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The Lehmann Company
is a German toy manufacturer founded by Ernst Paul Lehmann,
most famous for their colorfully lithographed and detailed mechanized
tin toys. While the company was founded in the 19th century,
it came into prosperity in the early 20th century when it switched
to making lightweight yet intricate tin toys in popular themes
at a time when most other toy manufacturers were still making
only heavy iron toys. In addition to being lighter and easier
to play with, they were able to be lithographed with detailed
graphics and vivid colors not possible with iron toys and were
more affordable too.
The company made tin
toys in many different sets with both human figures and many
different animals such as mules, ostriches, donkeys, and zebras.
Most were whimsical and with some attention grabbing theme or
capability- a monkey climbing a pole, a tap dancer tapping,
a skier skiing, and tin cars with a horn that blows, a father
who swipes his hand at his "Naughty Boy" in the front
seat. In fact, all Lehmann tin toys have names with most embossed
on the actual toy; names were both descriptive and fun such
as the "The Boxer", "Balky Mule", "Tut
Tut", or "Paak-Pak" (a duck pulling a bucket
of water with her 3 ducklings swimming around when wound). Most
Lehmann toys are marked, either with a logo or with the name
embossed on the piece. Like any old tin toy, price is highly
correlated to condition and having the original box although
any early Lehmann tin toy will bring strong prices. While not
as reproduced as other early manufacturers of tin toys, we have
seen fakes marked Lehmann so be careful. The Lehmann Company
is still in business today, but their peak years of production
and the most highly collectible period is from about 1905 through
the early 1950s. While they remained in business post 1948,
the company had been occupied by the Russians after World War
II and models made after this time typically to not have the
same quality or collector interest.
Ever been fooled by
a fake or a seller that didn't deliver the goods as described?
At Collectics, we authenticate and stand behind everything we sell, at
prices "30% below your local antique shop" according
to Collectibles Guide 2008. Please browse our main Antiques
& Collectibles Mall to find a treat for yourself or
a great gift for others, all with free shipping. Thanks!
Buy
period Lehmann, Marx, Disney, Lionel, and other finer collectible
toys on the Collectics Toys
and Higher End Antiques pages, or search the entire site for great
antiques, collectibles, and crafts for every collector!
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