James D. Julia, Inc.

Advertising, Toy & Doll Division
Save the Date.
Spotlight
Spotlight
(Top) Steelcraft Buick pedal car and (bottom) rare Sturditoy Ambulance. Part of a private Rhode Island collection of 21 choice pressed steel vehicles by Buddy L, Keystone, etc. along with some exceptional all-original pedal cars by such makers as Gendron, Steelcraft and more.Click to see more highlights. 		  New at Julia's: 360° View
360 Degree Views
Julia's is the first in the Antique auction industry to offer 360° views of selected items right over the internet. This unique feature allows you to rotate the item and see a full 360° view right from your home or office. Visit our Selected Highlights page and look for this symbol We currently have dozens of items with this feature, and more are being added daily!
Featured Videos Featured Videos
 Catalog and Flyer
Now Available
Catalog Cover The flyer and catalog are complete and in circulation with the online version posted on Julia’s website as well as on Artfact.com, Proxibid.com and icollector.com for the convenience of potential participants who are unable to attend the auction personally. We are delighted to feature early American and European tin toys, clockwork toys, cast iron horse drawn and automotive toys, rare pressed steel trucks and pedal cars, gas powered tether racers, fine French and German dolls, antique advertising, salesman samples, a single-owner collection of U.S. Patent models, trains & accessories, coinoperated machinery, music machines, and much more. This is one sale you won’t want to miss.

You can call Julie or Andrew at 207-453-7125, or email us at atd@jamesdjulia.com

Andrew Truman Andrew Truman is approaching his 13th year as head of Julia’s Toy, Doll & Advertising division, having returned to the Kennebec Valley, where he was born and raised, after receiving his B.A. in English from the University of Oregon.
 
Rare Pressed Steel Automotive Toys; A Unique Childhood Toy
Many of us remember the treasure toy from our childhood that sparked our imaginations and at times allowed us to travel to another world on an adventure. For many young boys, the steel automotive cars did just that. The shift from cast iron to pressed steel in usage, particularly for toys throughout the early and mid-20th century, began in the late 1850s. Because steel was both more malleable, stronger and easier to work with than cast iron, and less likely to rust or crack, it became the preferred material for manufacturers. For consumers, it meant goods lasted longer. Everyone was a winner. It also allowed for greater flexibility and more realism than ever before. Because pressed steel was stronger than tinplate and other materials, large models could also fully support a child’s weight. In fact, some companies even marketed their toys as unbreakable. Oversized pressed steel model cars and trucks, with working components, allowed children to act out their playtime fantasies. By the 1930s, U.S. policy makers raised the tax on imported goods to encourage growth of American industry. This, along with the post-war baby boom, resulted in a major boon to the toy market, creating a huge market for toy vehicles.

The upcoming auction will feature selections of pressed steel from a longtime New England Julia client whose focus has long been on quality, condition, and rarity. From his collection come over 20 pressed steel toy vehicles. Being from the Rhode Island area, he had a strong liking for Sturditoy vehicles, which were manufactured in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Produced by the Pressed Steel Metal Company, they were only in business for seven years between 1926 and 1933. In their time in business they promoted themselves as makers of “True lines of modern motor fire apparatus and modern business trucks,” accurately duplicating real vehicles found on America’s highways in the late 20s and early 30s. As many companies

Buddy L Ice Truck

of the day, they fell victim to the Great Depression and ceased operation.

In addition to the above, the consignor submitted a select grouping of six pedal cars, which are both visually and accurate interpretations of the real vehicles of the time period. Highlights include examples by Gendron and Steelcraft and include a Cadillac, Buicks, and more. Be sure to visit Julia’s website for more information, photos, etc.www.jamesdjulia.com


www.jamesdjulia.com | atd@jamesdjulia.com

At James D. Julia, Inc. we are always seeking high quality antiques of all types for our year-round auctions. We offer the best seller commission rates in the industry, as low as 0% for high value items and collections. Please contact us directly at 207-453-7125 (Maine office) or 781-460-6800 (Boston area office) to learn more or if you are considering consigning one item, an entire collection or an estate to auction. All inquiries are confidential and without obligation.