Toy Car

Dateca. 1900

Mediumwood, recycled metal

Dimensions5 × 6 × 15 1/4 in. (12.7 × 15.2 × 38.7 cm)

ClassificationsRecreational Objects

Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Leroy Matthew

Object numberPC1975.64.6

DescriptionThis handcrafted toy car reflects a tradition of folk ingenuity constructed primarily from salvaged wood and repurposed tin advertising signage, the car includes elements such as wheels fashioned from circular wood pieces, tin "headlights," and a metal canister detail resembling a gas tank. The body and fenders are wrapped with printed tin originally used for Dustbane—a brand of sweeping compound marketed for domestic sanitation. Bright orange and black lettering from the Dustbane container is prominently featured, bearing slogans such as "It Brightens Carpets and Rugs" and warnings about germ-laden dust. The car’s open-top design suggests a stylized roadster shape, with curved tin sheets forming the fenders and hood.

On View

On view

Terms