St. Paddy's Day bell toys

[BellToyBoy]

For this St. Paddy's day I'm posting several bell toys that are related to U.S. - Irish history. Not everything is politically correct by today's standards. These toys were made in the later half of the 1800s when two events were occurring simultaneously. One was the popularity of the traveling circuses. The second was a wave of immigrants from Europe prompted by desperate conditions there, and the availability of low priced steam boat transportation across the Atlantic to "the land of opportunity." The circus promoted the then popular caricature image of Paddy, as a symbol for the Irish, often with his pig. The Paddy of the day was often derided as comical or dirty. Irish were known to be pig farmers and the pig was seen as a dirty animal.

One of the bell toy designers at Gong Bell Mfg. Co., Mr. Perkins, seized on the popularity of the circus and created numerous bell toys that represented circus acts. The list is a long one and included many great bell toys, Trick Pony, Trick Elephant, Poodle and Clown, The Acrobats, plus others. One of the smaller circus related toys was the Clown and Pig Cart, and another had a clown riding a pig. I can't be certain that Mr. Perkins designed both of the pig and clown related toys. 

The first two toy shown below are the lead pattern and the clown and pic cart. The next toy is the clown riding a pig. (the bell on this toy is a replacement.)  

It should be noted that without the Irish immigration, the history of East Hampton might not have been as successful as we know it was. 

There was at least one Irishman involved in bell making.

Mr. Walsh was born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to live in East Hampton about 45 years ago. For a number of years he was employed at the Starr Brothers Bell Company.” ( from 1936, May 8, The East Hampton News, Volume 4, Number 45, East Hampton, Conn. “Last Rites Held For John Walsh.") 

So, Happy St. Paddy's day, and remember, immigration can be a great thing, even if many are against it at the time.

Life is good,

Bob