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Hess flywheel powered gunboats, circa 1900s L 9.5” (24.1 cm), W 1.8” (4.6 cm), H 2.5” (6.4 cm) There are many variations of this flywheel powered gunboat. As Hess sold only through distributors and other toy manufacturers this style boat was reportedly sold through manufacturers Carette, Bing and others, but also sold to distributors who did not manufacture. Boat in top of photo has swiveling deck guns as well as lithographed guns. Boat at bottom only has lithographed guns. Box label for this boat is listed later on this website. |
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Hess Salon Steam boats, circa early 1900s L 8.3” (21 cm), W 2” (5 cm), H 2.63” (6.7 cm) These flywheel powered salon steamers use the same hull as the early battleships. Top version is a much more colorful litho version and is probably early production. It is marked with the “JLH” logo and has flywheel axle simply resting on wheels. Bottom version has windows cut out, twin smoke stacks and much less colorful litho. It is without logo identification and has a hand “spinner” to operate flywheel drive. Hess "Salon Steamer" riverboats - circa early 1900's. Two different sets of graphics on these two boats. Several variations made with one and two smokestacks, with and without ventilators, and of course, graphics. Both of these boats are flywheel powered and litho printed with the windows being die cut out of the one boat. |
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Hess Large Gunboat with flywheel power, circa 1900 L - 11.75” (29.9 cm), W – 2.25” (5.7 cm), H – 3.8” (8.6 cm) The largest of the early flywheel gunboats, it used the same size body as the Hess 1045 sailboat. This piece featured a cast metal front wheel, offset to mimic wave action. This wheel is marked “D.G.R.M., Engl. Patent, Germany”, which are the only markings on this piece. Two cast metal swiveling deck guns with additional guns lithographed on both sides. Various examples have been observed with red or yellow smokestack and different side graphics. Flywheel is almost 2” in diameter and includes spinner on the axle shaft.
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