Tinplate ‘Bing Brake’ with original box – £20,000 at Vectis.
The 10in (25cm) ‘Bing Brake’ modelled on a De Dion features as number 7213 in the 1902 Bing catalogue.
As discussed in David Pressland’s The Art of the Tin Toy, it is powered by a substantial clockwork motor with automatic steering device fitted which enables the car to run in an irregular circle. This example was in excellent condition, in working order, retained its original white rubber tyres and red, cream, green and black paintwork and came with its original card box with a GBN trademark label to one end.
This model car is one of the rarest of the well-known Bing large-scale tinplate clockwork cars and the first example that toy specialist Vectis had offered for sale. It was among the items filmed during preparations for a forthcoming ‘fly-on-the-wall’ documentary about the auction house to air on the Yesterday channel.
Estimated at £8000-10,000 at the auction on February 17, it sold at a cool £20,000 – but just try and find another one.
