in 1938 by John Greenwood (sculptor) and Katherine Ball (painter). Katherine Ball left the company in 1961 to get married. The company was one of the first to start selling 25mm scale figures. John Greenwood sold the company to W.F. Pearce in 1971 and the company name carried on as a brand. The majority of the 25mm figure ranges were most recently owned by Amazon Miniatures. Other sculptors to work for them included: Al Charles, John Braithwaite, Cliff Sanderson, and John Tassell.” “Charles C Stadden (always known to friends and family as Chas) was born in Leytonstone, London on 12th June 1919. His parents were Francis Stadden and Emily James who had been married on 10th February 1912 in West Ham Registry Office. Francis Stadden had served in the Middlesex Regiment and the Devonshire Regiment during WW1 attaining the rank of Company Sergeant Major. In peacetime he was employed as a stationers manager for Strakers of London. Chas had three older brothers, Frank, Arthur (always known as Gyp) and Victor (Vic) and a younger sister, Pearl. Having such a background of military service must have made an impression on the four young Stadden boys. Two of Emilys sisters were married to servicemen, and while Chas was a young boy his mother had taken him on visits by train to Chichester where his Aunt Louise lived while her husband Augustus (in the RAMC) was stationed at the barracks there. His childhood was a happy one living in Epsom Road, Leytonstone, close to Epping Forest, and then during the 1930’s at Gordon Road, Wanstead. He was educated at Canterbury Road School in Leyton and had an interest in things military from an early age. Christmas presents were usually toy soldiers, and his father used to bring Chas postcards depicting military uniforms when he came home from work. Another lifetime interest was steam trains, which began when Chas and Vic used to play at Snaresbrook level crossing pulling on the railings pretending to be signalmen. Chas left school at 14 (despite gaining an art scholarship) to work as a Liftboy at Martins Bank, 68 Lombard Street, London. He was dismissed within two years for causing £400 worth of damage to one of the lifts while 'larking about' with one of the heavy ledger trolleys. To avoid telling his parents of being given the sack he decided to join the military at Stratford while still underage. Chas thought he was destined to be a trumpeter in the Royal Artillery and lasted 40 days until his mother Emily managed to retrieve him. His second spell of civilian employment as a switchboard operator also ended in dismissal due to ‘larking about’. At this time Chas was a keen racing cyclist and obtained a summer job building racing bikes which was his introduction to light engineering. Although he enjoyed this work, at the end of the season he was laid off and had to take work as a parking attendant and nightwatchman. In the summer of 1939 he returned to the cycle trade until called up to military service under the Militia Act at the age of 20, enlisting on 1st December. He passed the medical A1 fitness but was found to be slightly shortsighted. This meant that he was unable to join the infantry (preferably the Lancashire Fusiliers) as he wanted but was instead sent to restart his military career at the 7th Drivers Training Centre RASC, Luton. During his full time military service Chas was with the Royal Army Service Corps (Horse Transport), The Cyprus Regiment and the Royal Fusiliers...

Antique miniature doll sized / salesman sample chest of drawers with brass knobs and a scalloped backsplash.

Fabulous working tin Litho Windup motorcycle cop toy with siren. Great color retention with a strong motor. Some edge wear from being played with, see pics. In excellent vintage cond...

Vintage Americana, folk art style hand carved wooden jig or limberjack toy doll, dancing Minstrel puppet, with spring mounted bobble head and red, wh...

A collection of 104 antique wooden toy spinning tops in a custom made white painted maple shelved display. Tops can be moved to any configuration y...

Vintage set of three tennis rackets in red white and blue. This would make a great focal point hung on a wall or perhaps for using them for their intended purpose! Measures: 25.75...

Piece of American History on 4 wheels. Buddy L trucks was the premiere pressed steel toy truck maker back in the day. This open air driver is structurall...

Collection of 100 antique spinning tops in a custom shadow box frame. This collection having taken years to put together has been carefully assembled ...

Model of timber framed house "Under Construction" architects designers model.

This model tin and iron signed Keystone steam roller from Boston, Mass. was found in the state of Maine. It has a wonderful worn painted original as found patina. This toy is in orde...

A rare and very nice Carousele, working perfectly, these are hard to find, the patina is much nicer in person, it is a museum piece