Date: ca. 1952
Country of Origin: United States of America
Dimensions:
Overall: 2 1/2 x 4in. (6.4 x 10.2cm)
Other (box): 2 1/2 x 8 3/4 x 4in. (6.4 x 22.2 x 10.2cm)
Materials:
Rocket ship, probably tin; wheels (2), rubber; box, original, cardboard
This friction-operated toy "Space Rocket Ship" is an example of the space-themed tin toys that were popular in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. Although Japanese-made tin toys came to dominate the American tin toy market, this particular toy, which dates to 1952, was manufactured by the Automatic Toy Company of Staten Island, New York. Its box advertised that it could "shoot sparks as it speeds along."
Collector Michael O'Harro donated the Space Rocket Ship to the Museum in 1993.
Gift of Michael O'Harro
