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Tigers
by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed
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The
Schoenhut Tigers |
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There are five tiger designs known - one regular
size glass eyes, two regular size painted eyes, and two reduced size
painted eyes. No decal eyes tigers has been seen. The tiger was
first produced in 1906.

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer
Glass eyes, ball neck, leather ears
The earliest tiger, introduced in 1906, followed the design of the
other early pieces - glass eyes, leather ears, cord tail, ball neck, and
an open mouth.
Keller Style I - Very Scarce

Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Andy Yaffee

Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner
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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner
Painted eyes, ball neck, leather ears
This tiger was a transition style between the glass
eyes and the painted eyes. Its head design, except for the painted eyes,
is the same as the GE tiger. This is most likely the rarest of all of
the tigers. Keller Style II - Very Rare

Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner
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Photo by Judith Lile
Painted eyes, molded ears
Keller Style III - Uncommon |
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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner
Painted eyes, open mouth
This tiger's head was probably molded, then the mouth was cut out.
Its tail is cord. The neck is fixed to the head. This style was
introduced in about 1918.

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner
Reduced size, open mouth
The reduced size tiger style closely followed the regular size
painted eyes, open mouth.

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Photo
courtesy of Bertoia Auctions.
Reduced size, closed mouth Closing
the mouth may have been a cost reduction measure. The head was
completely redesigned and the stripe pattern changed. The body color was
changed to a deeper orange.
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