1940 Universal Fireworks Co., Cap Cane w/Kilgore Mammoth Caps
Wonderful unused example of a late model cap cane complete with an unused box of Kilgore single shot mammoth caps. The toy was manufactured by the Universal Fireworks Company specifically for Independence Day celebration. The toy consists of a cast iron plunger protruding from a pressed steel housing. The stick is wooden with a wooden ball handle and covered with spiral wound red, white, and blue paper. Placing a single cap into the holder, grasping the opposite end (with wooden ball), and tapping the cap holder against a hard surface will explode the cap. Although cap canes had been in use for some time this was one of the last pre-WW2 types. More importantly it was never used. Just one use and the cap tip will scratch and show some deformation. The tip on this example is perfectly flat. It also has no sulfurous odor. The paper is very thin and brittle, but still in place. Most likely it was intended for short term play, which it never did. The box of Kilgore single shot mammoth caps is complete with all of it's original caps The red, white, and blue box looks like it was never opened. I found a reference for this toy in James Dundas book, Toys That Shoot And Other Neat Stuff, Schiffer publishing 1998, pg 48. Its original patent number was 2208389. The toy is unmarked. Size: 25". Sold: Oct. 2006
Price Sold: $ 65
