Can a Vintage Wind-Up Toy Work Without the Key?
Replacement wind-up keys are often available for these types of vintage toys, but it is also possible to insert a similarly shaped object into the key slot to wind many toys. It is important to understand that this method could potentially cause surface damage to a vintage collectible toy, but it does usually get the toy to work without requiring the use of the original key.
Do Vintage Battery-Operated Toys Work With Modern Batteries?
Battery-operated toys did not become commonplace until after World War II, and the small batteries used to operate them were essentially the same as modern A, C, D, and AA batteries. If a vintage toy comes with batteries inside that date back to the toy's original date of manufacture, the batteries themselves could qualify as interesting collectibles due to the vintage branding and logo designs.
How Do Pull-Back Toy Cars Work?
Pull-back toy cars and other pull-back vehicles use a basic type of clockwork mechanism as a motor. When pushing the car down to engage the clutch and then pulling the car backward, the wheel mechanism winds the coil of an internal spring. When releasing the toy, the force of the unwinding spring propels it forward, and it continues to roll freely until the momentum dissipates.