Finding The Value Of Precious Metal Dollhouses

Finding The Value Of Precious Metal Dollhouses
By Joan Bramsch, Fri Dec 9th

Finding The Value Of Precious Metal Dollhouses by Joan Bramschcopyright: 1999

From the publication Antique Trader Weekly

The art of creating miniature scenes and rooms has been tracedand documented to ancient Egyptian times, this is according to amember of Tiny Talk, an internet Newsgroup comprised of almost400 miniaturists from around the world, who exchange tips, swapsand mini help with each other. Several famous personalities haveenjoyed collecting dollhouses, some of them to the point ofobsession. For example: in the early 18th century, PrincessAugusta Dorothea von Schwarzburg-Arnstadt actually bankruptedher husband's estate and died in debt to the Catholic Church,all to make 'Mon Plaisir,' a recreation of an 18th centuryGerman Court (Classic Dolls Houses, Faith Eaton). Furnisheddollhouses were also used in long ago times by mothers to teachtheir daughters how to run an acceptable household. And yet,miniatures started out as a serious adult pastime and weren'tincluded as children's toys until pieces were availablecommercially and so, as with all things, history repeats itself.Miniatures and dollhouses are again considered very collectibleadult toys.

In Victorian times, the houses were made from wood, thencardboard houses became quite popular. Later in the 20thcentury, metal dollhouses came into vogue. Marx, Wolverine andCohn were among the producers of the most popular models.

Twentieth Century Classics Louis Marx & Co., Inc. began businessafter World War II, producing wind-up mechanical toys and metaltrucks and cars. In 1949, the company produced its first metaldollhouse. Featured in the Sears Christmas catalog it was calledthe 'Disney' house, so named because the cartoon characters werefestooned along the nursery walls. The 'Disney' had five rooms,garage and patio, and was fully furnished and electrified foronly $4.98. Value today is $75-$100. For over 20 years, Marxmade metal dollhouses, often using the same model year afteryear. Painted in different colors and architectural design, thehouse had several interchangeable components which could bemixed and matched to create different styles or sizes. In thisway, they met the requirements of varied sale prices. TheL-shaped ranch house was new in 1953 and sold in the SearsChristmas catalog for $7.29 furnished. Value today is $70-$100,unfurnished; $125- $150, furnished.

Marx's most expensive house appeared in the 1962 Sears catalog.It featured dormer windows, an inside staircase, a ringingdoorbell, lighting, a 'Florida' room complete with jalousiewindow, awnings, shutters and painted-on flower filled windowboxes beneath the front windows, plus complete furnishings --allfor $15.88. Boy, weren't those the days? Present value is $100plus.

Other additional components were available, too, fabric drapes,or a swimming pool with slide, a white picket fence, yard toys.Mint in the box, the latter now sells for $100 or more.

It's easy to see how art imitated life in the above housedescription of that era, but it's a bit sad and shocking whenone learns that the 1962 model replaced the garage with a bombshelter, although they also added the new 'family room,' aswell.

Marx continued to produce metal dollhouses, particularly sprucedup Colonnade and Colonial models until the end of 1970 when thecompany went out of business. They'd provided sturdy, attractivehouses at reasonable cost to at least two generations ofAmerican children. Today, they are readily available in thesecondary market at attractive prices.

Barbara Cohen, Littleton, N.C., owns a (mint in box) T. Cohnmetal dollhouse, #66, 1950 model made for Superior Toys. It soldfor $3.98. 'I can't decide to sell it or to build it,' saysCohen. 'It's a real treasure.' A metal dollhouse featured in the1948 Montgomery War Christmas catalog appears to be the firstmodern metal design. Manufactured by T. Cohn in Brooklyn, N.Y.,the house had

six rooms and sundeck with five windows and afront door that opened. Original price was $4.75. Most of theearly Cohn models had hipped gable roofs and were clearlylabeled with the company name--'T. Cohn Inc. Made in the U.S.A.'They produced metal dollhouses from the 1950s into the early1960s, almost as long as Marx, though not as successfully.

The Wolverine Supply & Mfg. Co., was founded in 1903 by BenjaminBain. The Pennsylvania plant designed tools and dies, but gotinto the toy business when a customer went bankrupt before hecould take delivery on his sand toy manufacturing equipment.

Wolverine went from gravity-action sand toys (1913) tohousekeeping toys (1920s) to Rite-Hite toy kitchens (1959) todollhouses (1972-1990). They designed seven dollhouses, none ofwhich was up to the standards of the very well-made housesbearing other name brands. Like those others, though, each soldcomplete with plastic furniture. Proud owner of the smallWolverine Ranch House is Dorothy McKinsey of Bremerton, Wash. 'Igot it a couple years ago at a thrift shop for only $5.' Presentvalue is $30 to $50, so Dorothy bought a real treasure forpennies on the dollar.

If the child in you longs for a dollhouse, it seems as if an oldmetal dollhouse may be the way to go. Because there werethousands produced, many are available on today's market.Besides that, all the furniture in plastic awaits your interiordecorating pleasure. But that's another story!

About the author:JOAN BRAMSCH is a family person, educator, writer andE-publisher. Her articles appear internationally in print andonline. Six of her best-selling adult novels - near one millioncopies - have worldwide distribution. Her Empowered ParentingEzine serves 1000 parents around the globe.http://www.JoanBramsch.com mailto:hijoan@joanbramsch.com