Toy wagons once used for newspaper delivery

#Middlebury #Antiques

Toy wagons, those that are large enough to give rides to children or to haul packages of newspapers for a newsboy, were first made in the 1880s in the United States. Most were made of wood that was painted red. Newspapers were sold to newsboys by the bundle. The boys kept them in a wagon and moved around the city, shouting the headlines to sell the papers.

This wooden wagon with removable side panels from the early 1900s sold at a Cowan auction for $160. (Kovels)

The newsboy wagons were usually made of painted wood with the name of the newspaper on the side. Some, like the one pictured, had built up sides that could be removed. The type of wheel on the wagon helps to date it. Early wheels were metal with a rubber rim. Later wheels were rubber.

Another clue to the age of the pictured wagon is the name of the paper. The paper was started in 1883, destroyed by fire and started again in 1900. William Randolph Hearst bought it in 1921, around the time the paper’s name was changed to “Detroit Times.” It closed in 1960.

The most famous toy wagon was manufactured by Antonio Pasin in 1917 in Chicago. He made the Liberty Coaster in 1921 and the famous red Radio Flyer in 1927. His company became the largest wagon maker in the country. The wagon at the Cowan auction sold for $160.

Q: My mother was a small reseller of, among other things, head vases. We recently discovered, to our surprise, that she actually had quite an extensive inventory. What we thought was a collection of about 20 to 30 head vases has turned out to be more than 250. How would we go about locating someone interested in buying the lot of brand new in-the-box Cameo Girls head vases?

A: Lady head vases were a fad in the 1960s and ’70s. United Design Corporation made many of them. The company was founded in 1973 by Gary and Jeanie Clinton, who started with a single kiln in a backyard chicken coop. They quickly found their niche in clay figures, and the business grew from neighborhood sales to nationwide distribution. It closed in 2004. Cameo Girls head vases sell from $30 to $200, with most in the $50 range. You could sell your mother’s collection on Etsy and other online retailers, or you might find an auction gallery that would like to sell a collection of 250.

Current Prices
Print, John James Audubon, Carolina Turtle Dove, No. 4, Plate 17, birds in dogwood blossoms, Princeton edition, distressed wood frame, framed size 44 x 32 inches, $410.
Bowl, carved wood, calabash, gourd form, Norfolk pine, light honey colored graining and knots, deep thin sides, North Pacific Hawaiian Islands, c. 1940, 8 x 9 inches, $2,490.
Jewelry, charm bracelet, 18K yellow gold links, seven charms, teddy bear, baby stroller, tricycle, drum set, paper airplane, toy soldier and rocking horse, child’s, stamped Cartier, 7 inches, $4,000.

TIP: Rust stains on clothing or textiles from old hooks and eyes or pins may come out with lemon juice.

Looking to declutter, downsize or settle an estate? Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2022 by Terry and Kim Kovel has the resources you’re looking for.
© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.