349. Save the World: GLOBE BANK by J. CHEIN

This small tin collectible in an antique shop caught my eye because it was a small globe and a coin bank in one. Now what a swell idea to teach geography and thriftiness in one multi-function object! It was made by Julius Chein & Company, an American toy manufacturer (1903-1980s) that was popular for making mechanical toys made from stamped and lithographed tin.They also made licensed toys of companies  such as King Features Syndicate and Walt Disney Productions, producing Popeye, Felix the Cat and various Disney character toys.

What is even more fascinating is that, this old piece contains the old names of several countries no loner in use today--like Siam (for Thailand), Persia (now Iran), Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and French West Africa, until 1960, a federation of 8 French African territories.This small bank, no more than 4 inches tall, is complete with its metal stopper at the bottom, to gain access to coins when it is full. "Be thrifty, but not covetous", a saying goes. Unfortunately, when it comes to collecting, I can't be both!

300. It's The Real Tin: MECHANICAL READING BEAR

Now here's an ingenious battery-run mechanical toy I've had for years. It's one of my first tin toy actually, bought from a store in Binondo with many old stocks. It shows a charming little bear made from fluffy fabric with a book on its lap. When switched on, one paw--which has a hidden magnet--stamps a metal page of the book, and then flips it over--just like he is reading the book. The book pages have incredible details, showing story titles like "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse". There are no marks on this late 50s-early 60s toy, but it looks Japan-made. The fur fabric has started to fall-off and I am resigned to the fact that it will soon deteriorate--but I intend to keep this toy for awhile even in this state, at least for display. For where on else can still one see a bear that reads?

251. Boxed: THE BUGALOOS

One of my favorite after-high school cartoons (yes, I was still into kiddie cartoons in high school!) was the TV show, The Bugaloos, produced by brothers Sidney Krofft and Martin Krofft, that aired from 1970 to 1972. The Bugaloos were a musical group of four British-accented teenagers, who lived in fictional Tranquility Forest. They wore insect-themed outfits with antennae and wings which allowed them to fly, and were constantly harassed by the jealous Benita Bizarre,played by comedienne Martha Raye, whom I keep mistaking for Phyllis Diller!. Well, what do you know, in 1971, Aladdin Industries came up with The Bugaloos lunchbox, and here's one that survived the trash bin. Forty two years old, and rusty on one side, it features Benita out to attack the singing band of bugs! Not exactly in great condition, but still good enough to churn again  those fuzzy, funny and funky memories of my dysfunctional childhood--when cartoons ruled my weekends and musical bugs were all I cared about!

236. E-Z BILT TIN HOUSE

My tin toy collecting was jumpstarted by this tin toy house that I bought at the famous Makati Cinema Square, back in the days when it was still a happy-hunting ground for scroungers and thrift shoppers--with the basement level full of shops that sold practically anything used, vintage and second-hand.

The painted metal parts were in a box that had long since disintegrated, but I distinctly recall that it was marked with a"BILT E-Z" brand name. I assembled the pieces easily and formed this multi-level structure, put it on a shelf and forgot all about it. That is, until I saw a similar tin building featured on a Smithsonian Magazine!

A quick research yielded some information about this toy from the 1920s. The BILT-EZ building was made by Scott Manufacturing Company Inc, Chicago, USA. The parts connect together by means of tabs which project at right-angles from the top and bottom of the wall pieces and slip into the edges of the roof/floor parts. Balconies and lengths of roof edging are also attached with tabs. Roof/floor sections are connected together by means of connector plate.

Here is a youtube video I found of this early tin construction toy:


RARE E-Z BILT TOY

229. Good Cluck Find: MECHANICAL EGG-LAYING TIN CHICKEN

Now this battery-powered tin chicken toy caught my fancy in a roadside shop--only because of its  unsually funny complex features--it pushes a pram containing her bobbling-head chicks, walks with a loud squalk while moving its wings and then stops to lay 2 plastic eggs! Now that's a weird playtime pleaser! I've seen a couple of YouTube videos of similar egg-laying chicken toys--but not like this pram-pushing variety. The condition of this toy is perfect--maybe it's missing 1 egg, but other than that, I see no major mechanical defects. Which leads me to believe that this is a newer toy model, possibly from the 70s? Or even later. I originally thought this was made in Japan, but a reader corrected me--it's made in China (thanks RodC). What a fine feathered find!

228. Holy Wheels! A BLUE BATMOBILE!

 Holy Baloney! Another Japan-made Batmobile from the 60s! And this time, it's the rarer blue model variety.  This battery-powered super car comes with the vinyl caped crusaders, ready to take them to the scene of the crime, complete with light and bump and go action!

This Batmobile was inspired by the campy 1967 TV series, "Batman", starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as the Boy Wonder. There was also a black version of the Batmobile--and I am determined to find that one too.

As you can see, this Batmobile is a bit scruffy with dings and dents and some rusting all over. But that doesn't detract much from the kitschy appeal of this toy, which harkens back to the days when everything was over-the-top, with everyone screaming "Kapowww!! Kablammm! Holy Cowww!" every time Good triumphed over Evil.

227. I, ROBOT: A Horikawa Shoot 'n Walk Robot

One of the most prolific makers of Japanese battery operated toys was the Horikawa company which manufactured and sold hundreds of different tin robots and space toys. Horikawa sold so many different robots in the 1950's through 80's that new variations are being found regularly by collectors--just like this vintage 70s monter, which came literally robot-walked to my doorstep. It's a large, heft robot (16" tall!), noseless, with tin and plastic body. When running on its batteries, it walks, stops, and its chest opens to reveal a deadly set of rocket artillery, which it shoots with matching light flashes and sound effects. Pretty impressive for a 40++ year old robot, no?

226. A Jeep for Keeps: TIN ARMY JEEP

I'm not a big collector of tin toys, but when this friction metal tin toy jeep--in exceptional condition--I made a rare exception and bought it at once, even if a bit pricey. The Japan-made toy depicts a U.S. army jeep painted in the typical drab olive green color. Jeeps were used extensively in the last World War, so I found the idea of a Japanese manufacturer making a U.S. war jeep a rather interesting study in irony. This toy, dating from the 60s features two vinyl soldier figures, one driving the vehicle and the other, manning the machine gun mounted at the rear.

When the battery-operated toy is turned on, the army jeep moves forward while the gunner sways from side to side, firing at unseen enemies. I have seen similar tin army jeeps offered on ebay, in the range of $100 and up, and I don't regret getting this fine specimen that has a crossover appeal with WWII memorabilia collectors. Of course, you know what we did to the U.S.army jeep--we closed it, lengthen it, painted it with bright wild colors, trimmed it with plastic buntings and added a stainless steel horse as a hood ornament. Voila--the Philippine jeepney! Now that's a real collectible toy!!

204. TIN INTERCOLLEGIATE FOOTBALL GAME

One of the first tin toys that I found at the old Makati Cinema Square is this wood and tin Intercollegiate Football. This is a pre-War toy put out by Hustler in the 1920s, and I understand the piece is still being reproduced today. I remember the price of this original plaything--200 pesos. I bought it but I have never figured out how it works as I have no patience reading the instructions at the back of the metal plate. There are spinning mechanisms and score dials that I can't simply comprehend. I have seen similar pieces on ebay, and the most expensive one is available at a Buy-it-Now price of $249! I bought it for the nice, strong graphics, and of course, for the nostalgia it brings. I may not understand the game of football, but I know a good antique buy when I see one.

173. Hey, hey it's: THE MONKEEMOBILE

"Hey, hey we're the Monkees!"
In 1967, the American-assembled boy band, THE MONKEES, was launched on TV and took the teen world by storm. Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork, Mark Nesmith and the diminutive Davy Jones became instant bubblegum celebrities and their songs and music became known worldwide--from "Last Train to Clarksville", "Daydream Believer" and "I Wanna Be Free" (which we used to sing to death in our high school songfest).

Aside from their hit records, there were Monkees lunchboxes, Monkees puppets, Monkees books, Monkees Viewmaster---and Monkeemobiles-- toy replicas of their funky tour car. The more common ones were the small diecast Corgi toys made in 1966, but rarer still is this 1968
tin batter- operated and friction 1968 Pontiac GTO Monkeemobile car made by ASC of Japan.
Unfortunately, this Monkeemobile--found in a Cubao junk shop, has lots of missing parts. Of the band members, only the vinyl body of the driver remains. The car used to have a plastic windshield and comes with soft rubber tires with chrome hubcaps. There also used to be a battery operated sound box, which when switched, plays the TV show theme song. One example of this rare Monkeembolie in pristine condition and with box intact sold for a whopping $1, 191.78 in an auction! Why, I can buy a real, driveable car with stereo for that amount!

160. JOCKO

I was rummaging at a recently-discovered thrift shop in Quezon City when I chanced upon this handheld pinball game with a great clown graphics (which reminds me eerily like that clown in that TV horror flick by Stephen King, "IT"). Made in the 1970s by Wolverine Toy (Booneville Arkansas) , the bagatelle game is made of plastic & metal it measures approx. 13" x 7" . I checked ebay, and the cheapest Jocko game (used, of course) is being offered at 4$, while the most expensive is $24.99. I paid Php300 for it--which I think was a bit too much, even if it's a working example. Sometimes, I just go too loco in my jocko.

109. BATMOBILE

A BAT-tery powered BAT-mobile from the 60s! Holy mackerel---and it still runs!
Only a BAT-geek could have save this fine made-in-Japan BAT-meMOBILE-ia that comes complete with vinyl heads of the Dynamic Duo ensconced in the front seats. And take note of the neon green colored front windshield! This super vehicle bumps 'n go at a flick of a switch, with amazing lighting effects! There's a blue colored version of this toy, based on the TV action series, but this red is a classic! Now back to the Batcave!!

99. TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE IN MY CAR, CAR!

Rev up that engine and go driving with me! Wheeee!!!

Now here's a well-made friction car that was on every boy's birthday and Xmas gift list back in the 1950s. It was made in Japan, by CK, a well-known company known for its amazing mechanical toys. With a lithographed dashboard, this 8 in. , 2-tone car still works--just run the rubber wheels on the floor, release the car, and awayyyyyy it goes! I have a couple of these tin toys, brought from a shop with an old stock of toys in Binondo that was closing down. I don;t know what model this car is--An Impala? A Buick? Rambler?--but I really don't care. I just need a car that will get me from point A to point B.