Bidspirit auction | Wolverine Automatic Coal Loader

Wolverine Automatic Coal Loader - This American mechanical toy is constructed from lithographed tinplate and features a gravity-fed operation. The main structure consists of a red vertical tower mounted on a yellow base, alongside a red shed with a blue roof. The tower is decorated with lithographed graphics depicting a coal mining facility, including workers in various roles and a large steam locomotive at the base. A blue hopper is mounted internally within the tower, which feeds a pivoted blue loading arm and bucket assembly. The arm is designed to swing upward to collect material and descend to discharge it. On the side of the small shed is a white rectangular label reading WOLVERINE SUPPLY & MFG. CO., PITTSBURGH, PA. MADE IN U.S.A. PATENTED. The front of the shed features a blue and white diamond logo containing the word WOLVERINE above the text MADE IN U.S.A. The front of the main tower displays a printed sign reading WOLVERINE AUTOMATIC COAL LOADER. The toy is assembled using folded metal tabs, which are visible on the underside of the base and along the tower seams. A section of white twine is currently attached to the bucket and wound around the tower frame.