How do I identify Hubley cast iron toys?

Inspect the paint for brush marks, and look for drip deposits on underside of toy – old toys will exhibit these. When buying cast iron banks, look for paint on both the outer and inner edges of the slot. Also old paint – typically enamel or oil based – will tend to chip where as the newer acrylic paint will not.

How can you tell if a cast iron toy is real?

Old cast iron toys will have a much smoother surface than its new fake. Bumps, holes or pits show up on fakes. Hard to see if pieces are painted. Check the underside of any cast iron toy for these flaws.

When were cast iron door stops made?

Decorative iron doorstops came into their own in the United States in the 1920s, and they remained very popular through the early 1940s when heavy metal rationing began during World War II.

Where was the Hubley toy factory?

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
“The Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, one of the oldest and largest makers of toys in the United States, was founded in 1894 by John E.

Are reproduction cast iron banks worth anything?

Old cast iron banks can be quite valuable, but collectors should beware of reproductions. First appearing in 1793, shortly after the first copper penny was minted in the U.S., the iron bank became an instant collectible for affluent children and their parents.

Are Hubley door stops marked?

Hubley put their marks on the inside of their doorstops. … To create these cast iron doorstops, metalworkers carved a wooden form or hammered the design out of metal.

What scale are Hubley model cars?

about 1:50 scale
These cars were about 1:50 scale and measured approximately 31⁄4 inches long. Real Toys generally had no interiors, but detail and body proportions were spot-on.

How do you tell if a cast iron bank is a reproduction?

The FIRST clue to spotting a Reproduction Cast Iron Bank is the TYPE of screw used to hold it together. A FLAT-HEAD Screw could indicate Antique and Original, but a PHILLIPS-HEAD Screw indicates Modern Reproduction, or REPRO as the collectors call them.

How much is a cast iron bank worth?

Cast Iron Mechanical Banks

Cast-iron mechanical banks have been popular with collectors for decades, and the prices prove it. It is rare to find an authentic mechanical bank for less than a few hundred dollars these days, and most of them top $1,000 when sold at auction.

How do you know if Uncle Sam is real?

If Uncle Sam’s beard moves as the coin in his spring-loaded hand drops into the U.S. Treasury bag at his feet, then the bank is authentic. Many reproductions have been made since the first Uncle Sam bank. Those produced in the 1920s may still hold considerable value, but never as much as the original.