Chein Pressed Steel Hercules Roadster Coupe Car Toy *SOLD*

Chein Pressed Steel Hercules Roadster Coupe Car Toy

This Hercules roadster toy ends up being a fantastic alternative to extra-large scale pressed steel toys.  It is over 17″ in length and a bit more manageable.  The steel pressings are well executed and the toy has a strong and sturdy feel but is not too heavy.

The sheet metal body’s paintwork is a snappy race car red with black painted accents. The lithographed sheet metal wheels have a nice touch of white to grab attention.  The license plate is marked “1K-10-30” and it is marked “Hercules Balloon Cord U.S.A.” on all 4 tires. It features wheels that roll, an opening rumble seat, and a movable luggage rack.

The condition on this piece is good with the original wheels and red paint, but the roof has spotting.  This is a common thing on pressed steel toys due to scratching.  The steering wheel fits in the cowl but is otherwise loose.   The front license plate and wheel hubs have original orange paint with black accents.

The toy is a big push toy or can get a string attached and pulled around the floor. This piece is in overall great condition with the usual wear, chips, and scratches that are to be expected with age and play. The car is approximately 17 ¾” in length. We encourage you to peruse the photos to get a better idea of condition and quality.

 A brief history of J. Chein and Company of Harrison, New Jersey: 

J. Chein & Co. was founded in a loft in New York City, New York by Julius Chein. They produced toys from 1903 until about 1979. Chein specialized in tin mechanical toys, banks, drums, and tea sets. Their tin toys were mostly lithographed. The company also produced a line of comic and circus tin toys that received wide acceptance in the 1930s and leading up to World War II.

In 1907, Chein moved its full production plant to Harrison, New Jersey. In the 1920s and early 1930s, they produced a popular line of toys under the “Hercules” name, rather than their own name. In the 1970s the company became known as Chein Industries, Inc.     

In 1979, toy manufacturing was phased out entirely. Then in the late 1980s, Chein Industries, Inc. was sold to the Atlantic Can Company, which then changed its name to Atlantic Cheinco Corporation. The company was beset with problems with manufacturing resulting from environmental issues. Due to their issues, in 1992 they filed for bankruptcy protection. Atlantic Cheinco Corporation’s assets were purchased by Ellisco, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a division of CSS Industries, Inc. In 1994, CSS then sold Ellisco to the U.S. Can Company of Baltimore, Maryland, which continues to produce stamped metal products.