Carnival Shooting Gallery
Maker: Ohio Art Co.
Materials: Tin
Construction: Tinplating
Labels/Tags: Ohio Art Co
Age: 1940
Description: This shooting gallery is made of plated tin and lithographed for bright colors. It has a rotating rabbit shot at the center with a conveyor belt of tin ducks at the bottom.
Size: H. 4.5x W. 18.0x D. 11.5"
Provenance: NJ Estate
Weight: 4lbs 3.9oz
Condition: The ducks do not move properly when the machine is started due to slack in the string, but the gallery is otherwise in extremely good condition.
History: Henry Winzeler started up his own manufacturing company in 1908. He rented an area to work in Archbold, Ohio and named it the Ohio Art Company because of his profound interest in art and its location. Winzeler began making metal picture frames and various other novelty items that were sold in retail stores all over the US. The company moved locations in 1912 to Bryan, Ohio where it became even more successful with its Cupid Awake/Cupid Asleep picture frames. The Ohio Art Company then installed metal lithography equipment. This was used to produce picture frames made out of wood-grained metal sheets. In 1917, the Ohio Art Company began manufacturing toys such as the windmills and climbing monkey. After World War I, the toy company grew exponentially, leading to the introduction of colorful tea sets and drums. Though the Ohio Art Company partook in the toy industry and was very successful, the metal lithography sector of the company remains the core part of its business. It is one of the leading producers of specialty lithographic components.