BLACK MAN STANDING IRON CAP BOMB BLACK AMERICANA TOY, 1890's IVES TOY CO.

Description

A pleasing, very scarce, & quite appealing 1890's black Americana figural man standing cast iron toy cap bomb. This toy was produced by the Ives Toy Company & was made in Bridgeport, Conn. It is listed & illustrated (with an engraving) in the 1893 wholesale toy catalog which was issued by the Ives Toy Company of Bridgeport, Conn. The height is 2 1/2 inches & the toy has a weight of 2.6 ounces.
In the 1893 Ives, Blakeslee, & Williams Company wholesale catalog which shows this toy it is listed on page #48 under the heading: "Harmless Toy Bomb Shells For Exploding Paper Caps" & also the "Bomb Shell Patented No. 75-9. One Dozen in box, 5 gross in case, price per gross .50". This toy figural cap shooter is also listed in the "Cast Iron Toy Cap Guns" book by Logan & Best where it appears as "Bomb9" on page 239 in their 1990 edition.
The toy still retains the majority of the original copper plated finish & appears to have never been used. The finish has a combination of a pleasing mixture of light & dark areas of natural patina from age. The majority of the original finish as issued is still present. The toy has never been cleaned or tampered with in any way. The figure slides open smoothly just above his waist for insertion of the paper caps. In that area, visible when opened, there is a light coat of natural evenly dark toned old surface rust. There is no cap residue present & it appears likely that this toy was never used.
Condition-wise this is the finest all original example of this toy, in this finish, that we have ever owned & that we have ever seen during our 53 years of searching for antique cap shooters. Usually this toy is found with a dark black transparent finish or a dark brown transparent finish. So, this example is especially unusual in that it was issued in the original Ives copper plated finish. Not only that but the original copper plating is in pleasing original condition. Also, as an added bonus, the quality of the casting on this example is better than on most of the others that we have seen. Please note that in person the toy looks much smoother than it appears in the enlarged & highly detailed photos which have given it a more grainy look.
A far, far more attractive finish than the other standard dark finish versions normally seen. In our 53 years of travel, while actively looking for unusual cap shooters, we have seen only one other example of this toy cap bomb with the copper plated finish & that example only had less than 10% of the original copper finish. So, the example we are offering, with most of the original finish, leaps up hands down in to the forefront of quality for this scarce cap bomb which depicts this standing black man. This toy has been a joy to have owned & it is a privilege to be able to pass this superb example on to the next owner who will also have the chance to experience the joy of collecting this fascinating toy.
Please examine the photos closely & purchase based on your own judgement as to condition & value. This item is inventory #8789.
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