Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Art of Play: Santa’s Christmas Train, 1975

The Victoria & Albert Museum


Another toy from the mid-1970s, like yesterday’s example, this one was made in China. However, this charming toy was made for export to the U.S. Here, we see a Christmas-themed train engine constructed of lithographed tinplate.


A interior clockwork mechanism, when wound, moves the engine on two wheels and a cone-shaped piece of plastic simulating smoke spins around when the train is in motion.

The whole is decorated with a Christmas-theme: holly, bells and reindeer faces at the windows. The words MERRY CHRISTMAS and SEASON'S GREETINGS are printed on the sides and the front depicts the face of Santa Claus.

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