Vintage tin toys with their colorful lithography always attract attention when displayed in the home. Even more fun is showing off their operation.

     Due to their relatively low price at the time, old tin windup and battery-operated toys were never meant to be repaired. As such, many were discarded when they no longer functioned properly. Finding a prized toy on auction only to discover that it doesn't operate can be disappointing but with a little tinkering, almost all can be brought back to life and give many more years of enjoyment. It can fun, and frustrating, to repair these old toys. If you are not inclined to take one apart, there are reputable shops that will do it for you but the cost can be as much as, or more than, the toy's value.

     Tin windup and battery-operated toys use a series of small gears operating in sequence to bring a toy to life. As the gears go through their sequences, they trigger movement, such as a tin man "walking," a train or car going 'round a litho track or a space ship that whirls around on the floor and then rises to launch position. The gears are set in motion either by a windup mechanism with a key of some sort - much like a clock, hence the term "clockwork mechanism" or "automata," or by a small motor that uses electricity supplied by batteries.

(Note: The vast majority of older battery-operated toys use "D" size batteries, or "dry cells" as they were more commonly called during these toys' heyday. These D-size batteries in the 1950s and 1960s were slightly smaller in width than modern batteries of the same voltage. This usually isn't a problem but you may notice a tighter fit in your toy's battery box or a slight bulge when the battery box is closed. This can cause extra strain on the clip that holds the battery door closed on the toy so be gentle when placing or removing batteries. Old batteries can leak acids that will render your toy inoperable or rust through the battery box. Although modern batteries are sealed much better than their predecessors, always remove batteries when you are finished demonstrating or playing with your toy to prevent damage.)

Hint: There are only two companies that actually manufacture batteries, which are then sold to companies who put their brand name on them for sale to the public. A "no-name" alkaline battery will perform just as well as a name-brand battery, so always buy the cheapest you can find. The best places to find batteries are at dollar and discount stores.

Each movement is called an "action." Toys that only perform one or two actions often are called "minor" toys and those that perform more complex or multiple actions sometimes are referred to as a "major" toy. Don't confuse the complexity or number of actions a toy performs though as somehow being more valuable than

But what to do when that prize piece you've coveted comes up for auction and