The Max Berry Antique Toy Collection, A Fabulous Opportunity for Some, Another Lost Opportunity for America

[BellToyBoy]

Max Berry spent forty seven years putting together one of the finest antique toy collections in the world. Recently he offered to donate his collection to the Smithsonian. He hoped that they would use it as the impetus for starting a national children's or toy museum. According to Max, he had also talked with other collectors and found at least four others willing to donate their collections. The Smithsonian showed enthusiastic interest, and after considering his offer, came back to him with a conditional yes. They would accept his donation if he could also provide 42 million dollars to go with it. That was not going to happen so Max decided to sell his collection. It is being sold in three auctions at Bertoia’s. The first auction just happened and the next will be in March. The third will see some of his toys mixed in with other collections toys in the fall. I was at the recent auction.

I had tried several times to see Max and his toy collection that people kept telling me about, but our schedules never worked out, so it was great to finally sit down with him and have him recount some of his toy collecting adventures. Some of the toys on display were phenomenal. There were so many toys that I had to give most just a passing glance so I could focus my attention and limited time on the numerous bell toys. The pristine condition of many defied their ages of one hundred to one hundred and forty years. Many of the toys were the only known survivors. Many are so rare I knew I might never see them after the auction as they will go hide in some private collection.

In a Scientific American, article from the Dec. 6, 1902 edition, I found this, “Historically considered, the toy industry may be said to have begun in Nuremberg. The development of the industry that made the old town so famous may be easily traced in the collections of the Germanic Museum.” Think about it. That’s way back in 1902, over a hundred years ago that the Germans thought enough about their toys to put them in a museum.

It was sad in a way to see these toys sold. Yes, they will no doubt end up in collections around the world, and these toys will be appreciated by their new owners and well taken care of. Some of the toys garnered several hundred thousand dollars each. That’s a lot of appreciation. But one can’t help but think what an opportunity the country just missed. There are toy museums scattered around the country, but it would have been great to have a National Children’s Museum, or a Toy Museum in Washington D.C.

This is not the first time America has lost an opportunity like this. I was excited when found out about the Perelman Antique Toy Museum in Philadelphia, only to find out it had been gone for years. Drugs were to blame. According to an account by Lita Solis-Cohen, Special to The Inquirer, Posted: August 31, 1988, “Perelman said that he had closed the museum after two gunmen bound and gagged caretaker and curator Michael Tritz, 67, and made off with about 100 antique marbles.” (They would have made off with more but the bulletproof glass foiled their attempts.)… Perelman reportedly said, "That's it, nobody's life is worth that." He closed the museum immediately. …Friends of Perelman say he had tried in vain some years ago to give his toy museum to the City of Philadelphia.” The collection was sold off. Some of those toys have been hiding in Max Berry’s collection.

A friend of mine passed away recently. His heirs have tried in vain to donate his bell collection, consisting of well-documented mostly early American manufactured bells, many quite rare, to a museum. In America it’s not easy to give these things away, so the conservators of these historical objects continue to be private collectors. That means so many people never see these things. The effect of this is the creation of a society ignorant of its past. Since out of sight is out of mind, for most people it’s as if this part of our history never happened.

For now I am happy to have met Max, a wonderful character, and his toys, one of which is now on my shelf. I hope to see him again soon. I just wish more people had the opportunity to see these toys.

 

Life is good,

Bob

[kelvin]

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