newbie needs assistance...

[ray59]

Hi everyone,

I just found this site and am kind of overwhelmed by all the forums and blogs it encompasses. Was wondering if someone with more experience might be able to point me in the right direction for the info I am seeking?

I've always loved the style of early (1960s and earlier) dinosaur toys and models. A couple years ago, I purchased a "vintage dinosaur" toy at an online auction and I am now trying to identify when it was made. Is there a forum for visual identification of early and really strange-looking dinosaur toys?

Briefly -- this thing appears to be made of some type of early plastic like bakolite, then hand painted with seprately applied individual teeth. It is about a foot tall and very primitive and strange looking. Sort of T-Rex like.

It evokes a feeling of something that might have come out of a 19th century museum diorama, but I'm sure it is not anywhere near that old -- I'm guessing 1940s or 1950s. Sculpture appears to have been formed as a single casting, possibly using a vac-u-form process. The feel of the plastic is kind of like a 1950s suitcase (many of which were vac-u-formed).

Anyway, is there a good photo reference somewhere for odd dinosaur statuary of this type? Any info much appreciated. I've always been interested in old dinosaur toys but have never seen anything quite like this puppy I am attempting to describe.

thanks, Ray

[deanm]

Hi Ray;

The best thing to do may be to post a photo (worth the proverbial 1000 words (if you are using the inperial standard 1100 metric )). There are a number of very knowledgable collectors on the forum.

[Dan]

www.dinosaurcollector.150m.com/

[tomhet]

I agree, a pic would be best, there are hundreds that could fit that description.

[Dinotoyforum]

dinotoyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=toys

I agree - posting a pic in the dinosaur toys forum would be best: dinotoyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=toys

[ray59]

Thanks all...I wasn't sure where/how to post a picture on this site. I have no photos of this toy but I will take some today and try to have them up within 24 hours. One odd thing about the model is that it has a kind of paper-mache look to it (although I think it is a type of rigid plastic).

It looks primitive/folksy enough to be hand-made, but the level of detail on close inspection leads me to believe it is not a one-off creation.

Pics coming soon. Thanks again!

- Ray

[ray59]

Just took some digital pics of this weird-looking dinosaur toy I am hoping someone can identify. However it is not obvious to me how to upload them to this site. I tried the "HELP" feature but did not find anything about images.

I do not have a website of my own so I cannot simply display a URL link in my post. I have to find a way to host the images here. Can anyone advise?

thanks, Ray

[Dinotoyforum]

dinotoyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=feetback&action=display&thread=126

[ray59]

Thanks for the info on posting a picture. Hopefully my images are now attached to this message. Can anyone tell me who made this model and when they were produced?

It is fairly big - about a foot or so tall. The body is hollow like a blow mold casting, but the material is some sort of very rigid and I am guessing brittle plastic. The body is all one casting and the teeth are separately applied (individually).

The finish looks to me like professional air brushing.

Kind of a homely creature - but it grows on you! Any thoughts/comments as to its origins appreciated.

best, Ray59

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

It almost looks like he is made of wood or something....


Could it be an "orsenegio" or something?

[ray59]

Thanks for replying. I never thought about the possibility of it being some type of wood, because I always assumed this was a mass-produced toy and not a unique sculpture. But I could be wrong about that.

It does very much have the feel of, for example, hollow wooden morrocas (sp?) I once received in the early 70s as a souvenir from Mexico.

After reading your post I handled it again and am no longer sure it is a casting. There is some evidence at the bottom of the feet that the outer skin is wrapped over a body core almost like fiberglass would be. However it is done in a way that is seamless, save for possibly at the underside of each foot.

I also noticed that in addition to the individually attached teeth, the dark eyes you see in the photo are also hand-inlayed and are either glass or a different type of smooth/shiny plastic.

If this was NOT a mass produced toy (i.e. it is an original sculpture and not a casting)...I will probably never learn when it was made or by whom... (sigh)

[therizinosaurus]

Sorry I can't offer any insight, but I absolutely love him!
Maybe you could email Randy Knol and ask him.

[stoneage]

I don't know what it is but it looks like it is in good shape. I'd hang on to it because it could be valuable. Demarco might be another person who might know something.

[stoneage]

I looked at my Dinosaur collector book and it doesn't look like the Orsenigo figures which are made out of rubber. They are very crudely done.

[ray59]

Thanks everyone! I think I will try posting these pics on the toy forum here (rather than newbie forum) as someone suggested. There were so many forums and options on this site I did not know wherer to start.

I appreciated all the comments and advice.

cheers, Ray59