In collaboration with Rob Boot - Auctioneer Toys & Board Games
When you think of old-fashioned childhood fun, one of the first things that might come to mind is tin toys. Durable, lightweight and easy to sculpt into a whole variety of characters and accessories, tin has been a popular material of choice for toy manufacturers since the end of the 19th century. Do you own a tin-man army? Or perhaps you’re seeking some childhood nostalgia? Find out the value of some fantastic tin toys sold here at Catawiki and discover how you could turn your tin treasures into cash!
Top 5 Tin Toy Treasures Sold at Catawiki
From wind-up clowns to a mini motor car, these enamel playmates are hard not to love! Let’s explore a selection of high-priced tin trinkets to have sold at our Tin Toy auctions.
5. Remote Control Caterpillar/Bulldozer, 1950s - €254
First up on our list is this large Caterpillar vehicle, boasting brilliantly bright colours and in good working condition. The remote control operates the Western German piece and came with a crank drive to complete the set. The seller did some digging and found that it's quite hard to find a Caterpillar in such good condition, so this was a great lot at auction which sold for a nice price.
4. Tin Wind Up Musical Clowns, 1950s - €305
What better way to enjoy tin than with a musical celebration? This wacky pair of wind-up musical clowns (or Roberto and Antonio) perform in perfect tandem when wound up. A very charming and delightful lot!
3. Meccano Set, 1950s - €600
During the peak of tin toy popularity, Frank Hornby was perhaps one of the most influential British tin toy makers, focusing initially on clockwork tin trains and later tin toys, which we now know as Meccano. Meccano’s creative construction style of play is a huge hit with young and old, so this set with parts that have never been out of the box built a lot of interest amongst bidders (and builders) at auction.
2. Tin ‘Pullman Sport’ with Clockwork Motor, 1930s - €1,400
With a working motor and in excellent condition, this seller was on the road to success with this stylish Pullman Sport. This exquisite specimen drove bidders wild at auction and eventually sold for a very fine €1,400.
1. Wind-Up Automaton Singing Bird in a Cage - €1,900
Another wind-up wonder, this little guy will sing and dance when the mechanism is activated. Preserved since the end of the 19th century, the €1,900 sale price is worth singing and dancing about! It is one of the most expensive tin toys we've ever seen at our auction - but do you think you have something even better which you'd like to sell? Read on...
Find the Value of Your Tin Toys
Our experts have a few different things to consider when valuing tin toys for auction. If you're looking to sell an item, or looking to invest in tin toys for the future, find out some of the things our experts are looking for here...
1. Condition
As with many collectables, it’s generally preferred that tin toys are as close to pristine as possible. Normal types of wear and tear, like fading of the paint, are regarded as acceptable. Ideally if a toy has a mechanism or a motor, this should be in good working condition.
2. Restoration of Old Toys
Many tin toy collectors can have mixed feelings about restoration. Generally speaking, restoration should consist of careful cleaning and adding any necessary rust inhibitor where appropriate.
3. Authenticity
Märklin, Schuco, Bing and TippCog were all big names in the tin toy game. However it’s not unusual for some toy makers to try and reproduce rare or popular items. At Catawiki, it’s our experts’ job to ensure only genuine and special tin toys are sold at auction. This means you can buy and sell with confidence.
If you have a tin toy tucked away at home, why not put it up for auction? There might be a collector out there who’s willing to pay a worthy fee to be the new owner of your old toys. You can easily find out by registering as a seller.
Or if you're looking to expand your collection, invest in tin for the future or simply are curious about our toys, turn to our Tin Toy auction to see what tin toy treasures are available!