Yonezawa Toys (Y) Tin Lithographed Battery Operated “Jumbo the Bubble Blowing Elephant” Japanese Toy *SOLD*

Yonezawa Toys (Y) Tin Lithographed Battery Operated “Jumbo the Bubble Blowing Elephant” Japanese Circus Toy 

We have for you a tin, lithographed, battery-operated “Jumbo the Bubble Blowing Elephant” circus elephant toy that was manufactured by Yonezawa Toys of Tokyo, Japan.  

Chalk this toy up to the post-war cutie toy boom. It is the exact opposite of war-time, it is a fanciful fun toy distraction. 

We emphasize condition, because ours is near new old stock.  Most corrode/rust with all the liquid and discolor. 

Jumbo dips the front blower plastic into a tub of liquid, then an internal balloon fills up the bubble and they blow away. 

The toy raises and lowers its trunk properly here. We have some breeze pushing out of the mouth but we chose to not try corrosive bubble liquid. 

The box is in very good condition, and even has piece of cardboard for under the base inside the box, as well, as accessories and insert. 

This piece is in very good to excellent original condition with no breaks, restorations, repairs, or touch ups. This piece shows the usual patina, fading, dust, chips, scuffs, surface rust, scratches, missing accessories and wear that are to be expected from age and display. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.    

A brief history of Yonezawa Toys Co. Ltd. (Y) of Tokyo, Japan:  

Yonezawa Toys (米澤玩具 Yonezawa Gangu) (known also as Yone or simply Y) was founded in the 1950’s in Tokyo. It was one of Japan’s largest and most prodigious post-war toy manufacturers and an early participant in the growing radio control market.  

The company and focused on the production of thousands of different electrically operated and mechanical toys through the early 1970’s. Some were branded not as Yonezawa but as STS. It is unclear as to the origin of the STS label, but it is presumed to be that of an importer. Yonezawa briefly dabbled in radio control in the mid-1980’s with the introduction of the 1/10-scale Wave Hunter buggy, sold in North America as the Monogram Lightning.  

Under Sega’s leadership, Yonezawa Toys was briefly known as Sega-Yonezawa until the Yonezawa branding was dropped entirely in April 1998. Once Sega Sammy Holdings was formed, Sega Toys was reorganized under Sega’s entertainment contents business.  

Since the early 2000’s, Sega Toys markets itself distinctively from the Sega brand, with some occasional collaboration between the two. An example of their collaboration is Sega and Sega Toys producing the UFO Catcher prize games jointly, where Sega manufactures the arcade equipment, while Sega Toys produces the prizes. (From Wikipedia)