BRANDENBURG dancing (or drunken) sailor waddling toy

Datec 1928

Object number00036172

NameDoll

MediumMetal, cloth, paint

DimensionsOverall: 188 x 75 x 43 mm, 0.12 kg

ClassificationsToys, games and souvenirs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from John B Kiley

Terms

Germany

DescriptionMechanical sailor toy made by Lehmann in Germany. When wound the sailor waddles as if drunk, or if placed on its head his legs flail as if in a lively dance. The ship's name on the cap tally of the toy is BRANDENBURG. This toy has a patent date of 1907, Lehman continued to make these toys up to 1948. John Berchmans Kiley most likely collected this toy in 1928 when he visited the Europe and North America during his RAN service.HistoryJohn Berchmans Kiley was born on 29 January 1910 and joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1925. He began his naval service on HMAS TINGIRA, a ship for boy sailors moored at Rose Bay in Sydney, where he trained for 15 months. He served on HMAS SYDNEY for around 12 months before joining HMAS HMAS MELBOURNE on its last voyage to England in 1928, returning home on the new HMAS AUSTRALIA in the same year. John undertook four years of training at HMAS CERBERUS studying a range of gunnery courses. Kiley reached the rank of Leading Seaman, and to his great disappointment was invalidated out of the navy around 1930 due to respiratory illness.