Some toys are sweet. Some are charming. And some look like they were specifically designed to make a child laugh and an adult slightly nervous. This wonderfully graphic tin lithograph crank toy was made by Kirchhof in Newark, New Jersey, and features a bright yellow clown or jester stretched across the red-orange top.
Turn the wooden side crank and the internal figure moves beneath the opening. The mechanism is currently operable, which is always a welcome surprise in a toy approaching its hundredth birthday.
The side is marked PATENTED NOV. 27, 1928 - NO. 1,693,140. It measures approximately 4 1/2 inches long.
Condition: Working antique condition with paint loss, scratches, scuffs, oxidation, darkened areas, wear around the openings, and age-related wear to the wooden crank. The mechanism operated when tested, but antique mechanical toys should be handled gently and are sold as collectibles rather than modern playthings.
