Toy trailer
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1875 - circa 1880
Materials
Wood and metal
Measurements
Each box - 165 mm (length); 65 mm (width); 115 mm (height), Each lid - 160 mm (length); 52 mm (width), Each trailer - 155 mm (length); 95 mm (width); 45 mm (height)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 663990
Summary
Three wooden boxes, each covered with colour printed illustrations on all six sides. The top lid of one box shows a circus performer balancing a bear on a stick. The lid slides out to left-hand side. There are two letters at each end of the box and on one side there is a picture of a boy pushing a girl in a wheelbarrow entitled 'When I was a Bachelor'. The box contains a wooden trolley with one wooden (broken) and one metal wheel. At each end of the trailer there is a metal chain ending in a hook. The end of one arm of the trailer is broken. Another box is decorated with a lion and lioness on one side and a boy playing a pipe leading a girl and a dancing pig. Above this scene is printed 'Tom he was a Pipers Son'. The slide of lid shows signs of woodworm damage and is illustrated with an acrobat somersaulting over an elephant. Inside the box is a yellow wooden trolley with four revolving red wooden wheels. Two of the wheels are partially broken - part of one is inside the box with a fragment of wood, possibly from the lid. At each end of this trolley is a metal hook enabling it to link to another trolley. The third box is decorated on one side with a boy riding a goose in front of two girls, also riding geese. On the other side are soldiers riding white horses. The lid shows signs of woodworm damage and is decorated with an acrobat somersaulting over a standing acrobat. Inside is a yellow wooden trolley with four revolving red wooden wheels. At each end of this trolley are metal hooks enabling it to link to another trolley. It appears that the boxes fit onto the trailers and link together to form, possibly, a travelling circus. Total number of items is 11.
Marks and inscriptions
Top of one side panel: 'WHEN .I.WAS.A.BATCHELOR'