A. Schoenhut Co. ca. 1950s Wooden “Schoenhut’s Humpty-Dumpty Circus” Set 7 in Box *SOLD*

A. Schoenhut Co. ca. 1950s Wooden “Schoenhut’s Humpty-Dumpty Circus” Set 7 in Box

This piece is a ca. 1950s Set number 7  of the “Schoenhut’s Humpty-Dumpty Circus” in box manufactured by Humpty-Dumpty Toys of Seneca Falls, New York with the permission of the A. Schoenhut Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Schoenhut gave Nelson B. Delavan of Seneca Falls, New York, the rights to produce toys in the style of the A. Schoenhut circus and to use the Humpty-Dumpty Circus name. Delavan manufactured reproductions, under the name Humpty-Dumpty Toy Company, until 1952. Many of the toys closely resemble their predecessors, though some differences in design-such as the clown’s face paint do exist.

This comes from its original owner and was a much-loved childhood toy.

In this circus set you get:

• The box is in good condition with some tape on the corner where there is a split, this seems to have been done long ago.
•  A wooden elephant that is approximately 6 ½” L with ears intact, and strong strings.
• A wooden clown clothed in fabric that is approximately 6 ¼” L with strong strings.
• A wooden horse, leather ears intact, leather bridle and stirrups (the right one is broken off, left is intact), real hair tail is intact with strong strings. The leather is brittle. It is approximately 7 ½” L.
• A wooden ladder that is approximately 8” L.
• A wooden barrel that is approximately 2 ½” H.
•  A wooden bench that we do not believe came with the set, but the child who owned it added it. It is approximately 5 ½” L

These pieces are in very good all original condition with restorations, repairs, or touch-ups. These pieces show the usual patina, fading, dust, chips, scuffs, surface rust, scratches, missing accessories, and wear that is to be expected from age and play. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.

A brief history of the A. Schoenhut & Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 

1872 – 1935 

Founder: Albert Schoenhut 

Specialty: Began manufacturing toy pianos in 1872. They featured a series of over 20 different Living Pictures in the 1890s, which were framed cardboard figures animated by a clockwork mechanism. Schoenhut is best known for high-quality dolls and wooden-jointed circus and comic strip characters, including Felix the Cat, Maggie & Jiggs, Barney Google, and Sparkplug.

Schoenhut doll houses hit the assembly line from 1917 to 1934 and doll house furniture from 1928 to 1934.

In the 1950s, Schoenhut granted Nelson B. Delavan of Seneca Falls, New York, the rights to produce toys in the style of the A. Schoenhut circus and to use the Humpty-Dumpty Circus name. Delavan manufactured reproductions of wooden-jointed figures and a series of circus animals under the name Humpty-Dumpty Toy Company, until 1952. Many of the toys closely resemble their predecessors, though some differences in design-such as the clown’s face paint do exist. These toys received a lukewarm reception and are not up to the quality and charm of their predecessors. Schoenhut circus tents were known to have been produced in the 1970s.