c.1923 Strauss, #28 Mechanical Speed-Boat (1) in Original Box
Early key wind mechanical tin litho "Speed-Boat 28" produced by Ferdinand Strauss. Difficult to find in high grade (as are most Strauss transportation toys) it comes complete with its rare original box. Handsomely designed to represent an in-board speed boat it's colorfully lithoed in bright green, orange, and yellow. It has a single driver, lithoed green, holding a pink steering wheel. The sides of the boat were lithoed to resemble wooden planking. The deck in front of the driver is lithoed with a large number "28". This section is bowed upwards and embossed around the edges. The cockpit was intricately detailed with a three gauge instrument panel, and the Strauss acrobatic clown trademark was included behind the driver. The toy runs on three disk wheels. The two in the rear are connected to the spring wound clockwork motor and provide power. The single polished-tin front disk wheel acts as a tiller to "steer" the boat. It's fixed off-center onto the axle which gives it an up and down wave motion while it moves forward. The top of the box has a fantastic illustration of the Speed-Boat racing across the waves. A crowd of people with waving hats and signal flags can be seen in the lower left corner. A wide cliff range, a lighthouse, and two larger ships can be seen in the background. The front and rear aprons again show a similar image of the boat trailed by two gigantic fish. A biplane and steam ship can be seen on the horizon. The endflaps are all text. The box bottom is blank. Size: 9". Sold: Mar. 2009
Price Sold: $ 405
