LARGE Vintage Dancing SANTA & MRS. CLAUS over 4 FT Tall

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This is a great old dancing Mr and Mrs Claus pair. Still works great! It is over 48 inches tall. They do a turn then a quarter turn. Use to have it as a window display at my grandparents and really have no space for it anymore. Their is some fading from the sun and the years on one side shown in the photos. I listed this item this summer and had no luck because of the time of year but I did get some information about it that might be helpful for some. History of Harold Gale Santa Makers Harold Gale began making Display Santas around 1946 at his home. The business continued to c.1987/8, with problems along the way because Gale had alcohol issues. They used only the finest materials with lots of hand work in the assembling process. The animated figures are run by Brevel motors, which are quite durable and often need only new cords and some lubrication to ring them back to life . This newspaper article indicates that the first year for production of the smaller Santas was 1957. These were the first home display product made by Harold Gale & eems to have been the most successful Santa in their line. These Santas were sold at Sears, through the Lee Wards Craft catalog, with Tupperware, and as premiums for many items including 7 Up, Parker Pens, TeleFlora, Stanley Home Products & Knox Hats. By 1960 Gale was producing 100,000 units & the number of the small Santas seen on e Bay suggests volume got bigger every year. The 15" Santas made from 1957 was the first item aimed at consumers , rather than displays for stores. The 15" doll dressed in red rayon satin is the most widely listed for sale anta on e Bay. Gale items were distributed by Columbia Toy Co, also in Kansas City until 1967 when Columbia went out of business. After 1967 them seem to have been distributed by Silvestari. Transcription of Nov 3, 1957 Kansas City Star article SANTA CLAUSE IN VELVET RIDES ASSEMBLY LINES Harold Gale, Inc, Now Definitely Big business, Was Born as A Spare Time Home Industry, Supplying Window Display Items A UNIQUE Santa Claus factory creates an unusual manufacturing scene on 4½ floors at 1327 Main St . The market is more than nation wide, substantial throughout the Western Hemisp . The business, Harold Gale, Inc, born in Kansas City , Mo apartment, will produce 30,000 units this year, many of them animate & ranging up to giant figures. The industry has became a sizeable business without creating up to this time a Santa for the home. The product has been distributed over the country for use in windows & other displays. This year a trial run of foot high [15"] Santa Clauses will test the retail market [seems to have been their most successful item]. Animated Figures Pixies, clowns & deer, up to life size & some animated are produced for displays, but Santa Claus, on which the business earned wide acceptance in the display field, is 90% of the volume. Harold W. Gale, a display man, & wife's business started while he was display manager of Woolf Brothers & created c. ½ dozen Santa Claus figures for a pre-Christmas displays. These figures were given to the managers of the various Woolf Bros establishments & the enthusiasm generated caused Harold & Viola Gale to start an at home workshop, bending wire frames in an apartment at 41 st & Lucust. Risked Total Savings. ..., the Gales had about $3000 in savings & capital, products shown to jobbers from all over the United States . .. first factory space, $25/month 1 room, carried to some 17 or 18 other rooms & hallways. Volume developed over the 10 years held costs so pricing never has been raised on any item. Later, 1 floor of 3,000 square feet, & 50,000 feet of lumber & a large amount of steel, rolls of rich velvet, Du Pont supplies special [neoprene] rubber with 35 - 49 employees. Also local suppliers are called on. Deal for New Plant. The business has moved over the hill to success. Mr. & Mrs. Gale, who now live at 2961 Westwood Rd , are contemplating their first vacation in 10 years. They have three children, 9, 8 and 2 years old. ...the Ga... read more

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