Mechanical Toy
1950s (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This object was donated to the Museum from part of the Michael Buhler collection of tin toys. Tin toys cover a vast array of subject matters ranging from the space age to domestic objects. This figure was made in West Germany in the 1950s. The first tin toys appeared in the United States in the middle of the 19th century. The tin toy industry soon spread to Europe, particularly Germany, where many tin toys were made around Nuremberg.
The toys made in the late forties were a combination of new designs and copies of pre-war designs with new artwork and were all marked 'US Zone Germany', which is the case with this skier. The German tin toy industry was at its peak during the forties and fifties but declined after due to Japanese competition, increased production costs and the popularity of plastic toys and diecasts.
The toys made in the late forties were a combination of new designs and copies of pre-war designs with new artwork and were all marked 'US Zone Germany', which is the case with this skier. The German tin toy industry was at its peak during the forties and fifties but declined after due to Japanese competition, increased production costs and the popularity of plastic toys and diecasts.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Colour lithographed tinplate, pressed; printed card |
| Brief description | Tin toy skier, made in Germany by Blomer & Schüler in the 1950s. |
| Physical description | A clockwork tinplate toy skier, printed to suggest skiing clothes, and holding two ski poles. It is wearing a blue jumper with a yellow and red scarf and red trousers. The skis are brown, as are the poles in each hand. The figure has orange hair and a green and cream hat. With the toy is card packaging box. Each side is illustrated with ski slopes, snow and a character dressed in gloves, hat, scarf and ski equipment. The borders to these illustrations are red. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | Downhill all the way
If you’re somewhere snowy, a pair of skis could be helpful. They’re best for going downwards, so don’t leave anything at the top of the mountain...
[Young V&A, Imagine Gallery short object label](2023) |
| Credit line | Given by Alexandra Buhler |
| Object history | This object was donated by Alexandra Buhler from the Michael Buhler collection. Buhler collected a vast array of tin toys and published a book on the subject called 'Tin Toys 1945-1975'. His collection covers a variety of subject matters ranging from space toys to more domestic objects. The collection contains tin toys from around the world including Japan, Europe, India and the USA. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This object was donated to the Museum from part of the Michael Buhler collection of tin toys. Tin toys cover a vast array of subject matters ranging from the space age to domestic objects. This figure was made in West Germany in the 1950s. The first tin toys appeared in the United States in the middle of the 19th century. The tin toy industry soon spread to Europe, particularly Germany, where many tin toys were made around Nuremberg. The toys made in the late forties were a combination of new designs and copies of pre-war designs with new artwork and were all marked 'US Zone Germany', which is the case with this skier. The German tin toy industry was at its peak during the forties and fifties but declined after due to Japanese competition, increased production costs and the popularity of plastic toys and diecasts. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.101:1, 2-2010 |
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| Record created | September 21, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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