Vintage Tricky Dogs Novelty With Slide Box
$14.95
1 in stock
Description
From a magician’s estate purchase. Comes with the original matchbox style (slide box) box and the two different colored Scottie dogs. The instructions are printed on the bottom of the box. The box shows wear but is complete.
Vintage “Tricky Dogs” are mid-century magnetic novelty toys featuring a pair of miniature Scottish Terrier (Scottie) figurines—typically one jet black and one ivory white—that interact using permanent magnetic polarity.
How They Work:
Chasing and Snapping: When placed on a smooth surface like glass or polished wood, opposing or attracting magnetic poles cause the dogs to chase each other in circles, face off in a staring contest, or snap together.
Hidden Control Trick: Placing one dog on top of a thin sheet of glass, wood, or cardboard allows a user to guide or animate the top figure by sliding the matching dog underneath.
History & Production:
• Origins: Produced prominently in the 1940s and 1950s by makers like H. Fishlove & Co., famously tied to early novelty patents such as U.S. Patent No. 2,249,454.
• Collectibility: Original sets featuring the vintage cardboard slide-box with printed instructions are heavily sought after by toy collectors, while modern reproductions and similar sets remain widely available through novelty shops and online marketplaces.
