
Antique Grand Piano from Durable Toy & Novelty Co - Tin or Metal with Wooden Legs ?
I have a miniature toy grand piano. They keys are functional. The legs are wood and the rest of the piano is tin/metal.
The bottom of the piano is stamped:
MFD BY
THE DURABLE TOY & NOVELTY Co
OFFICE NEW YORK CITY
FACTORY CLEVELAND O
PAT.APL.FOR
Does anyone know any more details about this piano - such as when it was made and the approximate value? I posted pictures on this forum: http://inkybrown.yuku.com/topic/427
Thanks
I went and found some information for you. My "Antiques of American Childhood" by Kathrine Morrison McClinton, was the only toy book that mentioned the piano.My information says the DURABLE TOY & NOVELTY Co was founded in 1912 and that the piano is very rare. This is the quote from the book. rare metal-case pianos were made by the Durable Toy and Novelty Company.
They were more famous for the Cash Registers, I found two of those on ebay for you to look at
early one interesting reading!
20s ANTIQUE TIN DURABLE TOY NOVELTY CASH REGISTER BANKItem number: 320298788379
Later one
Vintage Uncle Sam's Register Bank Durable Toy & Novelty
Item number: 180286936771
As you know the offices were in New York City and the Factory was in Cleveland, Ohio.
Since your piano is in bad shape that makes it for parts, or ripe for you to restore it. I would set my search engines on ebay for piano Durable Toy company. They will send you an email for 6mo on everyone that becomes available.
In American Pianos the toy maker Schoenhut was the most famous. If you search electrically do not use the "the"
You should have fun with this maybe there is a museum with one!!!!
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