Attributed to Mohr & Krauss, Nuremberg — early German tinpla...
Attributed to Mohr & Krauss, Nuremberg — early German tinplate Zeppelin flying carousel / steam-engine accessory, circa 1910, an unusually decorative early 20th-century German painted tinplate Fliegerkarussell or Zeppelin carousel, attributed to Mohr & Krauss of Nuremberg, designed as an Antriebsmodell for operation from a stationary toy steam engine and also capable of manual operation by its side-mounted hand wheel, model is constructed around a tall red-painted pressed-tin base and open lattice tower supporting a rotating wire carousel framework, suspended from the outer ring are three individually coloured tinplate airships or dirigibles, finished respectively in blue, cream and yellow, each with ribbed body, pointed nose, suspended gondola, stabilising fins and multi-bladed propeller, decorative pressed-tin flag silhouettes are arranged around the upper rotating framework, substantial spoked hand wheel mounted to the lattice tower provides manual drive and would also permit the mechanism to be coupled by belt to a model steam engine, characteristic of German Antriebsmodelle made to demonstrate mechanical power, the whole is surmounted by a small American flag, (flag being a later replacement and not original to the toy), base diameter approximately 110 mm; overall width approximately 180 mm; overall height approximately 370 mm.* Literature: The surviving painted surface displays extensive but attractive age-related wear, including losses, rubbing, oxidation and flaking, particularly to the suspended aircraft, framework and red base, consistent with prolonged use and the age of the piece. Importantly, the carousel retains its three airships, propellers, suspension system and drive mechanism and is reported to be fully functional both by hand and as a steam-engine accessory.
[ translate ]Attributed to Mohr & Krauss, Nuremberg — early German tinplate Zeppelin flying carousel / steam-engine accessory, circa 1910, an unusually decorative early 20th-century German painted tinplate Fliegerkarussell or Zeppelin carousel, attributed to Mohr & Krauss of Nuremberg, designed as an Antriebsmodell for operation from a stationary toy steam engine and also capable of manual operation by its side-mounted hand wheel, model is constructed around a tall red-painted pressed-tin base and open lattice tower supporting a rotating wire carousel framework, suspended from the outer ring are three individually coloured tinplate airships or dirigibles, finished respectively in blue, cream and yellow, each with ribbed body, pointed nose, suspended gondola, stabilising fins and multi-bladed propeller, decorative pressed-tin flag silhouettes are arranged around the upper rotating framework, substantial spoked hand wheel mounted to the lattice tower provides manual drive and would also permit the mechanism to be coupled by belt to a model steam engine, characteristic of German Antriebsmodelle made to demonstrate mechanical power, the whole is surmounted by a small American flag, (flag being a later replacement and not original to the toy), base diameter approximately 110 mm; overall width approximately 180 mm; overall height approximately 370 mm.* Literature: The surviving painted surface displays extensive but attractive age-related wear, including losses, rubbing, oxidation and flaking, particularly to the suspended aircraft, framework and red base, consistent with prolonged use and the age of the piece. Importantly, the carousel retains its three airships, propellers, suspension system and drive mechanism and is reported to be fully functional both by hand and as a steam-engine accessory.
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