One week to go! Election Day! Will we see Happy Days? Oh my.
Why don't we avoid the topic? Let us look the other way!
In 1903, Julius Chein opened his modest, new business in a New York City loft—initially making printed metal toys to be included as the "prize" in a box of Cracker Jack. His focus was lithographed tin, though, for the first four years of business, Chein had to outsource his metal printing. Business succeeded and, by 1907, Chein could afford to open his own metal printing plant in Harrison, New Jersey.
J. Chein & Company made all manner of toys and novelties of lithographed metal: piggybanks, tambourines, rattles, & other noisemakers, scale trucks & automobiles, wind-up toys and toys inspired by circuses and amusement parks. He was licensed to produce products for Disney and King Features Syndicate (like Popeye, Blondie, and Flash Gordon). Later, Chein made products for the Peanuts comic strips.
During World War II, J. Chein turned its efforts to military production, specifically the nose cones and tail assemblies for bombs and incendiary devices.
After the War, J. Chein enjoyed a successful post-war boom. However this success was short-lived. Cheaper Japanese imports were difficult to compete with. And improved safety standards for children's products frowned-upon the sharp edges often found on cheap metal toys. And plastic was quickly becoming the material of choice for modern, post-war toys. For a while, J. Chein & Company had some success making kitchen canister sets, wastebaskets and other housewares. They also produced the anatomical plastic model known as The Invisible Man (and Woman).
The bank shown above, made in the Fifties, represents the heyday of J. Chein & Company. Its barrel-form shape is lithograph-printed with woodgrain staves, horizontal banding, and the words "Happy Days Bank." Click on the photo to learn more about it.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248