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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: melhughes12 on September 24, 2008, 04:35:30 PM

Title: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: melhughes12 on September 24, 2008, 04:35:30 PM
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!   
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: railman44 on September 24, 2008, 07:41:29 PM
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.
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on December 30, 2010, 01:00:01 PM
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.

(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x124/talesofthesevenseas/VictrolaDancersAd.jpg)
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: waywardangler on December 30, 2010, 04:38:17 PM
If I remember correctly, either Antiques Roadshow or American Pickers had one of these highlighted.  Anyone else remember seeing that episode?
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: KC on December 30, 2010, 05:29:31 PM
I remember one that looked like this one
(http://www.dugnorth.com/blog/uploaded_images/record-player-dancer.jpg)

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 (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 (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 (http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/261609429/PHONOGRAPH_DANCING_DOLLS.html)

Here are some UTube videos  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rxLgI8e3s8 (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 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCWlOQLIOQw&feature=related)  Fighting Roosters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSoM8yLPqjM&feature=related (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 (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 (http://www.victor-victrola.com/XVI.htm)
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on December 30, 2010, 06:00:24 PM
I had never heard of these Victrola novelty dolls before. It sounds like they would be pretty cute in action.
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: hosman321 on December 30, 2010, 07:27:22 PM
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
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: greenacres on December 30, 2010, 07:58:49 PM
I love the you tube video.
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on December 30, 2010, 11:00:30 PM
OMG just watched the You Tube video- that's AWESOME! Here's a direct link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWEP42flNPk (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!
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: hosman321 on December 31, 2010, 05:21:06 AM
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.
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: hosman321 on December 31, 2010, 05:34:15 AM
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
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on December 31, 2010, 12:47:45 PM
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.
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: KC on December 31, 2010, 12:55:44 PM
That or phonograph dancers.
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on December 31, 2010, 02:35:01 PM
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 (http://www.t-h-a-i-l-a-n-d.org/talkingmachine/siamsoo.html)
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: mariok54 on January 01, 2011, 02:34:17 AM
They certainly look fun ! If anybody comes across one that works with a CD player ....    ;D
Title: Re: 1915 Ragtime Rastus and The Boxers and Victrola
Post by: KC on January 01, 2011, 01:28:12 PM
Mariok54 made me laugh out loud!