Vintage Tin Toys

These two tin toys were made by the Alps (Shojo Ltd) company of Japan. The company was founded in 1948, and made a lot of toys in the past, although we are not sure if they are still making toys. Twenty years ago they were especially well known for their tin toys and automata, sometimes battery powered and sometimes clockwork.

These two automated characters look like replicas of Victorian toys. Maybe two backwoodsmen? When you start them up, the actions are slow and deliberate. One reads his book, head turning slightly from side to side, with an occasional pause as he takes a puff on his pipe; the other takes a drink from the bottle he holds in his hand, and he then moves his axe slightly, as if he is getting ready to do some work. But no, work can wait, and he takes another drink from his bottle.