Wind-Up Monkey Reading Newspaper & Smoking Pipe

This Japanese tin lithograph and mohair fur-covered wind-up is not easy to find. The monkey is in marvelous condition and the wind-up worked well when tested although the spring seemed a little tight.

When wound, the monkey with eyeglasses appears to read the tin-plated “Animal Times” and raises and lowers his pipe to his mouth. The toy is about 6 ½” in height and this early 1960’s toy is a great example of some of the better Japanese toys made that compete with Schuco German wind-ups.