This is the second set of these antique CrandaIl's acrobats I've found--this set not quite complete, but nearly so, and in very good condition--and the lack of two legs and one arm hardly limits the possibilities! Charles Martin Crandall of Montrose, PA was an early American toy maker and produced some quite singular, and quite fabulous toys, especially notable for their use of a tongue and groove system for joining pieces. This Acrobats set, patented in 1867 and produced throughout the 1870s, makes exuberant and inventive use of that tongue and groove, with every head or torso, arm or leg, able to slot anywhere into another. With painted arms and legs and paper lithograph for the very colorful (one might think a bit demonic looking!) faces and outfits, different on each side. In their original box bottom, slide lid long gone, with several different bases/stands featuring the same slatting so as to be used and incorporated in a variety of ways. Endless fun--I could have continued configuring and photographing these all day!
Box measures 9 7/8" x 6 1/4" x 2. The heads and torsos are in excellent shape, with really no loss to the litho at all. A few losses to the arms/legs/bases here and there, not interfering with their interlocking capacities. Rare, early, and wonderfully weird!
