Description: Despite the fact that this toy is almost identical to the Lehmann performing sea-lion- (of which there are 100s if not 1000s still in circulation), everything about it shouts Gunthermann. It is a significantly more substantial toy...and older.. I am guessing that it is in such good cosmetic condition with the motor and bellows still workng because it was dropped at some time in its early history so as to detach the starboard flipper from the body (as also evidenced by a bit of a dent in the underside of the body). The joints of the tail and the flippers are articulated to move in the same way as the Lehmann seal-lion (which is patented at least of 1902). The dark spots are characteristic of both toys' paintwork. However this toy is significantly bigger and rides on a carriage with cast metal wheels and also has a bellows mechanism. One arm/flipper (starboard side, as shown) is not attached at the body (although the flipper is connected/threaded and kept in place via an operating-wire to the mechanism along its lower surface - as can be seen from the underneath view) and I have tied it securely on for the purpose of display, with a piece of very fine copper wire as shown. And - as one can see it works - although temperamentally. The tail wags from side to side as the articulated flippers move as it rolls along. However, it does not work well as it is shown i.e. with wire attaching the flipper to the body. ((because, as it is, the flipper is tied to a linkage between wheel and flipper - it needs a better fix, which is easy, but very fiddly, if it is to be used with the flipper attached.) ( It is so similar to the Lehmann seal (which appears in the 1902 Gamages catalogue) that one might suggest that it is an earlier version or prototype made by Lehmann. However the soldered construction, deep pressed, thin steel, is typical of Gunthermann. The body without its tail flipper is the same length as the total length of the Lehmann sealion (7.5 inches). The body is bigger. This would make a unique display together and next to the smaller and more common Lehmann sealion. (I have included in the last three pictures images of the Lehmann seal-lion purely for comparison, the Lehmann toy is not included in this sale)[at any given time there is always a Lehmann sea-lion for sale on ebay but I have never seen one of these puppies] Please note in the EU that ebay stipulate that buyers are responsible for all costs related to import. Track Page Views With Auctiva's Counter
Price: 695 GBP
Location: Stockport
End Time: 2025-01-18T14:03:13.000Z
Shipping Cost: 24.46 GBP
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Item Specifics
Return postage will be paid by: Buyer
Returns Accepted: Returns Accepted
After receiving the item, your buyer should cancel the purchase within: 30 days
Return policy details:
Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
Subtype: Clockwork/ Wind-Up
Vintage: Yes
