Solisto

Schuco

Clown in red jacket playing violin

Model: 986/2
Type: People
Topic: Circus & Clowns
Country of manufacture: Germany
Mechanism: Clockwork
Movement: Body vibrates and rotates while right arm plays violin
Materials: Tin, plastic & cloth
Dimensions (LxWxH cm): 7x8x11
Condition: Excellent
Manufactured: 1950 – 1956

Research notes

after 1956 came with a conical hat (rare)

Notes

made in US Zone Germany

Featured in

Bleschspielzeug in Wirtschaftswunder-Land — p. 254
German Tin Toys after 1945 — p. 235
Schuco (catalogue) — p. 133

How it works

In this type of Schuco toys, the clockwork powered mechanism (1) rotates cam (2), which moves the right arm (3) holding the bow. The left arm (4) holding the violin is fixed. Simultaneouly, rotation of the eccentric weight (5) causes the toy to vibrate and turn around.