The clockwork-powered toy, measuring approximately 24cm long and 16.5cm high, depicts Walt Disney’s famous characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse riding a motorcycle. According to the auction catalogue, the mechanism remained functional and the toy survived in exceptionally original condition, showing only minimal wear. Auctioneers noted that even the tread on the wheels displayed very little use, while the colourful lithographed decoration remained remarkably well preserved. The only significant flaw mentioned was slight corrosion to one side of Minnie Mouse’s head.
Produced in Nuremberg by the German toy manufacturer Tippco, the motorcycle toy is now considered one of the most iconic Disney tinplate toys ever made. The auction house described it as “one of the rarest and certainly the most sought-after lithographed toys made in Germany.”
The toy also carries considerable historical significance. It was manufactured under the direction of Philip Ullmann, a German businessman of Jewish descent who played a major role in Tippco’s success during the late 1920s and early 1930s. However, with the rise of the Nazi regime, toys celebrating American popular culture increasingly fell out of favour. The auction catalogue stated that the motorcycle was criticised for allegedly glorifying America and was regarded by the authorities as a form of “degenerate art.”
Ullmann himself was forced to leave Germany in 1933 and emigrated to England, where he founded the company Mettoy — short for “metal toys.” Mettoy would later become famous for producing high-quality toy vehicles and remained in operation until 1983.
The auction house believed the motorcycle to be one of the very last surviving examples in Europe. The toy reportedly surfaced in France many years ago before entering a private collection, where it remained until the recent sale.
Early Disney character toys from the pre-war period have become increasingly desirable among collectors, particularly those combining rarity, strong provenance, and historical context. Exceptional examples produced in Germany before World War II are especially sought after, and the result achieved by the Tippco motorcycle confirms the continuing strength of the market for important Disney and tinplate toys.
Related
Rare 1930s Steam Boat Willie Fairground Ride Boat Sells for £5,500 at Auction
