Saturday, March 5, 2011

Object of the Day: A Vintage Toy Trolley

This souvenir of San Francisco was given to me when a child. Iconic of San Francisco, theie cable car system is the world’s last remaining manually-operated trolley line. San Francisco cable cars began in 1873 and soon spread throughout the city, providing inexpensive public transportation. By the 1940’s declining use of the cable cars due to the prominence of automobiles threatened the trolley system. However, the city made a decision to preserve the emblematic trolleys and they continue today.


This toy cable car made of painted metal features a dinging bell, just like the real thing. The toy even carries little metal commuters—neatly painted in 1920’s-inspired clothing. This is a toy that was built to last and remains in pristine condition.

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