WOLVERINE toys

Wolverine Supply & Manufacturing history

The Wolverine Supply & Manufacturing Company (1903-1950) was founded in Pittsburgh by Benjamin Bain and his wife in Pennsylvania in 1903 and incorporated in 1906. The early toys Wolverine made were set in motion by the weight of marbles or sand. These toys were highly popular and were usually designed to unload marbles or sand from an elevated hopper and once set in operation, they would continue to operate until the supply of sand or marbles was exhausted, thereby providing endless hours of fun for kids. "Sandy Andy" were these type of toys called.

In 1918, Wolverine's line expanded to include girls' toys. Introduced at the New York Toy Fair in March of that year, were such toys as sand pails, tea sets, wash tubs, ironing boards, glass washboards and even miniature grocery stores. In 1928, Wolverine introduced their "Sunny Andy" and Sunny Suzy" toys. Company advertising explained that the new names for the toys would cover all toys not operated by sand. By 1929, airplanes, boats, buses, and other toys had joined the Wolverine family of toys. Wolverine continued to expand their toy line throughout the 1930s, right up to the beginning of WWII, almost as if they were immune from the effects of the Depression. Even the sand toys, relatively unchanged from the early 1900's, were still being sold into the 1950's.

Showing 16 comments

Linda Rockey wrote:	02-12-2010
Any books about the Wolverine company? ----- There is one on Amazon about Marx, Wolverine and other toys: American Tin-Litho Toys (click)

Linda M wrote:	21-02-2011
My sister and I loved playing with a pink wringer washing machine by Wolverine during the 1950's. I just found one like it on ebay. Not in great shape but bid on it anyway in hopes of putting it in my laundry room. Was fun just to see it again even if I don't win the auction. ----- Thanks for sharing Linda, I hope you win the auction!

Rhonda wrote:	13-03-2011
I have a Wolverine Town and Country Doll House tin and plastic still in box. Plastic pieces are still in closed plastic bags and nothing has been assembled. The number on the box is 806. Can you send me a link or any information about this toy or manufacture? ----- Very difficult to find info on this doll house... you could try and search in google's images for doll house wolverine to locate yours... hope this helps a bit.

Jen wrote:	29-03-2011
I have a Walt Disney pinball game. Its very old and still works, dont know the year of it. The number on it is 163. Can you tell me whats its worth?

Matt wrote:	26-04-2011
I have a Wolverine Rite Hite stove, refrigerator, and sink. They are a matching set. The fridge says no. 614 inside the freezer door. Any idea on how old these are and what they might be worth. I am having a hard time finding any information about these toys. Thanks for any help.

Brad wrote:	02-08-2011
i have a wolverine star quest toy pinball machine that is electric and not a table top it has legs..i have not found even one with legs can someone please help me? ----- Have you tried searching for (click): Wolverine pinball?

Gaylee Mchugh wrote:	04-09-2011
i believe i have a vintage refridgerater. it has one door and the long red handle, the freezer is the width of the inside of the refrdgerater and it has a red ice cube tray and a little red box in side. it also has a colored printed cardboard picture of vegetables on the bottom inside and inside door..it is made of metal..could you help me establish if this was made by you? i know nothing about antiques and i thought maybe i might start dabbling with the vintage toys.

Trina wrote:	01-10-2011
I have a wolverine # 670 tin toy "doll house" It is more of a toy storage unit. Has several shelves inside and 2 doors. I have not found anything else like it in my research. It used to have a cardboard peaked roof atached but that is gone. Any help?!

Kay wrote:	12-11-2011
Can you tell me if Worverine and T. Bros. of Parsons PA were connected in any way? Kay C.

Kidtwist wrote:	10-01-2012
I have several Wolverine 'drum major #27, tin wind-up toys. If anyone wants information of these please email me as my Dad worked for them breifly right after he returned from duty in the Navy in 1946. Wolverine, made the first one in 1933 w, a pat. date of 1932. and the second version in 1950.email me for more info.

Christine wrote:	17-01-2012
I have an old Wolverine Drug Store play set (no, not the grocery store -- I have a few of those) and I'm trying to figure out what product boxes went with it. I have a slew of boxes but it they seem kind of odd for a drug store. Any ideas? ----- No idea, I only found one here and here (the last one: click on the picture to enlarge and you get a glimpse of the boxes).

Denice wrote:	18-01-2012
I have two pin ball games. One is a le mans grand price game and the other is a Mickey mouse game. Can you tell me anything about them? ----- The Le Mans is from the 1960s and is depending condition and demand worth between 20 and 50 UDS. There are some for sale on ebay (also the Mickey Mouse version) so you might follow them to see what they are sold for.

Mary wrote:	29-01-2012
I have a Wolverine glass washing machine set with all pieces as well as the box. What is this worth ? ----- Complete with box it can fetch (well) over 100 dollars. Depends on demand and state.

Phyllis wrote:	03-02-2012
i have a old clothes iron that has stamped in wolverine supply

Deb S wrote:	03-02-2012
I have a little Wolverine pink tin wash machine. It holds water,has 2 cycles wash and spin dryer w/hose on the side to drain water. Any idea on the value of this? It is in good condition. ----- Try and locate your machine by searching for wolverine washing machine images. Maybe you can get more info on value this way. Also regularly check eBay for prices.

Karen A. wrote:	18-03-2012
I purchased a Wolverine tin doll vanity at an antique shop(9"tall by 13 1/2 across top. Does anyone know what came with this toy, when it was made, and what it is worth? It is in excellent condition (not repainted hinged mirror in tact.