MOBOTOYS
museum of battery operated toys
General Information
The Spin Zone
Pivot Exhibits (can you figure out the connection?)
TBD
TBD
This early 1950s Battery Operated musical toy is very appropriately named as he is indeed a xylophone with a baby face that walks. If we add "with moving eyes and mallet" we would have both a title and a complete description.
This little fellow is imported from China and is from an era when China was first entering the global battery operated toy market competing directly against Japanese, German, and USA toy makers. The quality is surprisingly high and the mechanism well engineered and manufactured. We assume while building manufacturing capability, the government was worried less about profit margins and more about making products to compete in the global market (good for toys like this). Later as profit margins took priority the designs and materials used went downhill by using cheaper components and very thin (and sharp) metal. Regardless, this excellent xylophone with a baby face is quite the performer. The two drive wheels are attached to his feet to give the appearance of walking. While his mallet hand does move, it does not actually hit the (real) xylophone bars. This clever guy does have a set of hammers inside that DO strike the bars and produce a nice little melody.
To round out the performance both eyes move left and right to really bring this toy "to life". Like we mentioned earlier, this is a high quality toy from China that is easy to like. Well done China, now about those toys you made in the 1970s and 80s...
Exhibit 1382
Walking Baby Faced Xylophone
Specifications
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Manufactured by: Unknown
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Country of Mfg: China
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Circa: Late early-mid 1950s (?)
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Scale: n/a
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Battery # / Type: 2 / D cell (UM-1)
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Dimensions (L x W x H): 20.8 x 10.9 x 16.4 cm
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Dimensions (L x W x H) 8.2 x 4.3 x 6.5 in
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Weight: 537grams
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Weight: 1 lb, 2.9 oz.
Actions
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Forward (walking) motion
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Feet move
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Hands Move
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Plays Music (by really hitting the bars from inside)
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Steering left and right (wheel in back)
Mass Appeal
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Popularity: 2/5 (Appealing)
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Scarcity: 3/5 (Rare), not many made in China toys were saved
Noteworthy
We believe the art designers for the lithography (paint) on this toy really captured "the look and feel" of a character that you just want to be play with.
Some Assembly Required
How It Works
The good news is this toy did not require disassembly (there was nothing to repair). The bad news is this toy did not require assembly so we have no idea how it works, since it is from China in the 1950s we think it is coal powered.
Did you know...
There was a period of time between the end of World War 2 (pause for a moment of silence) and the 1960s when China made surprisingly high quality toys as they entered the market. As with all things, profit margins and market demands squeezed the quality right out, but for a moment in time we got great toys like this one.
Notes from Restoration Shop...
Arrived in very good condition. Performed light cleaning, polish and wax. Plastic / rubber was treated to prevent/slow further drying.
Overall
Battery Box
Metal
Paint / Litho
Rubber / Plastic
C-7
C-8
C-9
C-7
C-7
An easy C-7+
Discoloration inside is normal for China metal aging
No dents or corrosion
Nicks and scratches, rub marks on chin are noticeable
Nose has small dent and small crack, Hands are good.
About this (particular) Toy
Last known "home" location
Grading
This toy was obtained from eBay in October 2020.
It arrived in Excellent (C-8) condition and only required a light cleaning and treatment in the preservation shop before moving onto the photo studio.
While this toy is 95% made of metal the hands and head are made of plastic, rubber, and doll hair. Speaking of the doll hair on the doll head. Research shows that in addition to this auburn hair doll head there is a blonde haired version also. All seen to date appear to have the same color scheme and pattern in the lithography.
Original: Parts 100%
No missing parts
Functionality 100%
All actions works like new
