Wind Up Toys

Wind-up mechanisms were first seen in the 15th century. They were designed by Karl Grod, a German inventor whose creations included a unique mechanical fly and eagle. In 1509, Leonardo da Vinci created a wind-up lion as a greeting for Louis XII, King of France when he visited Italy. In early times, mechanical wind-up toys were made only for royalty, as they were highly elaborate and highly expensive.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, large scale and toy-size automaton figures were created. They used wind-up motors to produce lifelike motions in carved figures, bisque dolls, and early carved or metal toys. After large-scale automatons went out of vogue, wind-up toys were created during the early stages of the 18th century throughout Germany and various regions of Europe.

During the later part of the 1800s, numerous European toy makers began creating and mass producing some of the first wind-up tin toys ever made. This eventually created a large influx into America during the Industrial Revolution, which garnered hundreds and even thousands of makers over the next 150 years of toy production history.

Quick Facts

• A rare Marklin wind-up mechanical side-wheeler “Chicago” toy boat sold at Bertoia Auctions in November 2012 for $264,500
• With the introduction of battery-operated toys in the ‘50s, the demise of wind-up mechanical toys was inevitable
• René Descartes, a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist built several automata figures, including a wind-up human girl. The girl automata was discovered while Descartes was on a ship to Sweden. Appalled, the ship’s captain ordered the philosopher thrown overboard