c.1948 Tipp & Co., "Traffic Crossing" in Original Box
Marked only as "Made in Bavaria US Zone" this clockwork automobile track set was actually produced by Tipp & Co. It's all tin litho, complete, and works great! Conservatively grades excellent+ to near mint. And it comes in its original box. The set consists of two, late 1940's style clockwork coupe autos; each with its own separate key. Both are marked "Made in US Zone Germany" and have a stop/start lever protruding from their rear trunk. Both cars are capable of running either forward or reverse automatically depending on the position of their bumpers; extended or retracted. The bumpers of each car are connected internally. Direction is changed depending on if it's extended or retracted when one car strikes the other. It all depends on the position of the bumper making it entirely random. It's even possible for both cars to change direction simultaneously (shown below). It's a pretty neat mechanism which Tipp used in many of their toys. The underside of each car (although not shown), including the bumpers and running boards were polished to a high gloss mirror finish. The wheels are also pressed tinplate although they're not polished. There are nine colored track sections which, when connected, form a perfect figure-8. They're all heavy gauge tin litho and easily link together. Both keys are identical. I can't assume that they're original to the toy. The set comes in its original thin-wall cardboard box. The cover features an applied color print of several art deco style roadsters. I believe the one in the foreground is a Mercedes. A Shell Oil petrol station is shown as well as an overpass and the receding countryside. The four illustrated autos are an older style than the actual toy. Tipp used the same print for at least two other similar toys, that I'm aware of, both pre and post war. The strip inserts are replacements. Size: Assembled track 29", Auto's 3¾".
Price Sold: $ 169
