Early toys sell well at Lacy Scott & Knight (August 2011)

Some fine, early toys were included in the broad selection of items at the Collectors’ Models Sale held by Lacy Scott & Knight at Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 13th August.

One definite ‘find’ was the appearance of a tinplate litho-graphed Horseless Carriage by Hess, Germany, c.1899. The flywheel mechanism of this rare model was in working order and even though the model was incomplete and in unrestored condition, it sold for £920.

“The model was referenced in Toy Autos 1890-1939 by Peter Ottenheimer, but we cannot trace an example of this previously sold in auction,” enthused David Ellis, LSK’s Model Consultant.

An attractive Bassett-Lowke No 4 cargo boat, c.1936, had bidders all at sea and eventually made £820 against pre-sale estimates of £300-500. The model steam coaster, with wooden hull and superstructure, had its clockwork motor currently detached and was originally wound by placing the key in the boat’s funnel.

Another superior model was an Austin Junior Forty Roadster (J-40) cherry red pedal car, which found a new owner at £2,000. It was in good condition for its age and carried its serial number ‘30659’ stamped in the boot, being one of 32,098 produced.

There were model trains of all gauges and scales from small to very large with the latter best represented by a 5in gauge American Outline ‘Marie E’ 0-4-0 locomotive and tender based on an original Porter logging loco.

The hydraulic and steam certificates had expired on this well-built model, but it made a price of £1,450 against pre-sale estimates of £1,000-1,200.

A scratch-built O gauge model of the popular LMS experimental ‘Turbomotive’ 4-6-2, No 6202, built mainly from Bassett-Lowke parts, sold at £850. This had previously been sold in the Christie’s Trains Galore & Marklin Auction on 18th December 2000 and the catalogue from that sale was included with the model.

PICTURED TOP RIGHT: This tinplate lithographed Horseless Carriage by Hess, Germany, c.1899, sold for £920.
PICTURED BELOW: An O gauge LMS ‘Turbomotive’ Pacific No 6202,  built mainly from Bassett-Lowke parts, sold for £850 at Lacy Scott & Knight’s recent sale.

This news story was first published in the October issue of Collectors Gazette. To see which issues of Collectors Gazette are available to buy online, click here.