c.1961 Chein Hercules 4 Spoke Ferris Wheel In Original Box
This Chein clockwork tin litho Hercules Ferris Wheel represents the final version of Ferris wheel's produced by the company for over 30+ years. From my research it was also the last Chein tinplate amusement park ride. This particular example was old store stock and had never been previously sold. That's because it had been built minus one of its gears and was not working. I had the toy made operational by having the correct gear inserted from another Chein four spoke wheel. I purchased it from the original owner, who, in turn bought it when the store sold off their contents. The writing must've been "on the wall" for the Chein company when they manufactured this toy. Reduced from six spokes to four, plastic clockwork gears substituted for steel, a smaller internal bell, and plain red lithography replacing the legendary smiling face on one the hubs. On the other hand a beautiful, large blue and red printed illustration replaced the transitory plain text used for many years. I don't know what the actual production numbers were, but from experience there are far less four spoke wheels than six spoke. By "six spokes" I'm referring to only that version which had identical base and gondola lithography produced in 1953. Size: 17" x 13" x 5". Date Sold: Aug. 2008
Price Sold: $ 380
