Mechanical Fox

Mechanical fox, Schuco, between 1930 and 1939. Museum no. Misc.1-1978. (click image for larger version)

A fox is perhaps an unusual choice for a soft toy, yet they were very popular in the first half of the twentieth century. This may have something to do with fox characters in children's literature, such as the trickster Reynard and Beatrix Potter's Mr Tod. This intelligent-looking example was made in Germany in the 1930s by Schuco (Schreyer & Co.). Like the foxes popular in fiction, it is portrayed in an anthropomorphic manner. Its usual position is sitting like a human rather than standing on four legs like an animal, and it is wearing metal spectacles. This fox has the same mechanism as Schuco's Yes/No teddy bears. By manipulating the tail, one can make the head move. This fox still has its original label with Schuco's early trademark of a tumbling toy man or boy with his legs up in the air.