ZIKRA

Zebra cart w/ driver

Model: 752
Type: Carriages & Cycles
Topic: Travel & Transport
Country of manufacture: Germany
Mechanism: Clockwork
Movement: As it advances, the driver moves up and down on the seat and the zebra bucks
Materials: Tin
Dimensions (LxWxH cm): 18x7x12
Condition: Poor
Manufactured: 1924 – 1935

Research notes

Pat: USA Dec 2 (1013), Jan 25 (1927); The toy was inspired by the ill-fated attempt in early 1900's to domesticate zebras as saddle animals and cross-bread them with horses (in Dar-es-Salam, then a German colony), called zebroids; some of these animals were shown as circus freaks or for advertising purposes, and they bucked and kicked frequently; the description of this toy is: "Mexican zebra team; the zebra refuses to be tamed and leaps about wildly". The reason for being Mexican is unknown..; there are 3 versions: "Dare Devil", "Zikra" and "Na-Nu".- until 1948