Remember the old Yellow Pages ad -- "Let your fingers do the walking"?? Well, now, you can "Let your computer do the driving!"
If you're like me, these days you probably pause before you drive anywhere. Of course, if you don't go to that auction or show, you can't make that score that will pay for several tanks of gas!
Going to a virtual show won't get you that score, but it will save gas, and educate you on what is really, really good. And maybe inspire you to get out there and hunt!
I look forward to perusing the online catalogs of several of the better auction houses, especially when they have toy and advertising items. It's like going to the Indy Ad Show, without the traveling
An article in my
- Read the Antique Trader's article: "Morphy Auctions prepares for its 'best Fall sale ever"- Sept. 11-13 2008 in Denver, Pa.
- Morphy Auction's Auction Catalog -- spend some time looking at their catalog w/realized prices.
They have had a huge variety of toys - these are just 3 of the ones with the highest estimates. They are by Hubley.
Here's a little info on Hubley:
- Founded by John Hubley in about 1894 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Hubley Manufacturing Company made cast iron toys.
- Its earliest products were trains and trolleys powered by live steam, electricity, or spring mechanisms.
- Hubley produced stoves and still banks beginning in 1909.
- It later added horse-drawn fire fire and circus wagons, cap pistols, trucks, cars, motorcycles, and, in the 1920s, dollhouse kitchen appliances.
- By 1940 Hubley had become the world's largest manufacturer of cast-iron toys.
- Increasing freight charges and foreign competition made the company switch to die-cast toys of a zinc alloy.
- Hubley was acquired by Gabriel Industries in 1965 and now produces die-cast zinc and plastic toys as well as hobby kits.
Read an article about Hubley toys on toycollectormagazine.com.
Some values of Hubley toys on realpriceguides.com.
An article on how to tell if it's an original Hubley toy or a repro - link.
Get more Hubley info via Google.
See the toy motorcycles page on Collectors Weekly to track current ebay auctions, and completed ebay prices.
They write about Hubley motorcycle toys:
"... When it came to making toy motorcycles in the post-Depression era, an American company named Hubley flourished. Known for its cars with working parts and doors that opened, Hubley's attention to detail won it the rights to produce miniature versions of Harley and Indian motorcycles. These were very accurate replicas of solo motorbikes with side cars or tricycle-style bikes, with the real-life logos on their gas tanks. They were all fitted with riders—some were detachable, others were built into the toy—depicting cops, postal workers, and civilians. ..."
