Thursday, June 13, 2013

1930s Playskool Pullman

Two years ago, I finally found one of my most longed for toys: the Playskool Pullman, made for a very brief period in the early 1930s. You can read the original post about it here. Recently I found another one, in much better condition, with many of the accessories and details that were missing from my first find.

The pressed steel Pullman playset measures 11 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches, and was designed to resemble both a Pullman train car and a little suitcase. The leather handle made it easy to carry on a real train trip.

Two clear windows allow the little passengers to look outside, while a third window is covered with a decal printed to give the look of frosted glass.




The Pullman opens from the back, revealing  a compartment tucked behind green curtains.



Behind the curtains, a cozy compartment is unveiled, complete with benches and a fold away table. I've fitted it out with a tablecloth and some refreshments for the miniature French doll and Steiff bear travelling inside.




Above the passengers' heads, the sleeping berth is tucked away, ready to be pulled down in the evening.



Here's the berth pulled down, complete with sheets, pillows, and blankets.




To the left of the compartment is a small closet holding a porcelain sink, perfect for freshening up after a long journey.



I also found some old dollhouse sized luggage, perfectly scaled for the Pullman playset. The largest is a cardboard candy container, made in Germany in the early 1900s. The tiny red hat box is also German, while the black tin trunk was made by the Marx company.



All aboard the Playskool Pullman!

9 comments:

  1. That's awesome. I love your site.

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    1. Thank you! Glad you liked it. It's one of my favorite toys.

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  2. I've never seen one of these before. I find your blog so interesting. I love old toys and miniatures.

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    1. Hi Polly,

      If you like miniatures (and bears, which I see you do, from your site) you would really love one of these. They turn up now with some regularity on eBay, and are not nearly as difficult to find (or as pricey) as they once were. Hope you get one for yourself!

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  3. Hi Tracy, I just saw one of these in fair to good condition with the original leather strap. It was missing the seats, ladder and doll but had the cushions, pillows and window coverings. It sold for $120. at the local antique show in Prescott, AZ. I sure liked it but wanted a better price. My loss because it is now owned by somebody else. Love your blog and appreciate all your posts. From: Amy

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    1. Hi Amy,

      Don't feel bad: I would say $120 seems quite high for a Pullman with no seats, which would be very difficult parts to replace. A very nice example just sold on eBay a couple of days ago for only $99, which was the opening bid. Keep looking, and I'm sure you'll find yours. They do turn up on eBay much more frequently now than they used to, and the prices have really fallen. I never thought I would find one, and I've now owned two, and at reasonable prices.

      I hope you find yours soon!

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  4. I lost your blog's url when I had to have my p.c. repaired a few months ago and finally this evening re-traced it ! Have been looking at the posts I have missed and so many wonderful ones, but this is just so magical! Really superb. Thank you for sharing this ~ I have never come across this toy before. So glad I found you again.

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    1. Oh my gosh: thanks so much for your very kind comment! I'm glad you've enjoyed my little blog so much.

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