Clyan Hall Sturdi-Circus

  Q: I have a two-piece wooden pull toy but I can’t find any information about it. Two horses pull a wagon that says “Sturdi-Circus” on the side. There are six wooden clowns inside the wagon. It’s stamped “Clyan Hall” on the bottom. Can you give me any information about it? A: Clyan Hall Sturditoys […]

Trilby Puzzle Update

A reader writes about the Trilby puzzle, the Kovels Komments Mystery Mark from December 2: “You had mentioned that if anyone knew about such an item, you would be interested in knowing as well. Jerry Slocum (the puzzle expert) dug through his files and found this advertisement…in an 1896 catalog by C.H.W. Bates, Boston. He […]

Trilby Puzzle

Q: We found this puzzle in the drawer of an antique sewing machine we bought in 1976. The drawers were filled with the previous owner’s sewing equipment, and we discovered this puzzle in a box in one of the drawers. It’s cast metal and has two parts. The name “TRILBY” is on one side and […]

Vilas-Harsha Toy Dressing Table

Q: My mother received this toy dressing table as a gift in 1918. It has a label on the back that says "American Toys, Manufactured by Vilas-Harsha Mfg. Co., Chicago." I'd like to know something about the maker and value. A: Vilas-Harsha Manufacturing Co. was founded in 1919 with the consolidation of A.H. Vilas Co. […]

August Riedeler Mark

Q: I have a little dollhouse boy doll with movable arms and legs. He is marked with a heart with the letters "ARI" inside and "Konigsee Thur" in a banner across the bottom of the heart. The doll is made of rubber and is wearing his original outfit of pale blue shirt, black pants, red […]

Toy Stove

Q: This toy stove was part of a cousin's collection and as near as I can figure, it could have been given to her around 1907. It is 14 1/2 inches long, 8 3/4 inches wide and 6 1/2 inches high. I've searched through books and inquired at antiques shows and can't find any information […]

Marx Racer

Q: I have wanted to own this windup tin toy car for a long time. Recently my old friend decided to part with it. It was a Christmas present given to him when he was a child. The front license tag says “50-50” and it’s marked “Mar” on the trunk. It winds up and works […]

Mystery Mark Comment

A reader wrote after he saw our Mystery Mark about the Acme doll (Feb. 6, 2013): “Acme Toy Mfg. Co. was owned by my father, Isaac Ricklin. He designed and made high quality character baby and mama dolls. He also made the Kiddiejoy dolls for Jacobs & Kessler Hirtz and baby dolls for George Borgfeldt […]

Heart Shape Mark

Q: I have an old doll with this mark on the back of the head. Can you tell me who made my doll? A: The mark on your doll was used by Bahr & Proschild (Baehr & Proeschild), a company founded in Ohrdruf, Germany, in 1871 by George Bahr and August Proschild. The company made […]

Acme Doll

  Q: I bought this baby doll at an antique shop in Maine last summer. It’s not in very good shape. The eyes work but the crier doesn’t. “Acme Toy Co.” is marked on the back of the doll’s neck. It has a cloth body, but I’m not sure of the material of the arms […]