The steeped in tradition Bicentennial City of Philadelphia, Pa., was the selected meeting place for members of the Antique Toy Collectors of America Fall Convention. It was held in the Holiday Inn, located near the Liberty Bell, October 29^th, 30^th, and 31^st. The weather was brisk and pleasant and the Inn is very conveniently located within walking distance of a number of interesting places, including Independence Hall, as well as the Liberty Bell in its location.

As is so often the case with the Toy Convention, along with the Mechanical Bank Convention, early or day before arrivals are not uncommon. So there were a few early birds on Thursday, October 28^th, and there was some action that afternoon and evening. Action, of course, meaning buying, selling and trading of antique toys. Aside from the social aspect, that’s what these conventions are all about – the opportunity for members to obtain toys for their respective collections and there is a lot of wheeling and dealing that goes on. After all there are not too many places where a toy collector can go and be exposed to hundreds of old toys both for sale and trade.

So there was some activity Thursday afternoon and evening. Members then really started coming in on Friday, the official registration day, and it was ‘toys in the rooms’ from around three o’clock in the afternoon until well after twelve midnight. A good representative group showed up with about 144 members in attendance.

On Saturday morning, a business meeting of one hour was held from nine o’clock until ten o’clock and then an old toy auction took place. Members are allowed to put one toy each in the auction up to an overall total of 76 toys. The auction ran until about eleven-thirty or so and was well attended with toys going to new owners. Around twelve-thirty the group had lunch in the Penn Mutual Towers and the remainder of the afternoon was devoted to Lee Perelman’s Antique Toy Museum and historic sites in the area. A visit to Lee’s museum is always worthwhile and a never ending pleasure for anyone, particularly antique toy collectors. And Philadelphia has so many historical sites to offer that have added interest for the Bicentennial or, of course, any time for that matter.

The banquet was held Saturday evening at seven o’clock and the Toy Collectors really do a job of it with their favors for each member. These included an excellent reprint of an old Arcade Toy Catalog showing cast iron toys and banks, a nice little toy automobile with the wording ‘Antique Toy Collectors of America’ on each side, a reprint of an old broadside showing various toys, two very colorful poster type items suitable for framing, and finally another reprint sheet to do with toys. After the banquet there was more visiting of rooms and some buying and selling.

On Sunday, October 31^st, open house was held by the Siegel’s, Schafle’s, and the Bill Holland’s. Maps were available so members could visit the open houses and see the respective collections.

Of interest are some of those in attendance and what they brought to the convention to sell and trade. Understand, the club consists of collectors, dealer-collectors, collector-dealers, and some dealers only, all of course, having to do with the specialized field of antique toys.

Our good friend, Frank Whitson, and his wife Fran were among the early arrivers and as always Frank had some unusual toys for sale. Of particular note was a large size Ives circus band wagon pulled by four horses and all bandsmen were original except one. This is a toy one does not run across very often. A single horse Pratt & Letchworth carriage was on display, along with an Ives type crawling monkey. Also, a Foxy Grandpa Cart and another Foxy Grandpa that flips his hat. All of these in cast iron, along with some other toys such as the Ives Mikado with twirling umbrella in its original box. Frank also had some still banks including the Kneeling Camel, Bassett Hound, Streetcar, Gas Pump, and a tin Kaiser’s Helmet World War I bank.

Larry Whitley was in from California & another early arriver. He brought quite a varied selection including various toy automobiles in tin and cast iron — a rather rare camelback locomotive pull toy — the Eagle bell ringer — mechanical figures — an unusual ferris wheel clock, and some comic character watches. Another unusual piece was an American string toy, a bone shaker bike with a man rider. It was patented November 12, 1867 by W. Humans and is in fine original condition. Larry also had an extra nice condition, all original Wilkins Hook & Ladder complete with driver, steerman, and all ladders, a fine toy.

Another early arrival was Ed Mosler who has a second collection of bell ringer toys for sale. He brought several with him, including Ding Dong Bell and the rather rare Monkey Chariot. Ed has an outstanding collection of the bell ringing toys which form a complete group unto themselves. Most of the bell ringing toys in this group are animated, that is to say a complete figure or parts of a figure have movement in connection with the ringing of a bell.

Paul Dunnigan, another early bird, had several fine cast iron trucks and cars — an early mobile with three tin biplanes — a Foxy Grandpa loose tin figure carriage type nodder — early tin automobiles, and various other toys.

Lloyd Ralston arrived Friday with a fine group of toys. Included were an interesting William S. Reed paper and wood Tally-Ho in great shape, also a cast iron Carpenter Tally-Ho. Two very unusual marble toys, an Ives wind-up cast iron locomotive, early trackless type, and the oversize Kenton train with two cars. He had a variety of tin toys including the large size Converse streetcar in its original wood box.

Bob Lowe from Bethlehem, Pa., had a really nice Hubley two seated brake with all original figures, a most attractive cast iron toy. Also, in extra fine condition, a Kilgore Stutz auto roadster, an Amos & Andy tin taxi, as well as the Mama Katzenjammer donkey cart, a Wilkins coach with two horses, and the 384 Andy Gump Car. In mechanical banks, Bob had Uncle Sam and the Jolly Nigger Hi Hat.

Lowell Peltier from Buckeye Lake, Ohio, brought several still and mechanical banks, along with the rare Swamp Fire cannon and a Popeye rowboat. He had several Lehman toys in their original boxes, and a number of working live steam engines, also cast iron toy cars.

Tony Koveleski showed up with two unusual toys, a dressed Frenchman riding a tricycle, great condition, a large size tin pusher type biplane circa 1910, exceptional condition and original figure and a Watrous strap iron bell ringer with Charlie Chaplin and Mammy figures. And some animated pistols, including the Butting Match, Two Monkeys, Monkey & Cocoanut, and the Duck.

Russ Harrington had the rare two horse Nodder’s wagon with recast figures of Foxy Grandpa, Happy Hooligan, and Gloomy Gus, a Royal Circus cage wagon, Royal calliope, and several still banks.

Sally Erath and Harry Ulman had the large four horse Hubley circus band wagon — Farmer’s Van — Giraffe Wagon — and the Calliope, quite a group of the Hubley circus toys, all large size. They had a fine Wilkins hose reel which is one of the most attractive of these reel type fire toys, and the Kenton Happy Hooligan Patrol.

All in all, the convention was a good affair, and please understand that the individuals with their toys as listed in the foregoing are a cross section and sampling, not a complete listing by any means.

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