Vintage Mixed Lot of 8 Pre-War & WWII Tootsietoy Diecast Metal Toy Boats, Ships, & Submarine
Up for auction or buy it now is a highly collectible vintage estate lot of 8 original Tootsietoy die-cast metal toy boats [27144.jpg]. Produced by the Dowst Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, these iconic pre-war and WWII-era miniature vessels represent some of the most classic American die-cast toys ever produced [27146.jpg, 27150.jpg]. This collection includes a variety of naval ships, merchant liners, and a submarine, making it a stellar addition to any vintage toy collection, military miniature display, or historical diorama layout [27144.jpg, 27146.jpg].
Product Details & Inventory Breakdown
This 8-piece fleet consists of the following vintage die-cast models [27144.jpg]:
2 Large Naval Battleships / Cruisers: Measuring as the largest ships in the lot, these grey vessels feature painted red funnels/smokestacks and open cargo holds [27145.jpg].
1 Large Ocean Liner / Merchant Cargo Ship: A long grey vessel equipped with tall masts and a dark red hull bottom [27145.jpg, 27146.jpg].
2 Slender Destroyer / Patrol Boats: Sleek, narrow dark grey military ships accented with small molded guns and superstructures [27145.jpg].
2 White Ocean Liners / Passenger Ships: Smaller, charming cream-white commercial liners featuring red hulls and blue/black smokestack details [27145.jpg].
1 Fleet Submarine: A sleek, pointed submarine detailed with a conning tower, a deck gun, and a distinct red-and-grey split paint scheme [27145.jpg, 27146.jpg].
Underbelly Stampings & Authenticity
The hollow-cast undersides of these historic ships retain their original factory markings, validating them as true vintage releases [27149.jpg, 27150.jpg, 27152.jpg]:
Several hulls feature the classic raised block text: "TOOTSIETOY - MADE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" [27150.jpg, 27152.jpg].
The larger battleships are cleanly stamped internally with: "MADE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" [27149.jpg].
Select vessels still retain their original small metal structural wheel axles inside the underbelly channel [27156.jpg].
Condition Report
This 80+ year-old toy fleet has survived decades of storage in solid vintage condition [27144.jpg, 27146.jpg]:
Paint Profile: Widespread, honest paint chipping, surface scuffing, and finish thinning are present across the lot from decades of play wear and handling [27145.jpg, 27146.jpg]. This exposes the natural dark grey lead-alloy metal underneath, giving the fleet a beautiful, authentic antique patina [27145.jpg, 27146.jpg].
Structural Integrity: All 8 hulls are physically sound and completely free of major structural cracks or breaks [27145.jpg, 27146.jpg]. The delicate masts on the grey cargo ship are completely straight and intact [27145.jpg].
Axles & Wheels: While some underbelly axle mounts are empty, select ships still include their original metal wheels and tiny axles, which show typical oxidation from age [27156.jpg].
Please Note: Please examine all provided high-resolution images carefully—from the full fleet alignment in 27144.jpg to the explicit underbelly manufacturer hallmarks shown in 27150.jpg and 27152.jpg—to thoroughly evaluate the condition of this vintage Tootsietoy collection before placing your bid or purchase.