Cymbal-banging Monkey Toy - History

History

The Japanese company Daishin C.K. manufactured the classic cymbal monkey during the three decades of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s under the name Musical Jolly Chimp. It screeches and shows its teeth when its head is pressed. Later versions from other toy makers copied the facial expressions but often changed the toy's outfit and name. In the mid 1960s through the early 1970s a Japanese built Charley Chimp, was sold by street peddlers on the streets of lower Manhattan in NYC. Other brand names include Wind-up Monkey Playing Cymbals from Russ, Pepi Tumbling Monkey with Cymbal from Yano Man Toys, Clockwork Musical Monkey with Clashing Cymbals, Musical Monkey, Magic Monkey, and Jolly Chimp. There is also one called Charlie Chimp from Lincoln, which is different from Charley Chimp.

With many other companies manufacturing various versions in the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines the toy's appearance varies.The change in manufacturing countries was primarily due to factories going out of business and seeking the lowest manufacturing costs. This is still the case today. The monkey has been seen wearing red and white striped pants and a yellow vest with red buttons, or red overalls and a stocking cap. Other outfits include green striped pants, blue striped pants, a red shirt with either green or blue pants, and plaid blue overalls The monkeys are sometimes rendered with red rings painted around their wide-open eyes, creating an appearance some find disturbing, perhaps explaining their many appearances in horror, sci-fi and comedy media. They can also symbolize emptiness and stupidity.

The following information is difficult to find, has required much research and should assist collectors, new buyers and sellers: The first ever cymbal monkey was called Musical Jolly Chimp by Daishin C.K. and came out in the 1950s; it has a black on/off lever on its back, it comes with a green arm tag, it has a brown metal battery compartment with a red snib to keep it shut, its original box has a drawing of the chimp on it (item number 7061). The second Daishin C.K. edition was produced in the 1960s; it has a black on/off lever on its back, it comes with a green arm tag, it has a brown metal battery compartment with a black snib to keep it shut, its original box has a drawing of the chimp on it (item number 7061). The third edition of the Daishin C.K. Musical Jolly Chimp was their last model and was produced in the 1970s; it has a red on/off switch on its back, it does not come with a green arm tag, it has a brown metal battery compartment with a black snib to keep it shut, its box has a photographic image of the chimp on it (item number 4910). There are many similar chimps, but the most common one (often mistaken for the Musical Jolly Chimp) is the Jolly Chimp, produced by and branded C.K. rather than Daishin C.K. and the notable difference is that this version has a flat bottomed battery compartment. Its original box was almost identical to the 1950s and 1960s Daishin C.K. box, apart from the missing Daishin branding and the omission of the word Musical. Often, it is placed in the Daishin C.K. Musical Jolly Chimp box erroneously and sometimes it is given the green arm tag fraudulently.