1925 McDowell, Loop The Loop In Original Box
Fantastic double-ended clockwork toy called "Loop The Loop" manufactured by McDowell Mfg. Co., Pittsburgh, PA. Only the third example I've found with its original box. Toy is steel, not tin litho. and is brightly enameled in four different colors. It runs with an unusual complex triple gear mechanism powered by a tightly wound ribbon spring and lead fly wheel. The flywheel provides power by using its own inertia for energy. The toy is double-ended; that is it runs alternately backwards and forwards without rewinding. This lends itself to a symmetrical design with one end identical to the other. Of course, to remain symmetrical it needs a symmetrical coaster-car. In this case a 2½" racer with two-headed driver; each head faces in opposite directions. Movement is accomplished by pivoting the entire track upwards to the right or left from its pivot point at the top of the loop. Right and left, up and down; the car travels from one end to the other while completing an upside-down loop the loop, either forwards or backwards. I ran it through 10 cycles and it worked beautifully! Loop the Loop consists of two removable track sections, a green base with attached pivoting loop and clockwork motor, and the racer car. To date the toy I found an advertisement for it in the 1925 Butler Brothers catalog. The wholesale price was $1.10. The two piece box was printed in three colors and features a finely detailed illustration of the actual toy on the cover. Directions and manufacturer name were printed on opposite lower corners. The name of the toy appears on all four box aprons. Size: 28" Date Sold: Feb. 2011
Price Sold: $ 221
