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Home , Clarabelle Cow, Plane Crazy, Steamboat Willie, The Wise Little Hen

1 1. A 1960s “ Cut-Out Theatre” starring , £18. 2. The 1930s Wells-Brimtoy “Mickey Mouse Handcar”. A Brimtoy catalogue photograph of the firm’s clockwork track-toy, £200. 3. Mickey on a 1930s French picture postcard, £10. 4. A well-illustrated Mickey Mouse Song book from the 1930s , £25. 5. Some of the Disney “” characters on Movie-Jector special film, value unknown. 6. “The Mickey Mouse Movie-Jector” dating from 1930. Uses special film and reproduces sound too. A rarity, value unknown. 7. A Mickey Mouse 1930s alarm clock, £450.

3 Mickey and Friends by Jack Tempest with price guide

When it comes to animated cartoon entertain- known of Mickey’s cinematic singing of his see the very first ment and amusing toys there is only really one rather uncomplimentary anti-Nazi song “Der sound picture, “The Mickey – Mickey Mouse, of course! Führer’s Face”. Many an American bomber Jazz Singer”, featur- attacking German cities was colourfully deco- ing the singer Al 2 rated with the image of Mickey’s smiling face Jolson. He made sure and, indeed, the Allies’ code-word used for the that his next Mickey D-Day offensive was “Mickey Mouse”! Mouse cartoon film Children’s rubber gas-masks included exam- would be a ‘talkie’. This was his successful ples fitted with “Mickey Mouse Ears” and “” in which him- were handed out during the Second World self provided Mickey’s squeaky voice – and War, but still managed to look forbidding. continued to speak for the mouse in following More attractive were the colourful Mickey productions. Mouse canisters for standard issue gas-masks Disney eventually introduced his “Silly made by the Paton, Calvert & Co’s Symphony” cartoon series and many new “Happynak” firm directly opposite the famous characters took their bow, including Horace Binns Road “Meccano” factory The first appearance of the merry mouse creat- on Binns Road in Liverpool. 4 ed by Walt Disney took place in 1928, which Officially, civilian gas-masks makes Mickey Mouse a very senior citizen came in cardboard boxes fitted today. Thankfully, he has retained his youthful with a carrying string. People appearance although he rarely appears as a generally preferred to buy deco- movie star these days – his last film appear- rative fabric or leatherette cov- ances were in the Disney movie “Mickey’s ers in which the cardboard box Christmas Carol” (1983) and in the second could be placed. These were “Fantasia” (2000) production where he repeat- fashionably common and ed his act as the famous Sorcerer’s Apprentice helped brighten up the drab to the classical music composed by Dukas. existence of wartime Britain. The Mouse also made a brief appearance in the Metal canisters of various “” (1988) movie colours and designs, including and in a number of made-for-TV shows. the Mickey Mouse example, So are the Disney Studios ‘taking the Mickey’ could be purchased but were out of their famous mouse? Certainly not! later to be discontinued when a Presumably they recognise their chief animat- problem with condensation ed character’s success across the years and affecting the masks was eventu- have simply retired him, but continue to use ally discovered. him as a company figurehead, commemorat- ing his past successes by naming their success- Walt Disney’s first Mickey ful theme parks after the friendly mouse. Mouse movie was entitled Everyone knows Mickey Mouse, it seems! “” and was fol- Even dictator Adolf Hitler knew of Mickey lowed by “Gallopin’ Gaucho”. Mouse – and detested him, as one might well They were silent films then, of expect of such a person! course, but Walt Disney was Not surprising, really, as Adolf must have very impressed when he went to

ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 05 Horsecollar, and and, of recently offered at £65. It was a little scratchy, course, Mickey had his Minnie. The “Silly didn’t work, and had one half of its wrist-band Symphony” cartoon “The Wise Little Hen”, missing. It sold, probably because of its condi- released on June 9 1934, saw the first appear- tion, for less than the asking price. Another ance of Donald Duck, whose fiery temper Ingersoll pocket watch realised £440 in auc- endeared him to his audiences. By the 1940s tion. Donald Duck had surpassed Mickey Mouse in terms of the number of cartoons reaching the 6 cinemas. Donald also appeared in a number of others movies alongside Mickey Mouse, Goofy German Mickey organ grinder, with clock- and . work mechanism, as Mickey plays Minnie It was Donald Duck’s acceptance by film audi- dances on top, prob. by Distler, c1931, ences that tended to gradually push the mild 15cm long. Bristol Auction Rooms, Bristol. mannered Mickey Mouse out of the picture. Apr 02. £3,200. The cantankerous Duck’s bad-tempered dis- plays fired the audiences’ interest in a way in which Mickey, seen as too much of a ‘goodie- Taking a tour around the shows and fairs, one goodie’, was unable to compete. The trend sees plenty of more recent Mickey Mouse towards wilder characters began to show up in memorabilia priced at around £10 to £20. A most other movie cartoons – the evil character 1930s tinplate Mickey Mouse organ grinder dominating the scene until he invariably loses toy which should have had the figure of Minnie out. The non-Disney “Tom and Jerry” cat and dancing on top was priced at £450 at one fair. Wells Brimtoy ‘Mickey Mouse Handcar’ mouse cartoons are typically popular through Had it been complete with Minnie’s figure and set, 1930s, clockwork handcar, circle of track and 2 tunnels. Richard Winterton following this formula. in working order, this German Distler toy Auctioneers, Burton on Trent, Staffs. However, Mickey Mouse associated toys and would have probably sold for around £1,000 or Jul 04. £580. general memorabilia are still very collectable, maybe more. At another recent show two even though the animated Mickey rarely makes boxed Pelham Puppets sold for £100. The 1943 an appearance on-screen today. The other of music sheet that upset Hitler for Mickey’s the Disney cartoon personalities are also col- famous song “Der Führer’s Face” went for lectable and all are still well-produced today. £1,750 in auction. Such articles are collected because of interest, but also because they may well be the antiques 7 of the future. Wells O’London No 99 Mickey Mouse handcar, with Donald and Mickey operat- ing the clockwork handcar, 6 sections of track. Cheffins, Cambridge. Sep 01. £550.

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The Disney Studios have always insisted that their cartoon figures, toys and ornaments, be legally licensed by their makers, but illegal Rocking Mickey Mouse, painted wood, examples have always managed to make an wrought iron hangers, wood stand, 35in long, 25in high, c1930. Andrew Hartley, appearance from time to time, particularly Ilkley. Mar 03. £280. from manufacturers in the Far East. These would soon be dealt with by the company but some collectors do not particularly object to including such items in their collections. A recently discovered “Movie-Jector”, pro- Manufacturers soon realised the interest in duced by in the Mickey Mouse and other popular Disney char- 1930s, was an ingenious animated ‘magic acters and one of them, the American Lionel lantern’ which added sound to vision by the Company, makers of model railways, owed its instrument’s integral gramophone mechanism. continuing existence to the launch of their tin- The special records with the projector were all Deans velveteen Mickey and Minnie plate toy ‘hand-pumped’ railway truck. The in unplayable condition but marked with their mouse, c1934, 34cm/32cm, (no tails) and an acrylic fur Mickey, 47cm. Gorringes, characters doing the ‘pumping’ were none original labels. Maybe perfect records will one Lewes. Mar 01. £210. other than Minnie and Mickey Mouse. The day be discovered, but its unknown value so far popularity of the toy saved the company from will be solely as an interesting museum-piece. impending receivership and Lionel continues to be in business to this very day. Further Mickey Mouse information: Mickey Mouse watches, in wrist and pocket forms, are amongst the most sought-after col- www.collectorcafe.com lectables, as are Mickey Mouse clocks. The American Ingersoll Watch Company produced www.worldcollectorsnet.com many examples and they are valued according 1930s Deans black and white velvet to condition and whether or not they still work. www.otherlandtoys.co.uk Mickey Mouse, boot button eyes, printed A neglected example on a toy fair stall was teeth, flat felt hands and ears, 6in. (tail missing). Gorringes, Lewes. Jul 00. £130.

ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 05