Collectors take die-cast toy seriously
Q. This is a photo of a die-cast toy tractor that I have. I bought a box of toys at a yard sale around 20 years ago, and this was one of the toys in the box. It is red; it measures 5 1/2 inches long by 2 1/2 inches tall; and the tires are black. Marked on the side is the name "Hubley - Kiddie Toy." Other than a little wear to the paint, it is in very good condition.
Is it worth anything?
A. Hubley was founded by John Hubley in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1894. The company made cast-iron bookends and doorstops. In 1909 it began producing toys. In the 1930s, Hubley introduced die-cast toy airplanes, tractors, cars, police motorcycles, trucks, firetrucks and race cars.
Hubley toys are perennial favorites with toy collectors. Your circa-1950 tractor would probably be worth $25 to $50.
Q. This is the mark on the bottom of a green frog planter vase that I bought at a thrift shop 15 years ago. The planter is about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide. There is a small amount of yellow trim on his feet, and there are several leaves on his back with small yellow flowers. My sister-in-law collects frogs, and I would like to have some information about the planter's background to provide when I give it to her.
A. Your frog planter was made by Nelson McCoy Pottery. The company was formed in 1910 in Roseville, Ohio, as Nelson McCoy Sanitation Stoneware Co. It made stoneware and sanitary ware. In the 1930s, the name was changed to Nelson McCoy Pottery Co., and it began to produce decorative wares. Nelson McCoy made several versions of frog planters. The factory closed in 1991.
Your planter was made around 1950 and would probably be worth $25 to $35.
Q. I have a service station glass globe that was originally attached to a gas pump. It is white and has the words "Indian Gas." The letters are blue; there's a dot inside the letter "D" and a large red circle in the center.
What can you tell me about my gas globe?
A. It was used by the Indian Refining Company in the 1920s. The company began in the early 1900s and was taken over by Texaco in 1931. By 1943, Texaco discontinued Indian Refining Company station memorabilia.
Your circa 1920 gas globe would probably be worth $1,500 to $2,000. Similar globes have been seen on the internet as high as $10,000.
• Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she can't answer individual letters.
© 2017, Creators Syndicate