Thursday, June 3, 2010

ZEPPELIN TIN TOY

ZeppelinQ: My husband received this toy zeppelin when he was a young boy. It's probably at least 65 years old. The box is in good condition and the wording on it says, "No. 2017, Strauss Flying Zeppelin." The price on the back of the box is 48 cents. Can you tell me anything about it and what it's worth?

A: Ferdinand Strauss was an importer in the early 1900s. He started his own toy company in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1914 when the outbreak of World War I in Europe made it impossible to import toys from Germany. The company was known for its mechanical tin toys. Zeppelins, the first rigid airships, were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Strauss was granted patents for its toy zeppelins in 1926. Strauss was in business until 1942. Value of your toy and its original box, about $400-$500.

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