1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola

[melhughes12]

We have an original box in excellent condition containing original Ragtime Rastus and the Boxers - "Two novelties in one for disc talking machines." These are 3 black wooden figures made by National Toy Company for use with a Victrola. The year on the box is 1915. These figures are in excellent condition as is the box.

We also have a 1912 (we think) Victor Talking Machine Victrola style VVXVI. It is mahogany, in very good condition and works great.

Can anyone give us an idea of the values of these items?   Thank You!   

[railman44]

A picture or two would help.  Black memorabilia (I'm assuming with the name 'Rastus' it is black) is very collectable especially with the original box.

[talesofthesevenseas]

This topic is terribly old but I stumbled across this old ad for these dancing Victrola figures and I thought that this would be of interest to those of us with Victrolas. You're going to have to endure a bit of ethnic slang that was used in the ad.

[waywardangler]

If I remember correctly, either Antiques Roadshow or American Pickers had one of these highlighted.  Anyone else remember seeing that episode?

[KC]

I remember one that looked like this one


A big producer of these types of items was National Microphone.

Here is one that sold at Christies http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=3989684
One at Bonhams http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/wspd_cgi.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=PastResults&saction=search&sFreeText=phonograph&sDepartment=COL-MEC

I found where one Black Americana figure was selling for $70.00 BUT IT IS A REPRODUCTION
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/261609429/PHONOGRAPH_DANCING_DOLLS.html

Here are some UTube videos  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rxLgI8e3s8  IT is also a REPRODUCTION!  So...unless you have proof of age....it will not be worth an original! and Uncle Sam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCWlOQLIOQw&feature=related  Fighting Roosters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSoM8yLPqjM&feature=related and another style of dancer (avg value now #250 - $350) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNRH4KnuwUQ&feature=related


As for your Victor player refer to this page to help id and date your piece
http://www.victor-victrola.com/XVI.htm

[talesofthesevenseas]

I had never heard of these Victrola novelty dolls before. It sounds like they would be pretty cute in action.

[hosman321]

One on ebay. Dang tales, how did you even see this thread from way back when?

http://cgi.ebay.com/RAGTIME-RASTUS-Black-Racist-Doll-DANCING-PHONOGRAPH-TOY-/370462882650?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56414efb5a

[greenacres]

I love the you tube video.

[talesofthesevenseas]

OMG just watched the You Tube video- that's AWESOME! Here's a direct link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWEP42flNPk

I ran a found this old topic by accident. I was running a search for Victrola to post the Sears Roebuck ad above, looking for the Victrola discussion we were having a couple of weeks ago and this popped up. I totally want one of these, LOL!

[hosman321]

Man, I want one too! There's a bunch more vids of them to the right when you click on that one. Really cool, but really sad at the same time that they mocked black people so much.

[hosman321]

Oh, now this is my favorite. And this is the exact one the original poster has/had.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzLiMn015gA&feature=related

[talesofthesevenseas]

I once did a demo with my Victrola during a street fair to help promote the local history musuem. It would have been quite an eye-catcher to have one of these little guys dancing away on the Victrola! ...maybe one of the less offensive ones, but I will definitely keep an eye out for these. They seem to be most commonly listed as "phonograph toys". There is even a book on them which covers not only these but also the early talking dolls.

[KC]

That or phonograph dancers.

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here's a TON  of information on the "Siam Soo" phonograph dancer:

http://www.t-h-a-i-l-a-n-d.org/talkingmachine/siamsoo.html

[mariok54]

They certainly look fun ! If anybody comes across one that works with a CD player ....