Feb 20, 2010: Pull Pig

[xoxoxoBruce]

Sargent Schultz loved sausages.
Most Germans loved their sausages.
German history and culture is steeped in sausages.

Maybe because German children were traumatized by pull toys like this.



This thing, which appeared on the Antiques Road Show, is enough to give any kid nightmares, and make them want to devour every pig in the land.

APPRAISER: And I must say, I've never seen this before. It's generically a pull toy.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: Cast-iron wheels, and probably made in Germany.
GUEST: Okay.
APPRAISER: Probably made around 1895 to 1910. Most pull toys you see from Germany are, like, horses. Right. They're about this big, little wooden platforms. Sometimes a lamb; lambs are very popular.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: Goats are very, very popular. You seldom see pigs, and you seldom see platform toys this big.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: So, I mean, this is really exciting. Plus, you seldom find them so cute and so animated.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: So, push him over here. (oinks) And listen to him, and you see his mouth go. I mean, this guy is really a little charmer. Glass eyes, painted papier-mâché snout and teeth. It's got this incredible action and just absolute charm. My hunch is at auction this could easily bring $2,000 to $2,500.

So for $2500 you could traumatize that little brat next door.
But wait, if you do that, who's going to fix your computer in the future?