Toy OTD: Anri Peanuts Music Box: Flying Ace Snoopy (1968)

Before there was Star Wars for me, there was Peanuts. I've been a huge fan of the strip for as long as I can remember, gobbling up the escapades of Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Schroeder, and of course Snoopy.

Simply a cute puppy in the beginning, Snoopy came into his own in the late fifties/early sixties to become (arguably) the strip's most popular character. He transformed into a canine Walter Mitty; imagining himself as a vulture, a BMOC, a high-powered lawyer, and most famously a WWI flying ace.

I assume Schulz used his World War II experiences (or movies he grew up with) to inform Snoopy's adventures. They were purely imaginative in the comic, but occasionally visualized in the television specials. As they accumulated and grew ever more vivid, the fantasies began to inform the merchandising.

Anri began manufacturing many different Peanuts music boxes in the late sixties/early seventies, and naturally the flying ace was depicted in the series. One featured Snoopy flying on his doghouse, and this one (above) creates a more elaborate scene of him in a war-torn countryside. It's one of the most detailed environments of the line!

The Anri music boxes were crudely designed and constructed, but I still like them - there's an almost folk-art quality to the pieces. The simplicity does seem appropriate, even though they're far less sophisticated than the original artwork.

The elements seem to be made primarily from wood. What's interesting is they appear similar enough from one box to the next that they don't appear to be hand-carved. But how would you mass-produce something like this? Is some sort of wood pulp poured into a mold, like the '30s-era "Syroco" figures? Regardless, the shattered brick wall, the barbed wire, the helmet, the mushroom and Snoopy have a roughly-hewn charm.

The paint work is equally loose, feeling like rushed assembly-line work. Other than Snoopy's eyes, little of the paint on the box has much taste or care in its application. Most of the colors come across as overly layered and muddy. Still, it does contribute to the hand-crafted feel of the piece, which does have a certain warmth to it.

The song choice (It's a Long Way To Tipperary) is not only perfect for the era, but also because it was specifically featured in the strip. I can't remember if the box was wound with a side key or a rotating base, but it works fine and is well constructed. I'm assuming that a wooden base makes for a good resonator (which might make the mechanism sound better), but I'm not sure. Of course, it's worth mentioning that the base is nice and simple, with no unnecessary text or labeling on it.

Unfortunately, I don't have any packaging for this item (or any box photos that I can find online) to review.

These music boxes weren't made in huge numbers, and I imagine that many of them broke down over the years. As a result of that, and the strip's continuing popularity, these pieces can get quite pricey on the secondary market. This particular one ranges anywhere from $124.75 to $279.99 + shipping on eBay. Look the auction pictures/descriptions over carefully and make sure it's complete and in working order before you shell out the cash. Have fun!

Toy OTD: Schmid Bros. Snoopy Music Box (1968)

This is a very special childhood toy with a lot of history.

When I was a kid, there was a drug store in Vermont called Campbell's Pharmacy - it was where I bought a lot of my comic books, and they also sold figurines, music boxes, and other gift items. Snoopy was prominently displayed in the main window, and being the huge Peanuts fan that I was, I immediately fell in love with it. I stopped to look at it every time we went by the shop. Or at least I did until it disappeared one day. I was heartbroken.

Of course, my parents had bought it for me, and it became one of my favorite possessions. I played it constantly, even though I had no idea what the song Over There was really about. I even took it into the bathroom with me at bath time, until one day it fell off the back of the toilet, landing on the floor. The fall rendered it silent.

I was very upset, but Dad patiently opened the doghouse up and repaired it. As an explanation for the damage, he painted bullet holes on the side, simulating an enemy attack! And so I've kept it to this very day. I've discarded and 'upgraded' many of my childhood playthings, but this one simply has too much love inside of it.

Of course, I think this music box is wonderful - the design is crude, even primitive, but that's part of its simple charm. In a way, it's just as elemental as the comic itself. An astronaut version that plays Fly Me To The Moon was also made at the time.

These music boxes weren't made in enormous quantities, so naturally they're sought-after collectibles today. There's one up for auction on eBay right now starting at $9.99 + shipping, but I'd be prepared to pay $100 or more for it. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Fisher-Price Lacing Shoe Music Box #991 (1966)

This toy may not be a gold medlaist in the Fisher-Price olympics, but nevertheless it's got charm to spare! There's tons of play value too, in spite of it being a teaching toy - tiny passengers that ride in the cockpit/toe of the shoe, and there's a tumbler scrolling sweet drawings as it plays music. So cute! This type of stylization is getting rare these days - I think it helps kids learn how to be imaginative through toy representations of the world that are more abstract, more symbolic than literal.

The increasing amount of plastic is used very well - for the carrying loop (upper left), the opening toe, the scroll-viewing panel, and the high-wear wheels. Of course, it teaches kids how to tie their shoes, too! I wonder if this works for left-handers - it look me a long time to learn how to tie my shoes because of that.

This is a more recent toy from the F-P line, so it's not all that tough to find. If you don't mind tracking down the figures separately (though it does have the original box), there's an eBay auction for this toy starting at $14.99 + shipping. Also, here's more information about this item than you'd ever want or need - enjoy! Happy hunting!