Five little balls. Five little berths. One very big piece of history.
This charming dexterity puzzle game was produced by Bar Zim Toy Mfg. Co., Inc. of New York at the height of the Dionne Quintuplets craze — the five Canadian sisters born in 1934 who became the most famous babies in the world and the subjects of a massive wave of licensed merchandise. The object is simple: tilt the glass-covered box to roll all five steel balls (each representing a Quintuplet) into their individual berths inside the lithographed baby carriage. Sounds easy. It isn’t.
The colorful lithographed background depicts five babies in classic nursery vignettes — bathing, feeding, playing — surrounding a bold black and yellow baby carriage. The carriage itself is a die-cut insert with open berths for the balls. All five original steel balls are present. Glass is intact. Metal frame shows light age patina consistent with 90+ years of existence.
Patent No. 1697612. Made in USA.
A wonderful display piece for collectors of Depression-era toys, Americana, or Dionne Quintuplets memorabilia — and it still plays.
Condition: Good vintage. Complete. Light wear to frame, vivid lithography.