J. Chein & Co. No. 275 Mechanical Tin Lithographed Windup Roller Coaster in Box *SOLD*

J. Chein & Co. No. 275 Mechanical Tin Lithographed Windup Roller Coaster in Box

We have for you a tin lithographed no. 275 windup mechanical roller coaster manufactured by J. Chein & Co. out of their Burlington, NJ factory.

This piece is in excellent condition and if that wasn’t impressive enough it comes with its original box that is also in great condition. When you turn the dedicated windup key a few times the hypnowheel begins to spin and the bell rings as the conveyor belt begins to lift the small cars up to the top of the roller coaster. Once at the top, the cars zoom down the tracks and back to the lift. The conveyor belt on the lift was dry rotted so we did have it professionally replaced so that everything works as it should. The windup mechanism is strong and everything works as it should.

Our example of this piece is in excellent all original condition with no repairs, breaks or touch ups other than the restoration of the conveyor belt. The lithos are in excellent overall condition with the usual dust, patina, scratches, surface rust, scuffs and chips that are seen with age and display. It is approximately 19 ¾” L x 9 ¼” H. This delightful toy with its fun and bright lithos is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face and would be a great addition to anyone’s antique and vintage toy collection. We encourage you to examine the photographs to further determine condition and quality.

A brief history of J. Chein and Company:

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. Chein’s tin toys were mostly lithographed. Chein`s line of comic and circus tin toys received wide acceptance in the 1930’s and leading up to World War II.

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

In 1979, toy manufacturing was phased out entirely. Then in the late 1980’s, Chein Industries, Inc. was sold to the Atlantic Can Company, who 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 then purchased by Ellisco, In. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was a division of CSS Industries, Inc. In 1994, CSS then sold Ellisco to the U.S. Can Company of Baltimore, Maryland, who continues to produce stamped metal products.