'GIVJOY' TOYS - large fort
HISTORY
Made by A J Holladay & Co at 32-33 Aldermanbury, London, E.C., England. c:1935.
Mr A J Holladay is best known for production of his 'Skybird' range, which was a complete representation of the Royal Air Force in all its aspects at a scale of about 25mm, from about 1930 to 1950. However this is about his production of toy forts. It is known that they were in production during the mid-1920s time because there is a reference to them in Games & Toys in 1926. However this particular model was almost certainly made in the mid-1930s, after the pressures of world economic recession caused the Germans to leave the market in England.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
14"(h) x 25 ¾"(w) x 16 ¼"(d). 355(h) x 655(w) x 415(d)mm.
This toy fort is made of only five pieces, with a box base in which the building components can be housed when not in use. Access is via the rear that is left open, but it is possible that there was a door. It is basically monolithic.
It is made crudely of wood and hardboard which makes it durable, and gives an overall air of solidity. The pieces are placed using pins that fit into holes in the base. Most of the walls are quite rough there being sand or similar in the paint. The painting, which is red, yellow and green dry brushed onto a grey undercoat (with the exception of silver to imply water) is very crude and the details, such as the main door, stuck on. Elsewhere the embrasures and doorways are painted on. The drawbridge can be raised.
CONDITION
This toy fort is generally in quite good condition. The only actual damage is one slightly broken crenel around the courtyard. The paint is worn on the tops of the crenels and there are scratches around the holes where the locating pins go in. The paint on the windows is coming off. The hinge in the drawbridge needs some attention.
