Keystone Manufacturing Company
Boston, Massachusetts
1919-1960
Founders: Edward Swartz, J. M. Welsman, Isadore
Marks and Benjamin Marks
Keystone Manufacturing Company was founded in
1919 to produce moving picture machines. Interestingly, at the time
Isadore and Benjamin Marks were the president and treasurer, respectively,
of the Marks Brothers Company, which had been in the toy business since
1911. In 1924, Keystone started their line of pressed steel toys, for
which it is best known. The line of toys was modeled after the Packard
trucks of the day and featured the Packard logo on the grill. In 1932,
Keystone introduced a line of pressed steel “Ride ‘Em” vehicles of which
the mail plane is the most recognized.
Keystone began producing wooden toys in the 1930s
with the acquisition of Jacrim Manufacturing Company, another local Boston
toy company. Isadore and Benjamin Marks had a controlling interest in
Jacrim since 1926, only four years after Jacrim was founded. Keystone
Manufacturing would continue producing film equipment, pressed steel and
wooden toys until 1953 when the company was divided. Keystone
Manufacturing produced the film equipment and pressed steel toys while
Keystone Wood Toys handled all of the wooden and “tekwood” toys. In 1954,
the company would split again forming the Keystone Camera Company and
Keystone Manufacturing Company, which continued to produce the pressed
steel toys. Keystone Wood Toys ceased production in January 1958 and
Keystone Manufacturing continued on until 1960. In 1965, Keystone Camera
Company was purchased by Berkley Photo and in 1967 was moved from the
Boston location, thus ending the existence of the Keystone Manufacturing
Company.
Derrick Clow
collectingkeystone.com |
Keystone toy list
by Richard Mueller |
Wood-Truck
c. 1950
11.5"L x 3.5"H x 2.75"W
$30 - $40 |
Aircraft-Carrier
#219
c. 1950
15.5"Lx7.25"Hx3.7"W
$30-$40 |
Hand-Car
c. 1950
10"L x 5"H x 4.5"W
$135 - $180 |
Fireman
Mickey
17.5"L x 5.5"H x 3"W |
“Mickey”
Mouse with Cymbals
Estimated 1950
7.75”L x 9.5”H x 4.5”W
$180 - $240 |
"Tot"
Railroad |
Tot
Railroad Train Set
1951
12"L x 1.25"H x 1.25"W
$30 - $40; Box $20 - $30 |
Shootin'
Frontier Set |
Mosquito C-5 Boat |
Kiddie
Circus
10"L x 8"H x 6"W |
Kiddie
Circus Lined Up |
Radar
Rocket Ship w/ Box
Estimated 1950
14"L x 3.5"H x 3.25"W
$120 - $160 |
Shooting
Battleship Box #222 |
US
Cruiser #C42 |
C12
Aircraft Carrier |
Battleship
#B15 |
Battleship
#22 |
Cruiser |
Exploding Battleship #206 |
Car
Ferry |
Exploding Ship with Atomic Sub #361 |
Indian Raid #829 |
Sand Pail and Shovel Set #360 |
House Cart Model 425
|
Wagon
"California or Bust"
Estimated 1950
23.25”L x 12”H x 4”W
$30 - $40 |
Wood
Block Village |
Circus
Calliope
1951
18.5”L x 8”H x 5”W
$210 - $280 |
Woodpecker
Estimated 1950
5.5”L x 6.5”H x 3”W
$90 - $120 |
Prairie
Flyer
c. 1950
16"L x 6.5"H x 5.5"W
$175 - $250 |
The
World's Greatest Circus Truck
Estimated 1950
24"L x 11.25"H x 8"W
$3000 - $4000
Click photo for more info |
Horse
and Carriage
c. 1950
10"L x 3.75"H x 3.3"W
$30 - $40 |
Chuck
Wagon
15.5"L x 8.75"H x 5.75"W |
Marching
Majorette and Drummer
Estimated 1950
10.75”L x 10.25”H x 4.5”W
$150 - $200 |
Singing
Cowboy
Estimated 1950
10.5”L x 12”H x 5.5”W
$120 - $160 |
Dog
Playing Piano
Estimated 1950
11.75”L x 12”H x 5”W
$150 - $200 |
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1951
Advertisement
1951
Advertisement
Billy & Ruth Catalog, Pg. 27 |
1951
Advertisement
1951
Advertisement
Billy & Ruth Catalog, Pg. 8 |
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