Bidspirit auction | Sawing Through the Watermelons

Sawing Through the Watermelons - Made by the N. N. Hill Company. East Hampton, Circa Late 1890's. Instead of cutting logs for firewood, these two men are seen cutting through ripe watermelons. This odd image deploys the spurious racial trope that watermelon will drive black people crazy and cause them to do very strange things. Often, this involves avoiding their actual work responsibilities. This is a spectacular quality example of this rare and desirable bell toy. Condition: Near Mint Condition.