MICKEY TIPPCO MOTO

 Mickey and Minnie Riding a Motorcycle, a mythical 1930s Toy by Tippco

Produced by the german company Tipp Co this is known as the five-fingered Mickey Model, because like many early Mickey spin-offs, the manufactureres did not pay close attention to the animator's choice of only four digits perhand for their famous creation.

The Mickey motorcyclist is regarded as one of the rarest Disney related toys, Tipp & Co did not produced it in large numbers and only ahandful are thought to have survived.

This mechanical toy made of lithographed metal sheets belongs to the second period of production of toy motorcycles, which runs from 1910 to 1940. These years following the forerunners in the field that are the small French workshops like Charles Rossignol or Fernand Martin, are dominated by the huge production of German firms (mainly located in Nuremberg and its area). In 1910, the first motorcycle toy has been produced by  Ernst Paul Lehmann and Günthermann, both housed in Germany. They have been widely loved by the kids, thanks to the simple and robust mechanisms that animated them and, above all, the quality of the chromolithography which decorated them. This is particularly obvious on this Tippco bike, where all engine details, gear lever, carburetor and handbrake are artistically drawn. The tires marked « Dunlop » do not necessarily indicate that a partnership has been concluded with the manufacturer. The beginnings of the fame of Disney and its licensed toys, the worldwide enthusiasm around Walt Disney's creations, begins in 1928, with the release of the gorgeous black and white "Steamboat Willie" motion picture.  Mickey was born officially in 1931. This T.C.O. motorcycle driving by Mickey dates from 1935, built in lithographed sheet and equipped with a  strong clockwork mechanism.

 It was produced probably during a short period from 1935 up to 1939, after the departure of Philippe Ullmann, co-founder of TCO., and without the permission of Disney. Actually, numerous of toys drawn from stories and films have been produced without permission of the artists in these early years.

This view of the underside of the motorcycle shows us the ingenious work of the sheet metal, the toy being made up of two metal plates shaped after printing, setting up the spring which is a steel blade spirally wound and locked between two shapes. Finally the tongue of metal turned down that seal the whole. One notices the thin metal tongue that draws Mickey's arm connected to the handlebars of the motorcycle. Two small wheels give the stability to the moving motorcycle, once animated with the side key.

It can not be simpler and more efficient!

Manufacturing toy motorcycles  (1910-1940)

The evolution of the metal toy dates from the day when the manufacturers found the process of decorating  metal  by printing. The tinplate used in the manufacture of the mechanical toy is laminated into very thin blades. Iron, which can be manufactured or recycled from used packaging (This business occupied a large number of   street dealers of Paris , and it is not unusual to discover a commercial  ad by dismantling an iron toy of that period!). The metal is first cut with the shears into pieces of equal size which are carried to the presses. There they are stamped, folded, drilled, cambered, all mechanically. Still remains, indeed, the motor that will give life and movement. What is he doing? A steel spring 10 inches long, medium length, a key, a few gears, pinions and cleats. The engine provided with its key is finally inserted in its small tin box.

Assembly of toy motorcycles

The tooling has a small hammer, a sharp punch, a tiny anvil. All or almost all parts are stapled, allowing the least possible use of welds and saving time. At the time of the cutting of the plates, small pieces of metal are stored on the sides of the pieces. Each tongue corresponds to either a notch or a hole in the metal. It is simply a matter of inserting this tongue into the hole and folding it back.

What means TIPPCO  

T.C.O. (Tippco) was founded in 1912 by Miss Tipp and Mr Carstens (who left the firm in 1919). Philippe Ullmann came later to run the manufacture alone as of 1918.  The Production then developed considerably under his management and in 1930 a  wide range of toy cars, racing cars, and motorcycles was successfully produced and exported worldwide. The production of TIPPCO was distributed mainly by the noted toy wholesaler Kohnstam. The boss of T.C.O. left Germany in 1933 and emigrated to England where he created the toy brand Mettoy. He made copies of TCO toys at the beginning, using the german moulds, before creating a new  Mettoy range. After 1945, TIPPCO took over under the supervision of son Henry Ullmann until its definitive closure in 1971. This period after 1945 provides a very wide range of beautiful toy motorcycles, some of them with side-cars made of sheet  metal Printed and equipmechanisms. The motorcycle "Mickey" has be removed  from the catalog of Tippco after 1945.

Photos: Courtesy of BERTOIA  AUCTIONS

Story by Pasky

Email the author at paskytoy@orange.fr