J&E Stevens and the East Hampton bell toy makers connection

[Robert Watrous]

I recently attended an auction of items cleaned out of the J&E Stevens factory when it closed. The interesting thing about it for me was that there were many intems that were from N N Hill, Gong Bell and Watrous Mfg. There were bronze patterns for early Gong Bell toys and wheels, a printing block of the Watrous Buster Brown and Tighe toy, and several patterns for N N Hill toys. Years ago I had read about J&E Stevens making the wheels for the other bell toy makers but had never found any proof. Last summer I found an interesting letter from J&E Stevens to N N Hill regarding patterns. Here at this auction there was ample proof of the close ties for more than just the wheels, and for three of the bell toy makers of East Hampton CT. There are possible other explainations. Perhaps the bronze patterns were considered scrap to be melted down for future patterns. The Watrous printing block is hard to explain. It's also not the first Watrous printing block found at the J&E Stevens plant. I purchased another a while back from the current owners. I'll be adding more about this in the future.

[BellToyBoy]

Watrous Buster Brown and Tige printers block.jpg

[BellToyBoy]

N N Hill Double Ripper mold.jpgThis N N Hill Double Ripper toy mold slid away from me but ended up in a good friend's collection.

[BellToyBoy]

Gong Bell Turtle and Clown bell toy.jpgThis is mold for a very early Gong Bell toy.

[BellToyBoy]

NNHill wheel molds plus a mystery heart wheel mold and another whee...

[BellToyBoy]

N N Hill match plate for heart pattern bell toy wheels.jpg