Cragstan/Nomura (TN) ca. 1950’s Tin Lithographed Windup “Mechanical Mystery Duck” *SOLD*

Cragstan/Nomura (TN) ca. 1950’s Tin Lithographed Windup “Mechanical Mystery Duck” 

This piece is a ca. 1950’s  tin, lithographed, windup “Mechanical Mystery Duck” manufactured for Cragstan of New York by Nomura Toy Industrial Co., Ltd. (T.N) of Tokyo Japan.    

Cragstan was a marketing and distribution firm from New York and imported post-war Japanese battery-operated and mechanical friction toys. The company’s main focus was on toys with multiple mechanical actions, for example, robots. They made sure the company name and logo appeared on their packaging in which they were sold.   

When wound with its dedicated key and switched on this working Mystery Duck moves about in a wacky motion while its head moves up and down, its eyes move, and it emits a “quack, quack” sound.  

This piece is in great all 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 play. This is approximately 5″ L. We invite you to view the photos to further determine quality and condition.        

A brief history of Nomura Toy Industrial Co., Ltd. (T.N) of Tokyo Japan:    

Nomura Toy Industrial Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan, also known as TN, was one of the biggest and most prolific of all postwar Japanese toy makers. Nomura is believed to have manufactured toys from the late 1940s through the 1970s. The letters “T.N” within the diamond logo means that the company is often referred to as TN or Toys Nomura. A wide range of tinplate toys had this logo emblazoned on their boxes whilst its later die-cast toys simply featured ‘Nomura toy’ on their boxes.    

Nomura was an early manufacturer in the tin toy world of Japan. They opened their doors in the late 1940s and quickly dominated the marketplace with colorful, original tin toy vehicles. They produced a wide variety of mechanical and battery (Electromobile) operated toys, military and civilian vehicles, space toys, and novelty items. They are responsible for many Astro Boy and Tetsujin 28 toys. As well as, creating many Robby the Robot and Sparky robot toys; all were classics.    

By the mid 1970′s, like many other Japanese toy companies, it had to make the move into die-cast in order to survive.  Their toys designs have even reappeared with the company Masudaya Modern Toys (MT). Nomura continued in one form or another until 1992 when they were bought out by the largest toy company of the time Hasbro.