Vintage zoos, zoo cages and enclosures

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]


Here is my first posting of stuff from my collection, which I hope works, because I've only just registered with Flickr and uploaded them there a few minutes ago, and so this will be my first attempt at posting Flickr photos on a forum.

I've chosen to start with zoo buildings because (1) they'll be something different from most of the images on this site, actual animals, and (2) I see Willybacoman is a member here, and have seen his zoo enclosures on the Collectors Quest site, so at least he should be interested in seeing these.

Most are 1/32 scale UK made except for the first couple of Elastolin/Lineol. I'll try to arrange them in approximate chronological order, but am only guessing at most because I only know the exact (within a few years) age of a few of them.

This may take some time.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]


I'm getting there. Photo at the top is an old cage, Elastolin? Lineol? with some composition animals, and the bottom photo is a hyena in Elastolin metal railings cage.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

This is a very old (circa 1930?) zoo by an unknown manufacturer, possibly Peacock Toys of Islington, London.

I'll continue one photo per post at the moment, until I get the hang of posting photos via Flickr. I admit, I am a bit useless with computers.

Your collection is impressive with just seeing these three so far!   

I find it amazing how these pieces survive over the years, to make it to collector's shelves. It's like they survived just to find you.

Flickr is very easy to use, I am sure you will get the hang of it quickly (if you haven't already!)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]


This rather nice cage, made in the 1930s, does have a name underneath: 'Cetandco'
Not necessarily the actual maker though, as Cetandco was one of the brand names used by C.E. Turnbull & Co, who was mainly a packager and wholesaler. He sold boxed sets under his name of figures he bought in from Britains, JoHillCo, Pixyland/Kew and others, so I'm guessing he bought this zoo cage in from a manufacturer in London somewhere, likely a small scale back streets operation who will forever remain 'unknown'.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

This cage, with its don't tease the animals sign at the back, shows that life and social attitudes were very different 80 years ago.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

A small zoo cage by an unknown manufacturer 1930s. It was small because it was a toy, but a lot of real life zoo cages were very small then too.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Another 1930s cage. Manufacturer not known for sure, but I think Peacock.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Another unknown from 1930s. The 'tree' and ring suggest it is intended for chimps or other monkeys/apes.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

This is the last of my 1930s zoos/cages (next on to 1950s), a nice double cage building.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

This pool enclosure, with a couple of Britains lead flamingos, is a unique item, not commercially made, but made for a big circus/zoo display once part of a UK circus museum.
It was consigned to a damp old shed, and then bought by a toy collector/dealer who sold most of it at toy fairs near me. Unfortunately most of the figures in this display had been repainted for the original display, so had been ruined as collectables, although I manage to find a couple of items, including a Britains clown, that had avoided the paintbrush.
I thought this was the nicest of the zoo cages/enclosures, so it was the only one I bought.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

A 1950s zoo by 'Binbak', Binns & Baker Ltd, of Bradford, Yorkshire.
I also have a farmyard and a riding school by them, which Ill probably get to eventually.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

A zoo, missing all its railings/fences (I did buy it cheap), which might by Binbak as well, or might be home made.

This is awesome! Really neat to see those old things
I love the first one with the animals, looks like an enclosure that could fit in my favorite zoo in RL

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

A simple 1950s zoo made by ELF Toys of Shipston-on-Stour, Worcestershire, England

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Entrance, penguin pool and cages for circa 1960 zoos (they made several different ones) by ELF Toys. These were the main toy zoos sold at this period in the UK, but not the nicest, which is why I don't have a complete one - I've simply decided that with my storage problems not to bother, although they do turn up quite regularly on eBay UK.

Watching these is like a wonderful dream !!!! WOW !!! 
AMAZING and beautyful !  

I will certainly go back again and again to drool over these     

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I consider this zoo to be the rarest item in my entire toy collection. It was made by the same unknown people (possibly Hugh Gardener had some involvement, but not part of his earlier Hugar range) who made the very rare wooden farm buildings sold (but not made) by Britains 1959-62 (158F to 170F and 500F to 505F). Other similar style buildings, but not sold by Britains exist (I have some), and are known by leading Britains & similar experts, but no one seems to have seen a zoo by them - and I've asked several of them, including James Opie & Norman Joplin.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Zoo, wood with plastic pool & rock inserts, made in the UK by Playcraft Toys, probably circa 1963-66.

Fantastic items   

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

5 compartment cage building and enclosure area made by A. Barton & Co of New Addington, near Croydon, Surrey, England, circa 1960. Note Timpo plastic railings.

Bartons mainly made dolls houses and furniture, and had a long relationship with Taylor & Barrett (some of you may know about T&B dolls house items, which they mostly sold wholesale to Barton). Post-war, T&B split up into F.G. Taylor & Sons and Barrett & Sons. In 1970 B&S moved into a rented corner of Barton's factory.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]


2 x Smaller version, both with original boxes, which shows they were sold at London Zoo's souvenir shop.
Note 'pool' is on the left of enclosure on one, right on the other, and that the first one has Britains railings in the building instead of the usual Timpo.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Barton's also sold the 3 compartment cage building as a separate item.
The Barton zoo cage + enclosure items I've bought in recent years, but this cage building on its own is one I had when a kid, 50 years ago, and still in excellent condition. OK, I admit it, I was a very geeky kid.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Antelope/deer house by Barton in their Addington Zoo range (also one of my childhood toys)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Another animal house by Barton, which I usually used for kangaroos when I was a kid.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The last of my Barton/Addington Zoo buildings, which I bought recently for only £1, because all the front enclosure walls/railings were missing, so I improvised to restore it a bit.

I have no idea what, if any, other buildings or complete zoos were in this range, despite decades of trying to find out.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

4 compartment cage building by Pennine Toys from the Manchester area of England, circa 1958-60. I only have this building, but I know it originally came on a baseboard with two enclosures.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

A very 'toy like' zoo, probably circa 1970. I'd quite like to sell this one if any UK members are interested. It's too new for me.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The Britains plastic zoo enclosures from the 1960s, which I'm sure several members here also have.  

Well, that's all of my zoo buildings folks, so if everyone is happy, I'll start doing farmyards, farm & village buildings next. I also have some wild west ranches. Do they come within the scope of this forum? They were obviously intended to be played with cowboys & Indians, which is more of a toy soldier thing, but hey, ranches had horses and cows. Lots of cows.

Very great collection      

Beautiful collections! You are more than welcome to share the rest!