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The largest boat frame made by Hess for this racing boat marked “7”. Although both samples here are marked with “7”, the boat on the right is marked “Hydromobil” and has a racing type driver. The boat on the left has a chauffeur type driver. | |||
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Hess 6 racing boat, circa 1920s L 8.9” (22.5 cm), W 1.8” (4.5 cm), H 2.3” (5.7 cm) This number 6 racing boat was made in different color combinations with racing type drivers. Propulsion was the Hess Roller type flywheel friction mechanism originally patented in 1912. A few were also named depending on country of export. |
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Hess simple steamships, circa 1920s L 9.4” (23.8 cm), W 1.8” (4.5 cm), H 2.9” (7.3 cm) These steamships have been observed both as simple rollers without propulsion mechanism and with the “Hess Roller” flywheel friction mechanism. Front wheels are offset to simulate rocking wave motion. They are marked with the “JLH” logo and patent information in addition to “Hess Roller”. These ships were labeled with many different names, depending on country of export or distributor’s specifications. I have one of these steamers named “Selright”, after a U.S. distributor called Selchow and Righter. |
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Possible Hess Boat, clockwork, circa 1900 (not in my collection) The maker of this attractive boat is unknown, but the graphics and construction are consistant with the Hess mechanical (except clockwork mechanism) and graphic style. Figures in almost all of the windows lends a certain charm to this piece. Hess was known for the quality of their lithography and for making parts or whole toys for other manufacturers – was this piece made in whole or part by Hess? |
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Hess Sailboat Grouping, circa 1900 Hess offered three different sizes of their sailboat; numbered 1038, 1041 and 1045. Their sails were made from lithographed paperboard and tab fastened to a tinplate mast. All used a simple flywheel drive with the front wheel off center to emulate wave action when the toy was actuated. The larger 1045 boat used an unusual cast metal front wheel rather than tinplate.
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