ANTIQUES NEWS, P.O.BOX 500 MOUNT JOY, 17552 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENGLE PUBLISHING CO.
FRIDAY AUGUST 16, 2024 • VOL. 54, NO. 33
Milestone’s Aug. 24 Auction Features Estate Collection Of Fine European, American And Japanese Toys Winton Johnson’s “Ultra-Complete” Early German Schuco Toys Among Stars One of the world’s finest and most-complete assemblages of antique and vintage Schuco toys, the estate collection of the late Winton “Wint” Johnson (19372022), will headline Milestone’s Saturday, Aug. 24, Premier Toy Auction. Alongside the blue-ribbon Schucos are Wint’s other prized holdings: Japanese toy boats and prototypes, toy outboard motors (some boxed), pre-WWII airplanes, and English clockwork Minic toys. Wint’s love of lakes and boating was lifelong, as reflected in the three real-life wooden racing boats, boat motors and carved duck decoys also entered in the sale. Johnson was a Minnesotan of German heritage, and it has been suggested that perhaps his interest in German-made Schuco toys was inspired by having received a Schuco toy as a child. Whether that was the case or not, Wint’s family says he was intrigued by the windup nature of Schuco toys and proud of the German engineering that went into their design. This was not surprising, since Wint
was, by profession, a mechanical engineer. Established in 1912 in Nuremberg, Germany, the Schuco toy brand was known for its smallscale designs replicating people, various types of vehicles, and storybook and comic characters. The precision-made toys delighted children because of their clever actions, which could be initiated by the turn of a key or, in some cases, by friction. Even now, a century after the first finished examples rolled off the production line, Schucos are in high demand. Collectors are especially keen to acquire the classics manufactured during the golden era between World Wars I and II; however, topof-the-line examples are hard to find. And that’s where the Johnson collection excels. Nearly 300 lots of Schucos are offered in the sale, each toy an outstanding original example. According to Wint’s daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Chris Miller, he bought regularly at shows, auctions, online and through a global network of like-minded toy
A Schuco Germany windup Walt Disney “Mickey Mouse” on scooter is alloriginal and in excellent condition, with lithographed-tin scooter and working windup mechanism, estimated $2,000-$3,000.
Bedminster Traditional Artisan Show To Benefit Historic Trappe Two-Day Event In Collegeville, Pa., Will Take Place Aug. 17 And 18 Celebrate the enduring spirit of American craftsmanship at the Bedminster Traditional Artisan Show, which brings together over 40 of the country’s finest artisans working in traditional Americana and folk art. Meet the artisans and shop for handcrafted treasures including fraktur, furniture, paintings, quilts, hooked rugs, pottery, baskets, woodcarvings, and more. With everything from fine art to folk art, the Bedminster show is one the top traditional artisan shows in the country. Continued on page 7
This Schuco Germany windup race car with driver has a lithographed tin racer with Schuco logo on radiator grille, hand-painted features, is in excellent condition, and will be estimated at $1,500-$2,500. aficionados. He would upgrade his toys whenever possible and continued to buy until the very end of his life, receiving a package on the day he passed. He would sell duplicates but never parted with anything from his core collection, which contained only the rarest and best Schuco toys and prototypes. His treasured collection is considered one of the world’s largest and most highly refined of its type. Every Schuco toy is a charmer, but if a choice had to be made, the top 10 would undoubtedly include Wint’s felt and tin windup “Boxer Jack” with punching bag. The figure has painted facial features and retains its original Schuco Germany fabric sash imprinted “Boxer-Champion.” In superb original condition with an excellent working mechanism, it could deliver a knockout punch in the vicinity of $2,000-$2,500. Another rarity is the Schuco Walt Disney “Mickey Mouse” on scooter. Excellent and all original, the lovable cartoon rodent rides atop a lithographed-tin windup scooter. It’s ready to glide across the auction block with a $2,000$3,000 estimate. Collectors especially love Schuco tin windup vehicles with drivers. Two of the best are featured in the sale. Known simply as “Race Car with Driver,” the first of
the two combines a lithographed tin racer and a helmeted driver dressed in a jaunty felt jacket and scarf. Sporting round tin goggles, the driver steers and moves his head as the car rolls along. No Continued on page 6
All-New Corvette ZR1 Confirmed For Corvettes At Carlisle Car Show See It In Person From Aug. 22 To 24 It seems that every year something amazing rolls out of the Corvette factory in Bowling Green, Ky. For 2024, their “something amazing” is the 2025 ZR1 Corvette, a vehicle that’s been hyped for years, and, on July 25, was unveiled to the world at an event in Miami, Fla. That same ZR1 model has been confirmed for debut at Corvettes at Carlisle, running Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Aug. 22, 23, and 24, at the fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pa. Gates open at 7 a.m. on the 22nd and with Team Chevrolet’s popular presence at the event, it is sure to draw a crowd, both in their display tent and at the stage as part of vehicle walkarounds. With the ZR1 now confirmed, there’s no Continued on page 7
The Schuco felt and tin windup “Boxer Jack” with platform and punching bag, figure with painted facial features and wearing original Schuco Germany imprinted fabric sash that reading “Boxer-Champion,” working order, will be estimated at $2,000-$2,500.
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . .
starting on page 2
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . .
on page 5
EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR on page 5 AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 5 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 6
FEATURE ARTICLE: Antique Long Rifle On Loan - Page 2
AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . . . . on page 7