MUSEUM QUALITY: RARE 1930s J. CHEIN "HERCULES" MECHANICAL FERRIS WHEEL

MUSEUM QUALITY: RARE 1930s J. CHEIN "HERCULES" MECHANICAL FERRIS WHEEL

Private Collection,

1930s WIND-UP TIN LITHO TOY FERRIS WHEEL NO. 172 "HERCULES" BY J. CHEIN & CO NEW YORK AND BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, MADE IN U.S.A.

For every collector, we present one of the most iconic mechanical toys from the early 1930s: the Hercules Ferris Wheel No. 172. Produced by J. Chein & Co., this toy is not just an antique, but a lithographic work of art that captures the joy of the American carnival during the Great Depression. It is a stunning piece of mechanical American that has survived nearly a century in incredible condition.

A brief history,

J. Chein & Company, a significant American tin toy maker from 1903-1980s, started in NYC by Julius Chein making Cracker Jack prizes, then grew in New Jersey, famous for colorful lithographed wind-up mechanical toys, banks (like "Busy Mike"), and carnival rides (Ferris Wheels, Roller Coasters) sold through Woolworth's, becoming highly collectible for its iconic mid-century designs before its eventual sale and asset acquisition. 

Why is the J. Chein "Hercules" So Valuable?

J. Chein & Co. was known as Marx's main competitor in the American toy industry. "Hercules" Series No. 172 is one of the most successful and sought-after figures today due to its impressive size and lithographed graphics that cover nearly every inch of the metal surface—a standard of quality rarely found in modern toys.