Did you recently acquire the zeppelin? I think we may have bid against each other. Mine is missing one of the propeller props.. your's looks complete. AMAZING Display. I love everything you've done.
Yes, it was a recent ebay acquisition, and likely we bid against each other. When it arrived, the wheel assembly just slid out. It took me a little bit to realize how it was anchored into the body of the gondola. Then, I reached in carefully and bent the retaining tab back, put the assembly back in place, then gently bent the retaining metal back just enough to secure it.
The toy is otherwise in decent shape for the age. If you look at the movie prop toy, as I'm sure you have, you'll note the wheel type is more generic, and the assembly slightly different. My guess is that it was owned by a collector that had it partially restored. I think the rear wheel on these must have had some sort of rubber tire on it.
I don't know how many of these toys were made, but it couldn't have been too many. Most Henry Katz Toys that show up today are his monoplanes, and the electric trains.
My display is not as comprehensive as yours and likely will never be, but it is a fun collection to focus on. I need to get the remaining magazines, and an ROA pin...maybe a Chein Ferris Wheel.
Now the radio was a trick...painted pink, and UPS nearly destroyed it. They dropped it so hard that the shelf holding the radio chassis broke and fell...and the power transformer ripped from the chassis.
I had to open the transformer and re-soldered all of the leads. While I was in there, I repacked the filter caps...and the radio works now.
The refinishing was done with nitrocellulose lacquer.
Tim
MBL