Fernand Martin Toys | Toymaker in Paris

‘Le Jeu de Massacre’

Dec 12, 2016

Two years after our publication of 'Fernand Martin, toymaker in Paris' we, Arthur Verdoorn and Lourens Bas, were very happy and surprised to read an article in The Antique Toy World of December 2016. Renaud Fournier described the discovering of 'Le Jeu de Massacre'....

L’Autopatte by Flersheim

Oct 2, 2015

Recently I saw on Ebay a perfect L'Autopatte for sale. This one was not made by Fernand Martin but by Georges Flersheim, one of his successors after 1912. The box is exactly the same as the box Martin made and even has the 'FM'-mark on it but the toy for sure is made...

Picture of a French street vendor selling Martin-toys

Oct 8, 2014

This picture shows 'La vendeuse de jouet' a French lady selling toys of Martin in the open air, around 1900. From left to right you see: Le Pochard, Le Chinois, La Blanchisseuse, Le Faucheur, Ma Portiere, Le Gai Violoniste, L'Homme de Corvée, Le Balayeur and L'Oie....

La Nature (1894-1895)

Sep 20, 2014

Monsieur François Mesqui (France) shared with us this nice early drawings from "La Course de Taureau' (1894) and 'Ma Portìere' (rubber band version, 1895). They were original depicted in the French magazine 'La Nature', a scientific magazine.

Look Alike of Martin Toy?

Jul 4, 2014

This picture was sent to us by a collector. He asked for more information. This toy will be in the book at page 229 in the chapter about ‘Imitators”. It is called “Le Livreur Rapide” and made by S.I.J.I.M (no. 36). For sure it is not a Martin-toy!! But this toy is...

The Martin Exhibit which took first price at The St. Louis World’s Fair 1904

Jun 6, 2014

The Fernand Martin booth included a centrepiece representing a fun fair on a square, with stages and performers and musicians. All the people at the fair are Fernand Martin toys. F. Martin was awarded First Prize for this entry! (see book on page 176)

Le Joyeux Contrabassiste (1904)

Jun 6, 2014

Unknown toy by F. Martin. Mechanism: clockwork H. 18 cm. E.T. Coll. The picture of the stage of the centrepiece representing a fun fair on a square, shows the bass player. And since we have never seen a second one, so far, we assume the bass player was especially made...

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