James Fallows Antique Tin Train 1800’s American Tin “Mikado” *SOLD*

James Fallows Antique Tin Train For Sale- 1800’s American Tin”Mikado” Train

Our incredible James Fallows train is museum worthy.  This set with engine labeled the “Mikado” was found in the Dakotas and very well preserved with the cool and relatively dry climate.  Paintwork is bright and the toy is all original.

The engine and tender measure approximately 12″ in length coupled.  The overall train is about 28″ in length yet light weight; it includes the train, tender, and two “Central R.R.” cars.

Note the hole on the American style cow catcher at front for a string.  In real life, this cow catcher would push away objects in the track.

Fallows pattented this sheet metal design around 1883 and then made these thin tin toys in Philadelphia, PA.  Our example is a rare survivor with its delicate stack, hand soldiered couplers, and hand painted & stenciled design.  One coupler is missing and one train car side is loose (soldiered line popped loose ages ago).

Paintwork is extremely bright.  Condition is very good, if not excellent, as the toy is about 130 years old!

This is a new to market, rare, and desirable American tin train.  It may be one of the finest still in existence in all original condition. Note the tender marked “IXL”, possibly a play on “I Excel” at making toys….

James Fallows & Sons Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1870 to late 1800’s est.
Organized under name “C.B. Porter Company. In 1894, name was changed to Frederick & Henry Fallows Toys.
Firm began carrying his name about 1880. Principals were James Fallows and his sons, Henry, Charles, and David.
Specialty: Painted and stenciled tin horse-drawn, wheeled vehicles, trains, and river boats. Highly prized toys often carried marlk “IXL”, said to be based on word-play “I Excell”. (Some feel that it signifies the date of Fallows` arrival in Philadelphia from the old country.) Fallows` demise coincided with the advent of lithographed tin toys in the 1880s.

Mikado– Borrowed from Japanese 御門 (mikado), from 御 (mi, “honorable”) + 門 (kado, “gate, portal”).