Most expensive toy of antique origin

An antique toy was sold for $231,000 (£127,483) to a telephone bidder at Christie's, New York City, USA on 14 December 1991. The work is a hand-painted tin-plate replica of the `Charles' hose reel, a piece of fire-fighting equipment, measuring 38.1 x 58.4 cm (15 x 23 in) and built c. 1870 by George Brown, Co. of Forestville, Connecticut, USA.