Some attributed tepid interest for this organ grinder toy to recent frequent exposure of like examples on the market, and the verity that the most advanced Mickey collectors already own one. Any plaything related to Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs invariably rates boffos. Other comic strip and early radio heroes made sparkling cameo appearances at Julia's. The ingenious character toys of Fernand Martin are now receiving belated, well-deserved recognition. Heading a veritable motorcade of deals on wheels, a pair of Bing vehicles fueled bidding fervor.
Toy racers persist unflaggingly in capturing the motor buff's fancy.
We expected a bigger stir over a trio of tinplate replicas of legendary British race cars, known to blast across the Bonneville Salt Flats in the late 1920's and early '30's. The maker was unspecified in Julia's description, but presumably Gunthermann, as it is so identified in Richard O'Neill's Encyclopedia of Metal Toys . Dent's Amos 'n' Andy Fresh Air Taxi in cast iron still sets bidding arms aflutter, despite lack of factory paint credibility. Mid-1930's Chrysler Air Flows by Hubley haven't lost their luster. Mickey and Minnie weren't the only high-riding bikers at Julia's auction.