French Mechanical Toy "Merry Couple on a Bicycle-Built-For-Two" with Pup

Live Auction

14" (36 cm.) l 9"h. Bisque head man and woman with blue glass inset eyes, painted lashes and brows, closed mouths, man with painted moustache and goatee, carton torsos and lower limbs, wire upper limbs, are seated on a tandem bicycle (commonly known as bicycle-built-for-two), with rubber-edged spoked metal wheels, metal frame, and with attached rod with wheeled base to which is attached a white furry poodle with red leather blanket. When wound, the riders briskly wheel along, their little pup at their side. Condition: dolls excellent, costumes original with some dustiness, mechanism appears intact and working except bicycle fork needs reinforcement at wheel junction (mechanism sold as is). Marks: F.G. (dolls). Comments: French, circa 1890, the tandem bicycle enjoyed popularity during the 1880s when a number of patents were issued, and was further popularized with the 1892 song "Bicycle Built For Two". Value Points: all-original toy as important social history document is given added charm with attached pup, original costumes.