Gebruder Bing Leviathan B-49 20″ #10/334/13 Ocean Liner Windup Tin Boat Ship Toy from the Richard T. Claus Collection *SOLD*

Gebruder Bing Leviathan B-49 20″ #10/334/13 Ocean Liner Windup Tin Boat Ship Toy from the Richard T. Claus Collection

We have for you today a Gebruder Bing B-49 “Leviathan” tin windup ocean liner. This big beauty was part of Richard T. Claus’ collection and was featured in The Allure of Toy Ships: American & European Nautical Toys from the 19^th and 20^th Centuries on pg. 78. It lists this ship as a #10/334/13, 20” B-49 Leviathan produced between 1923-1927.

We do not have the original key to this, however we did test the clockwork motor and it runs very well. It is strong after only two turns and the propellers turn with no problem. The ships wheel turns the rudder. We try not to do this often due to the delicate nature of these ships. At the top of the aft mast, there appears to be some white tape holding the rigging on. We did not remove this to see as we didn’t want to cause any damage. All of the lifeboats are there; however, one of the davits on the front starboard lifeboat has broken off.

Since this ships days as a catalog model it has seen some hardships which have left it with some restorations and unfortunately some larger spots of paint that have come off due to being handled and moved. We believe Bing used a cream colored primer due to the color exposed after she lost some of her beautiful paint. Since coming in to our possession we have been taking great care of her. The paint shows the usual wear, cracks, chips and fading due to age and play. Despite her flaws she she looks great for being as old and delicate as she is. We think she would make a great addition to anyone’s collection. We invite you to peruse the photos to further determine quality and condition.

 

 

 

And now a little history:

In Richard T. Claus’ catalog The Allure of Toy Ships: American & European Nautical Toys from the 19^th and 20^th Centuries it describes this boat as, “Launched in 1913 as the Hamburg-America liner Vaterland, the ship was renamed Leviathan in 1917 following seizure by the U.S. Navy for is as a troop transport. When put back into trans-Atlantic passenger service by United States Lines, the ship was advertised as the world’s largest ocean liner. Bing often gave their version the US Line’s characteristic red, white, and blue stacks. These series III liners are mostly found nameless and with red and black stacks.”

 

Bing Corp. New York City, New York

1924 – 1935

Founder: John Bing

Spin-off of German firm, Gebruder Bing.

Served as jobber for parent firm with mechanical boats, zeppelins, and steam engines.

 

Gebbruder Bing Nuremberg, Germany

1866 – 1933

Karl Bub; toy trains/Fleischmann; toy boats

Founder: Brothers Ignatius and Adolph Bing

Spring-driven toys

Wide-range of spring-driven, cars, buses ,boats. Perhaps its biggest coup was a line of trains initiated in 1882. Bing went under during the crash of 1929; Karl Bub acquired the toy trains division and Fleischmann the toy boats.