The Art of Play: The Fire Chief, c. 1950

Tin Toy
England, Circa 1950
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made around 1950, this toy is now part of the Michael Buhler Collection of tin toys at the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Museum of Childhood.

The tin car was manufactured in England and operates by means of a small friction system. Such cars were made at the time in a variety of styles. This one is part of a set which was made up of a Police car, a fire truck and an ambulance. This is the Fire Chief’s car, and, it’s pretty nifty. The tin has been neatly painted with great care and detail. Little people in firefighters gear have even been painted on the windows to give the impression of passengers. Tin toys like this developed originally in the U.S. around 1850, but the medium quickly caught on in Europe with Germany becoming one of the major centers of production.

The Art of Play: The Fire Chief, c. 1950

Tin Toy
England, Circa 1950
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made around 1950, this toy is now part of the Michael Buhler Collection of tin toys at the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Museum of Childhood.

The tin car was manufactured in England and operates by means of a small friction system. Such cars were made at the time in a variety of styles. This one is part of a set which was made up of a Police car, a fire truck and an ambulance. This is the Fire Chief’s car, and, it’s pretty nifty. The tin has been neatly painted with great care and detail. Little people in firefighters gear have even been painted on the windows to give the impression of passengers. Tin toys like this developed originally in the U.S. around 1850, but the medium quickly caught on in Europe with Germany becoming one of the major centers of production.

Object of the Day: Mr. Punch’s Dog, Toby, Radiator Cap

We’ve discussed Toby before. Many times, in fact. Toby is Mr. Punch’s dog and remains a part of the puppet show to this day. Originally, Toby was portrayed in the show by a real terrier who was replaced with a puppet version because, well, terriers don’t enjoy being a part of a puppet show. Within the world of Punch & Judy, Toby starts out as Mr. Scaramouche’s dog, but finds an affinity for Mr. Punch upon realizing that the latter is in possession of sausages. Sure, they’re made out of a baby, but Toby doesn’t care. He’s not picky. Though Toby bites Mr. Punch’s nose (“Oh, my beautiful nose. My handsome nose!” Punch cries out), the two strike up a friendship. This relationship between Punch and Toby, historically, is enduring and dear Punch is often depicted with his terrier friend showing that the slap-sticking fiend has a soft and domestic side, after all. As befits a dog in the company of Mr. Punch, Toby wears a ruff (often gold to match Mr. Punch’s costume, but, in the Victorian era, usually a nice robin’s egg blue) and matching tam.

Toby has an art historical life of his own—separate from Mr. Punch. Toby has been the figural subject for many objects ranging from jugs (Tobies) to match strikers/holders. And, as we can see here, he also makes a fine hood ornament/radiator cap.

I’m not sure to when this exactly dates, but this hood ornament, I’d guess is from the late 1920’s to early 1930’s. He’s made of bronze. The figure shows Toby seated squarely on a turned plinth. Being a radiator cap, he’s fitted with a hollow from the base through his nose, so that when steam escapes, it puffs from his nose. I’m sure Punch would approve.