1920s-60s clockwork toy vehicles, by Kingsbury, New Hampshite, USA

Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. was a toy company based in Keene, New Hampshire, that was active from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. The company was founded in 1890 by Charles W. Kingsbury, who had previously worked for the nearby Hitchcock Chair Company.

Initially, Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. produced a variety of metal products, including buttons, clasps, and small tools. However, the company soon shifted its focus to the production of high-quality tin toys, which became its primary product line.

In the early 20th century, Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. gained a reputation for producing some of the finest and most innovative toys on the market. The company's products included mechanical banks, wind-up cars and trains, and other toys that were designed to move or make noise.

One of the company's most popular products was the "Kingsbury Special" train, a wind-up toy train that was known more... for its high level of detail and quality craftsmanship. The company also produced a line of toy automobiles that were prized for their realistic design and attention to detail.

During World War II, Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. shifted its production to support the war effort, producing items such as ammunition boxes and metal casings for radios. After the war, the company resumed its toy production, but faced increasing competition from cheaper, mass-produced toys made overseas.

In 1952, Kingsbury Manufacturing Co. was sold to the Wolverine Supply and Manufacturing Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which continued to produce toys under the Kingsbury name for several more years before eventually ceasing production. Today, Kingsbury toys are highly prized by collectors for their quality and historical significance. less...