» Home
» Articles
» Picture Gallery
|
Vintage Portal Main >> Articles >> Toys
Pop Goes the Weasel with a Jack-in-the-Box
One of the most beloved toys that people remember from their childhoods is the famed Jack-in the box. There are many vintage jack-in-the-boxes that exist, most of which are highly valuable today. Many individuals are surprised at how far back the jack-in –the-box originates, and they are even more surprised at how much money an antique jack-in-the-box can fetch.
For well over a century, there has been speculation as to who created the jack-in –the-box and how it came about. It is believed that the jack-in-the-box was a toy created by John Schrome in 1832. John recollected his younger years when he created the jack-in-the-box. When he was a child, there would often be runaway slaves that were held captive in boxes. These slaves were called “Jacks”. Mischievous children would often poke tree branches into the box, not knowing that the “Jack” was inside. The Jack would often jump out of the box, which would startle the children. From this experience, John Schrome created the jack-in-the-box. He used his talents as a music box maker to create the jack-in-the-box, and before he knew it, they were being replicated and sold to many parents for their children. He crafted the jack –in-the box with a small hinged box that contained a small “Jack” puppet. The side of the box held a crank, that when turned, would play “Pop Goes the Weasel”. Sometime during the song, the Jack pops out of the box, startling children young and old. Due to the slight fear factor, many children wanted the now vintage Jack-in-the-box, thus beginning the long tradition of jack-in-the-box collections.
Many collectors are eager to find vintage jack-in-the-boxes. The antique jack-in-the-boxes look quite rugged by today’s standards, as they puppets have cloth bodies, and a huge head. Sometimes, the jack is a clown, which often attracts people that much more. Collectors of the antique jack-in-the-boxes can often find them at flea markets and estate auctions. Antique jack-in-the-boxes are a rare find, but they are certainly worth every penny to the jack-in-the-box collector and enthusiast.
|
|
|
