This fine example of a pre-war electric train was produced by The Lionel Corporation N.Y. in 1945 and 1946.  To be offered for auction on 5th February 

Saturday Valuations

Saturday
25th January

10 am 
- 
1 pm

See you there !

On the rails

From a bygone age this "0" gauge locomotive, number 224E, with underside stamp '"0" Gauge Locomotive, Made in U.S. of America, The Lionel Corporation N.Y., Lubricate as per instructions', sits on a short piece of track will be sold in the Antique and Interiors Auction on the 5th February

Tut Tut !!

A 1920's Lehmann tinplate clockwork 490 'Tut Tut' automobile, the cream motorcar with red trim, the driver wearing a white suit and holding the steering wheel and horn to mouth, spoked wheels and spring wound mechanism operating rear wheels and working bellows, 18cm long 
Estimate £50 - £80
To be sold in the Antiques and Interiors Sale 5th February


The 'Tut Tut' tin toy car was made in the early part of the twentieth century and is probably the most well known toy made by E.P. Lehmann founded in 1881 in Brandenburg, near Berlin, Germany. 

Of all the European toys produced from the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, those made by Lehmann are the easiest to recognise. They are brightly coloured, and have an amusing and clever action to create dancing, climbing, walking, crawling and rolling, usually powered by a wind-up fly-wheel drive. This gave them engaging and amusing appeal which in this case sees Tut Tut's driver blow a horn as he drives along. Lehmann built up one of the most important and prolific toy-making companies in the world with toys aimed at a mass market. Prices were kept low by the use of a newly-developed thin and cheap type of tin plate. While the First World War resulted in a decline in the German monopoly of wind-up toys, Lehmann was one company which survived. By the 1920s Lehmann employed over 800 staff and produced over 100 different toy designs. These were marketed around the world in boxes with instructions in both German and English. 

Brumas and Ivy stars of the 1950s

A Deans white mohair mother bear sitting on her hind legs, having orange glass eyes, stitched mouth and cloth nose, holding her cub with short white plush stitched nose and mouth, with Deans Rag Book label to the bottom of mother bear and Deans Rag Book label to top of neck to cub.

Mother 42cm tall, Cub 18cm tall

Both mother and cub are well loved and worn

For Auction in the Antique and Interiors Sale 5th February 2020

Ivy and Brumas were produced by the Deans Ragbook Company.  They were made to commemorate the birth of the first polar bear at London Zoo on the 27th November 1949, over 70 years ago. 

Brumas was named after her keepers Bruce and Sam whose names were reversed. Although Brumas was female, the press reported that the bear was a he so the public thought that the cub was male, a belief that is still widespread. 

Brumas was the first baby polar bear to be successfully reared in Britain and was an immediate attraction with the public. She caused such interest that, in 1950, the Zoo's annual attendance figures reached the 3 million mark. Brumas died on 17 May 1958. 

Both bears proved a popular merchandise resource and were celebrated in newsreels, books, postcards, toys and other souvenirs. Dean's Rag Book Company were granted the licence to produce soft toy versions of the bears.

2020 Bidding Registrations

Come along and get your new bidding 

number for 2020 - £1 for the year 

And the beat goes on

A super selection of Beatles records to be sold 22nd January

Radio Cool

A vintage 20th century Crown V Stereo mobile 12 Transistor stereo radio phonograph. Measures 42.5cms to be sold General Sale on Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Did you miss us?

Don't panic you can watch on catch up at the ITV hub 'Dickinson's Real Deal' with our own Giles Hodges.

Its The Real Deal

Click on this link to watch the show Dickinsons Real Deal

Valuation Times and Dates

We are open on Saturday 11th January 10am - 1pm - drop in no appointment needed

and

Monday 13th January - Thursday 16th January 
we have spaces left for appointments - please call 0191 537 2630 to book in

Sparkling in the Winter Sunshine

Lot 285.  
A platinum and diamond solitaire ring sold for £675
Antique and Interiors Sale
8th January 2020

Glory and Goals

Boldon Auction Galleries sold a fascinating Collection of Football ephemera on the 8th of January 2020.

One of the highlights from the Auction was Lot 265.
A collection of 1937 FA Cup Final ephemera including programme, ticket, song sheet, Football Echo etc. hit the back of the net at £520.  

Badges of Honour

Lot 254
A large collection of 87 National Union Of Miners Badges, some of the enamel badges relate to the miners strike and The Wapping strike of 1986.
Sold £900
Antique and Interiors Sale 8th January 2020

Heads Up

A piece of History sold on Wednesday in the Antiques and Interiors Auction.  

Lot 103. 
A Medieval stone bust of a King, found in an old stone wall in Park Street, South Shields sold for £400