An exhibit of toys, all originally designed to be powered by
live steam, is now on view at the Museum of the City of New York,
and will remain there until March 28.
The show is titled, ‘H2O+Heat= Live Steam Toys. It is
sponsored by the Friends of the Toy Collection of the Museum, and
has been staged as a special Christmas exhibition.
Throughout history toys have reflected the life of their times.
Children have learned about the workings of things through their
own miniaturizations of society’s tools.
This exhibit is believed to be the first public showing in the
United States of such designs, and is of particular interest to
steam engine enthusiasts. It is derived mainly from the private
collection of Bill and Lillian Gottshalk of Baltimore, Md.
The 19th century was known as ‘The Golden Age of Toys,’
and most examples in this show date from the last quarter of that
century. It was during this period that toys became powered first
by clockwork, then by steam, replacing the earlier methods of
water, sand, or hand power. At the end of the century there was an
emergence of factories in the United States for mass production of
toys, and although most toys in the show are German-made, some were
manufactured in the United States by the Weeden Company of New
Bedford, Massachusetts, from 1876 on.
The steam toys reflect many different aspects of the life of
their times. There is a group of amusement park toys, with
intricate ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds. There are small
working mills of various kinds – windmills, graineries and even a
distillery. There are boats and trains, and even a railroad bridge
and station house. Artisans of the day are well-represented –
blacksmiths, wood-workers and carpenters. One group of toys is an
entire wood-working shop in perfect working condition.
Some of the toys are accompanied by paper accessories, which are
considered to be very rare. One paper set enables the same engine
to power a boxing match or a pair of ballet dancers. The toys are
arranged in related groups. All are in mint condition, and some are
seen in live operation. The most awed appreciators of the show seem
to be children who ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’ in sheer delight
at the antique toys.
The museum is located on Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street in New
York City. It is open Tuesday through Saturdays from 10 to 5
(closed Mondays) and Sundays and holidays from 1 to 5. Admission is
free at all times.
