Huge collection of Schuco toys to go under the hammer at Milestone

One of the world’s finest and most-complete collections of antique and vintage Schuco toys – the estate collection of the late Winton “Wint” Johnson (1937-2022) – will headline Milestone’s August 24 Premier Toy Auction. This premier collection includes blue-ribbon Schuco toys, Japanese toy boats and prototypes, boxed toy outboard motors, pre-WWII airplanes, and English clockwork Minic toys. Reflecting Wint’s lifelong passion for lakes and boating, the auction also features three real-life wooden racing boats, boat motors, and carved duck decoys.

Wint Johnson, a Minnesotan with German heritage, may have been inspired by receiving a Schuco toy as a child, fostering his lifelong interest in German-made Schuco toys. Known for their mechanical ingenuity, these toys intrigued Wint, a professional mechanical engineer.

Founded in 1912 in Nuremberg, Germany, Schuco toys  became famous for their small-scale designs, depicting people, vehicles, and storybook characters. Their precision-made, cleverly animated toys, operated by keys or friction, continue to delight collectors. High-demand classics, especially from the period between World Wars I and II, are rare finds – a specialty of the Johnson collection.

Schuco windup Mickey Mouse on scooter

Nearly 300 lots of Schuco toys will be offered in the August 24 auction, each an outstanding original example. According to Wint’s daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Chris Miller, Wint was a dedicated collector, purchasing regularly from shows, auctions, and a global network of enthusiasts. He continually upgraded his collection, retaining only the rarest and finest Schuco toys and prototypes, creating one of the world’s most refined collections.

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What are the highlights of the collection: 

•    The Schuco windup “Boxer Jack” with punching bag, featuring painted facial details and original Schuco Germany sash, estimated at $2,000-$2,500.
•    The Schuco Walt Disney Mickey Mouse on Scooter, an all-original piece, estimated at $2,000-$3,000.
•    The Schuco tin windup Race Car with Driver, combining a lithographed tin racer and helmeted driver, estimated at $1,500-$2,500.
•    The Schuco Monkey Driving Car, with a mohair and felt monkey figure, estimated at $1,000-$1,500.
•    The Schuco tin windup Teufel (Devil), a rare piece with malevolent hand-painted features, estimated at $1,000-$1,500.
•    Two toys from Schuco’s 1914 Automato series: the felt and tin Automato Porter and the Imperial German Soldier, estimated at $1,500-$2,000 and $1,000-$1,500 respectively.
•    A tin friction Gnome on Scooter, featuring an elfin figure with a mohair beard, estimated at $1,000-$1,500.

This exceptional collection, showcasing the finest examples of Schuco toys, represents a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire rare and meticulously curated pieces.

How do I bid?

The catalogue and information about this sale are now live on Milestone’s website, with pre-bidding taking place in the days leading up to the sale.

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