Finding The Value Of Precious Metal Dollhouses

Finding The Value Of Precious Metal Dollhousesbycomplete furnishings --all for $15.88. Boy, weren't
Joan Bramsch copyright: 1999those the days? Present value is $100 plus.
From the publication Antique Trader WeeklyOther additional components were available, too,
The art of creating miniature scenes and roomsfabric drapes, or a swimming pool with slide, a
has been traced and documented to ancientwhite picket fence, yard toys. Mint in the box, the
Egyptian times, this is according to a member oflatter now sells for $100 or more.
Tiny Talk, an internet Newsgroup comprised ofIt's easy to see how art imitated life in the above
almost 400 miniaturists from around the world,house description of that era, but it's a bit sad and
who exchange tips, swaps and mini help with eachshocking when one learns that the 1962 model
other. Several famous personalities have enjoyedreplaced the garage with a bomb shelter, although
collecting dollhouses, some of them to the pointthey also added the new 'family room,' as well.
of obsession. For example: in the early 18thMarx continued to produce metal dollhouses,
century, Princess Augusta Dorothea vonparticularly spruced up Colonnade and Colonial
Schwarzburg-Arnstadt actually bankrupted hermodels until the end of 1970 when the company
husband's estate and died in debt to the Catholicwent out of business. They'd provided sturdy,
Church, all to make 'Mon Plaisir,' a recreation of anattractive houses at reasonable cost to at least
18th century German Court (Classic Dolls Houses,two generations of American children. Today,
Faith Eaton).they are readily available in the secondary market
Furnished dollhouses were also used in long agoat attractive prices.
times by mothers to teach their daughters howBarbara Cohen, Littleton, N.C., owns a (mint in
to run an acceptable household. And yet,box) T. Cohn metal dollhouse, #66, 1950 model
miniatures started out as a serious adult pastimemade for Superior Toys. It sold for $3.98. 'I can't
and weren't included as children's toys until piecesdecide to sell it or to build it,' says Cohen. 'It's a
were available commercially and so, as with allreal treasure.' A metal dollhouse featured in the
things, history repeats itself. Miniatures and1948 Montgomery War Christmas catalog
dollhouses are again considered very collectibleappears to be the first modern metal design.
adult toys.Manufactured by T. Cohn in Brooklyn, N.Y., the
In Victorian times, the houses were made fromhouse had six rooms and sundeck with five
wood, then cardboard houses became quitewindows and a front door that opened. Original
popular. Later in the 20th century, metalprice was $4.75. Most of the early Cohn models
dollhouses came into vogue. Marx, Wolverine andhad hipped gable roofs and were clearly labeled
Cohn were among the producers of the mostwith the company name--'T. Cohn Inc. Made in the
popular models.U.S.A.' They produced metal dollhouses from the
Twentieth Century Classics1950s into the early 1960s, almost as long as
Louis Marx & Co., Inc. began business after WorldMarx, though not as successfully.
War II, producing wind-up mechanical toys andThe Wolverine Supply & Mfg. Co., was founded in
metal trucks and cars. In 1949, the company1903 by Benjamin Bain. The Pennsylvania plant
produced its first metal dollhouse. Featured in thedesigned tools and dies, but got into the toy
Sears Christmas catalog it was called the 'Disney'business when a customer went bankrupt before
house, so named because the cartoon charactershe could take delivery on his sand toy
were festooned along the nursery walls. Themanufacturing equipment.
'Disney' had five rooms, garage and patio, andWolverine went from gravity-action sand toys
was fully furnished and electrified for only $4.98.(1913) to housekeeping toys (1920s) to Rite-Hite
Value today is $75-$100.toy kitchens (1959) to dollhouses (1972-1990).
For over 20 years, Marx made metal dollhouses,They designed seven dollhouses, none of which
often using the same model year after year.was up to the standards of the very well-made
Painted in different colors and architectural design,houses bearing other name brands. Like those
the house had several interchangeableothers, though, each sold complete with plastic
components which could be mixed and matchedfurniture. Proud owner of the small Wolverine
to create different styles or sizes. In this way,Ranch House is Dorothy McKinsey of Bremerton,
they met the requirements of varied sale prices.Wash. 'I got it a couple years ago at a thrift shop
The L-shaped ranch house was new in 1953 andfor only $5.' Present value is $30 to $50, so
sold in the Sears Christmas catalog for $7.29Dorothy bought a real treasure for pennies on the
furnished. Value today is $70-$100, unfurnished;dollar.
$125- $150, furnished.If the child in you longs for a dollhouse, it seems
Marx's most expensive house appeared in theas if an old metal dollhouse may be the way to
1962 Sears catalog. It featured dormer windows,go. Because there were thousands produced,
an inside staircase, a ringing doorbell, lighting, amany are available on today's market. Besides
'Florida' room complete with jalousie window,that, all the furniture in plastic awaits your interior
awnings, shutters and painted-on flower filleddecorating pleasure. But that's another story!
window boxes beneath the front windows, plus