Antique all original bells pull toy that depicts a soldier and sailor figure. That is why the toy is called the soldier and sailor bell toy. This toy measures 9 1/2″ long is 6 3/4″ high and 3″ wide. Notice as the child would pull the toy this causes the sailor and soldier to rock back and forth and ring the bells on the toy. What fun a child would have pulling this toy to hear it ‘Ring’! This toy is referenced in the antique Toys reference book by Richard Friz – Fifth Edition. Don’t miss adding this toy to your antique toy collections.
Some history on the Watrous Manufacturing Toy Company – David Watson Watrous in 1865 created D. W. Watrous & Company, which later became Watrous Manufacturing Company. The company created sleigh bells, bell toys, and in its early days they made casket trimmings. D. W. Watrous was also the town undertaker. Watrous Mfg. Co. had been making bell toys for over forty years according to a 1918 ad. D. W. died in 1918 and his son John Lazarus ran the company till his passing in 1923 and the company stock was then sold to Gong Bell Manufacturing Company. The Watrous Mfg. Co. was dissolved in 1927.
