TAP-TAP

Gardener w/ wheelbarrow

Model: 560
Type: People
Topic: Professions / Industrial
Country of manufacture: Germany
Mechanism: Clockwork
Movement: Gardener moves legs, pushing the wheelbarrow
Materials: Tin
Dimensions (LxWxH cm): 16x7x14
Condition: Very Good
Manufactured: 1907 – 1945

Research notes

Represents a gardener, came with a spade (with EPL logo); Pat: USA May 12 (1903); our version seems to be the oldest, makes ref to USA pat 1903 and does not have toy number; other versions have toy number and refer to USA pat Jan 25 (1927); this toy was popular among itinerant vendors; The toy was distributed in multiple color schemes and even customized for advertising and promotional purposes: Yellow Wheelbarrow and a figure wearing a light blue coat (the most, common, ours). Green Wheelbarrow (rare). Seaconnet Coal Edition: An extremely rare version commissioned as an advertising premium for the Seaconnet Coal Company of Rhode Island, USA. Fry's Chocolate Edition: A special edition sold in North America by the Canadian retailer T. Eaton Co., where the wheelbarrow came filled with chocolates from the British brand Fry and Sons (very rare). The name "Tap-Tap" tries to mimic the rapid tapping sound the toy's hard tinplate feet made against the floor as it walked.