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Hess Roller Boy on Sled (Kismet) circa 1920s -1930s L – 6.1” (15.6 cm), W – 1.6” (4.1 cm), H – 3.3” (8.4 cm) Pictured are several variations of this figural toy by Hess. Originally labeled a “Hess Roller” named “Kismet”, the name was eliminated on later examples. Observed are several mechanical variations including no wheels, friction flywheel mechanism and clockwork. Pictured are the flywheel friction model (red) and windup (gray). There are an unknown number of color variations, but the most popular seem to have been the red jacket and gray jacket version. Also observed have been green jacket and brown jacket models. Early red jacket models have full markings which include the “JLH”logo, Marke, Germany, D. R. Patent, D.R.G.M., U.S. Patent applied for, “Hess Roller” and “Kismet”. Gray jacket models simply have the “JLH” logo printed on the boy’s cuffs with no other marking. Another variant shown is marked “Selright Coaster”, a model marketed and sold by an American toy and game company named Selchow and Righter. |
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A group of “Pusspet” mice and the box in which they were originally packaged. One side of the box advertises Hessmobils, Dynamobils, Hess-Autos and Hess Rollers. | |||
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These pre-litho Hess penny toys are all hand painted and all have the early Hess logo embossed into the bottom metal frame. Note the cast wheels rather than stamped tinplate. | |||
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Only identified by the Hess patent number stamped on the wheels (44408), I am sure that Hess made many of these type toys that are identified as by other manufacturers such as Meier. | |||
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The frog on the left has an advertising imprint on the top side. This frog is named “Poldy” and has “Marke Hess” stamped in the bottom side metal. The penny toy boat on the right is seen in the Bing catalog, but was undoubtedly made by Hess. |
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Matthias Hess advertisement from 1879 Tin toy store – Nurembert – Binsengasse Nr. 1 Manufacture of railways with and without clockwork, pipe trumpets, garden tools, cannon wagons, omnibuses, tramways, etc.
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