Schuco Yes/No Monkey
by Schuco of Germany
ca: 1920's
This wonderful Yes/No Monkey was produced in approximately 1921 by the Germany toy company Schuco. Heinrich Muller and Heinrich Schreyer started the toy company in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1912 under the name Schreyer & Co. The name of the company was shortened to Schuco in the early 1920s. Schuco began making "Yes/No" toys in 1921.
This particular mohair figure depicts a tin faced, fully jointed monkey wearing eye glasses. The body made from sheets of formed metal is covered by fine Copper colored mohair. He has a painted metal face with inset copper colored eyes. A metal Lever on his back activates the back and forth motion of head.
With the exception of a tear on his left shoulder showing his tin armature, this little fellow is in amazingly good condition and most of his cinnamon colored mohair fur is still present. His ears, hands and feet are made of felt and are all intact and his jointed arms and legs are in great shape. His head moves from side to side to signify "No", however, the mechanism does not move up and down to signify "Yes". It does not appear to have been designed to operated in the up/down "Yes" position. He measures approx. 4-3/4" tall x 2-1/4" wide.........3.25 inches sitting. Overall.... a totally charming early Schuco piece!