Magic lanterns - Gebruder Bing

Magic Lanterns, manufactured by
Gebrüder Bing Nürnberg part 1

One of the most famous Nuremberg toy manufacturing companies is the firm of the 'Gebrüder Bing'. Ignaz Bing and his brother Adolph founded a retail company selling household items round 1863 and began to manufacture their own stock in the late 1870s. Some ten years later they started manufacturing tin toys, at first equipment for dolls' kitchens, later on also steam engines and model trains. The first advertisements for magic lanterns appeared in 1866. By the turn of the century the firm employed several thousands of workers and was a leading international toy manufacturer. It was one of the few to flourish after the First World War, but the Great Depression of 1929 was disastrous. After 1931 the production was wound up and was partly taken over by other Nuremberg companies like Johann Falk. The Bing company still remains active as a toy manufacturer, though the production is radically changed. Trade marks.		Red lacquered tin magic lantern. This oval type of magic lantern was also produced by several manufacturers, like Schoenner and Carette. Brass objective. Gold painted claw feet.
	Black lacquered tin plate. Tiger claw feet. Ca. 1900.
		This kind of red lacquered, barrel shaped tin magic lantern is from ca 1895. Similar lanterns are produced by almost all Nuremberg's toy manufacturers. It was cheap and uncomplicated and suitable to the use of a simple candle.
	Simple black toy lantern. Diamond-shaped 'GBN'-emblem attached on the door. It is 11.5 inches tall to top of chimney, 11 inches long from edge to lens and 4 inches wide (29 x 28 x 10 cm).
		This relative modern Bing magic lantern includes a tiny oil lamp as well as an adapter for electric use (bulb). It is made of black hammer-scale lacquered tin. A label with the "BW" trade mark is on top of the original cardboard box. The box includes a smaller box containing 12 slides 2" x 7" (5 x 18 cm). Sizes of the lantern are 6" tall and 9" (15 x 23 cm) deep without chimney.
	Scio 3767 model, 1910. Described in the 1912 catalogue as a "Very fine Magic Lantern, elegant shape, polished Russian iron, with 12 glass slides in separate grooved box. All packed in a fine strong cardboard box". The price was 5 shillings. The GBN trademark is impressed on the door, a German patent mark DRGM is impressed on the front under the lenses. The main blue box has a mottled finish and measures 10.5 inches x 7 inches (27 x 18 cm) and the lantern stands about 10 inches (25cm) high with the chimney fitted. The lantern stands on gold painted lion-claw feet and has a lacquered brass lens.


		More Bing lanterns.........