Huge collection of Schuco toys to go under the hammer at Milestone


08 August 2024
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Schuco tinplate racing car Schuco tinplate racing car
Winton Johnson’s ‘ultra-complete’ collection of early German Schuco toys, including pre-WWII airplanes, toy boats and motors.

One of the world’s finest and most-complete collections of antique and vintage Schuco toys – the estate collection of the late Winton “Wint” Johnson (1937-2022) – will headline Milestone’s August 24 Premier Toy Auction. This premier collection includes blue-ribbon Schuco toys, Japanese toy boats and prototypes, boxed toy outboard motors, pre-WWII airplanes, and English clockwork Minic toys. Reflecting Wint’s lifelong passion for lakes and boating, the auction also features three real-life wooden racing boats, boat motors, and carved duck decoys.

Wint Johnson, a Minnesotan with German heritage, may have been inspired by receiving a Schuco toy as a child, fostering his lifelong interest in German-made Schuco toys. Known for their mechanical ingenuity, these toys intrigued Wint, a professional mechanical engineer.

Founded in 1912 in Nuremberg, Germany, Schuco toys  became famous for their small-scale designs, depicting people, vehicles, and storybook characters. Their precision-made, cleverly animated toys, operated by keys or friction, continue to delight collectors. High-demand classics, especially from the period between World Wars I and II, are rare finds – a specialty of the Johnson collection.

Schuco windup Mickey Mouse on scooter

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Nearly 300 lots of Schuco toys will be offered in the August 24 auction, each an outstanding original example. According to Wint’s daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Chris Miller, Wint was a dedicated collector, purchasing regularly from shows, auctions, and a global network of enthusiasts. He continually upgraded his collection, retaining only the rarest and finest Schuco toys and prototypes, creating one of the world’s most refined collections.

Related article: The best tinplate cars by Schuco 

What are the highlights of the collection: 

•    The Schuco windup “Boxer Jack” with punching bag, featuring painted facial details and original Schuco Germany sash, estimated at $2,000-$2,500.
•    The Schuco Walt Disney Mickey Mouse on Scooter, an all-original piece, estimated at $2,000-$3,000.
•    The Schuco tin windup Race Car with Driver, combining a lithographed tin racer and helmeted driver, estimated at $1,500-$2,500.
•    The Schuco Monkey Driving Car, with a mohair and felt monkey figure, estimated at $1,000-$1,500.
•    The Schuco tin windup Teufel (Devil), a rare piece with malevolent hand-painted features, estimated at $1,000-$1,500.
•    Two toys from Schuco’s 1914 Automato series: the felt and tin Automato Porter and the Imperial German Soldier, estimated at $1,500-$2,000 and $1,000-$1,500 respectively.
•    A tin friction Gnome on Scooter, featuring an elfin figure with a mohair beard, estimated at $1,000-$1,500.

This exceptional collection, showcasing the finest examples of Schuco toys, represents a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire rare and meticulously curated pieces.

How do I bid?

The catalogue and information about this sale are now live on Milestone’s website, with pre-bidding taking place in the days leading up to the sale.

Related article: Tinplate price guide