Toys & Games

Hubley Cast Iron Toy Motorcycles, ca. 1930

Appraisal: Hubley Cast Iron Toy Motorcycles, ca. 1930

Transcript

GUEST: Well, I brought in some cast-iron toy motorcycles that I inherited from my grandfather, who was a motorcycle patrolman in Cleveland during the '20s and '30s. And when I was a little boy, I just would go over there and, you know, he would never let me play with them.

APPRAISER: Mm-hmm.

GUEST: But, uh, I always envied them. I do know that they are made by, uh, I believe, Hubley's.

APPRAISER: Hubley Manufacturing Toy Company, yeah. Do you have a handle

on how old they are?

GUEST: Uh, they're, they're probably from the, what, '30s?

APPRAISER: Exactly right.

GUEST: The small little, I guess he's the hill climber, is my favorite. Looks like he's just flying up a hill.

APPRAISER: Uh, The challenge with an antique toy of this age, uh, especially a toy that has wheels, action, emotion, is that they were played with.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: And when they are played with, and when they're brittle cast

iron, they can break very easily.

GUEST: Oh, I could imagine.

APPRAISER: Um, additionally, the figures are removable, so they can go missing quite easily.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: Uh, I'm happy to report that these are all original condition. The paint is correct, the figures are proper, uh, they are free from any breaks or cracks, which can often happen. And naturally, you can imagine a patrolman maybe would have a more controlled driving pattern across the floor.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: But a racing motorcycle is going to go full speed.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: And oftentimes take a crash.

GUEST: (chuckles)

APPRAISER: Uh, and hence why the large Hubley hill climber...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...is the rarest of the group.

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: Uh, not only is it a larger and more expensive motorcycle...

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: ...compared to the others, but it was one that most likely would have been played with quite aggressively. They did produce these in a series of colors.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: We have a nice demonstration of the four colors here.

GUEST: Hm.

APPRAISER: Orange is the best color...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...which, uh, you have a good eye, because you picked that one as your favorite. I would suggest that the red and the olive are in stronger condition than that of the two racers.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: Uh, orange being the runner-up, and the large blue cycle here having the most wear and the most chips.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: What's really exciting, uh, for collectors on the large hill climber is that his rear has the Harley Davidson...

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: ...embossed detail. Additionally, it has the nickeled wheels.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: Which gives it a little bit more flash...

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: ...uh, than that of a rubber tire.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: Um, so this would be considered, uh, the more desirable variation.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: Um, and the large Harley Davidson hill climber is probably one of the most coveted motorcycles...

GUEST: Wow, I didn't...

APPRAISER: ...for toy collectors, uh, toy cycle collectors.

GUEST: Oh, okay, oh, that's nice to know.

APPRAISER: Um, in the 1930s, when these were being sold, they would have cost a few dollars.

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: Uh, which at that time, that would have been a lot of money.

GUEST: Right, right, right. Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: Um, so the patrol cycles, one's the Indian motorcycle, and this is the Harley.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: They're fairly common bikes.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: They do turn up a lot, they were very popular. Each one of these would probably fetch around $2,000 for the paint condition that they are in.

GUEST: Wow, that's nice to know.

APPRAISER: Uh, and that's above average price, but they are in above average condition.

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: Um, so I would expect that.

GUEST: Uh-huh.

APPRAISER: As far as the hill climber, medium size...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: Uh, orange color, which is popular, uh, very nice bike, it's got a great

arced form to it...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: That can range anywhere from $2,000 up to even $3,000.

GUEST: Wow!