$1,300
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
Description
10" (25 cm.) h. 9"l. An angled wooden box with theatre-like front having five-sided mirrored back has two string-dangling wooden carved figures with loosely-jointed limbs and painted details. According to the simple instructions revealed when the roof is hinged back "to start the figures dancing slide the screw on the side backward. To stop, reverse it". When the screw is slid, a simple clockwork movement creates vibration of the strings, causing the dolls to dance merrily about. Condition: very good, mechanism working well, some overall dustiness and paper wear. Marks: The Automatic Dancers, Patented March 28th, 1865 (paper label on inside hinged roof). Comments: the toy was patented by J.M. Cromwell in 1865. Value Points: rare early American toy, with original engravings on front of theatre, functioning mechanism, original label.