Last year I picked up a mechanical toy I'd seen in many tin toy guide books.
It was called Charlie Weaver.
I picked him up with a worn box at a local boot sale for £10. He was in a bit if a state to be honest. I can't find any of my own pictures but here's the basic idea from an auction online.
My example wasn't working, was missing the glass and also the cocktail shaker. He also had a different box, the Rosko generic Bartender one.
In a fit of hopefulness at the time I searched for a spare Charlie Weaver glass and shaker. I found a guy in the States who set up his repro busines years ago for that very same reason - he needed a spare Charlie Weaver glass!
Suffice to say fixing mechanical toys and buying repro parts is not for the faint-hearted and I left it at that, selling it as it was on Ebay some time later in the hope that nimbler hands than mine could restore it.
But who was Charlie Weaver? And who was Elsie Krack, the name on the front of the bar?
Finding that out was easier and the site that provided me with all I needed to know is this one. Should you wish to find out yourself then have a gander:
Have you ever owned a Charlie Weaver or a Bartender toy?
Time for a birthday beer!
My father gave me one of these in the '60s. Charlie Weaver((Cliff Arquette) is the grandfather of Rosanna Arquette. Cliff became more well known on The Hollywood Squares.
ReplyDeleteHi Toy Rebel, that must have been great to get when it actually came out, all minty new. My second-hand example wasn't fantastic and I think I broke even when I sold it. Interesting about Rosanna Arquette. I only recall her being in Desperately Seeking Susan with Madonna but I see having looked it up that she's been in loads of films since!
DeleteI have just aquired a Charley Weaver (Elsie Krack) complete with glass and shaker some damage to the Bar Stand (Battery Box) Bit dirty and clothes in need of attention. Anyone interested?
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