French manufacturer of tinplate toys, including 0 gauge trains and various road vehicles including a most impressive mobile crane. The company was created by three Denis brothers, and whilst the origins of the company go back to the late 1800s, when their father ran a clock making buiness, the company run by the three brothers dates to the early 1930s, and manufactured clocks, wrist watches and other timers. Production was switched to war work in 1939.
Post war, the company produced wrist watches for children, becoming No. 2 in France, then extended to tinplate toys. Plastic injection production commenced in 1958, but production of toys ceased in 1960, although other products such as parts for domestic appliances and motor cars continued.
Earlier toys featured a 'cog' logo, although this was fairly quickly replaced by a 'hood' logo. La Hotte translates as Hood, or The Hood. St Nicolas is Father Christmas, or Santa Claus.
La Hotte St Nicolas first logo, cog or gear |
La Hotte St Nicolas first logo, cog or gear |
La Hotte St Nicolas second logo, la hotte or hood |
La Hotte St Nicolas second logo, la hotte or hood |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (i) |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (i), locomotive |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (i), wagons |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (i), wagons |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (ii) |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (ii) |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (ii) |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (ii) |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (ii) |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (iii), with two 8 wheeled wagons |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (iii), with two 8 wheeled wagons |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (iii), with two 8 wheeled wagons |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (iii), with two 8 wheeled wagons |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (iii), with two 8 wheeled wagons |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork set (iii), with two 8 wheeled wagons |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork diesel locomotive, silver livery |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork diesel locomotive, silver livery |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork diesel locomotive, silver livery |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork diesel locomotive, silver livery |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork diesel locomotive, green livery |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork diesel locomotive, green livery |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork diesel locomotive, green livery |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork diesel locomotive, silver livery, dismantled, showing clockwork motor |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled auto (car) carrier wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled auto (car) carrier wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled auto (car) carrier wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled auto (car) carrier wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled auto (car) carrier wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled auto (car) carrier wagon, length 22.5cm, coupling replaced with wire. Couplings appear to be one way, similar to JEP, although the coupling bar at one end seems to pivot. |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled timber wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled timber wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled timber wagon, length 22.5cm, one coupling hook missing wire. Couplings appear to be one way, similar to JEP, although the coupling bar at one end seems to pivot. |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled timber wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled crane wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled crane wagon, length 22.5cm |
La Hotte St Nicolas eight wheeled crane wagon, length 22.5cm |
A few examples of other tinplate toys made by La Hotte St Nicolas. I particularly covet the two cranes and the fork lift truck, although they are believed to be too large for display with 0 gauge trains. Size understood to be similar to Tonka Toys or Meccano Moguls, but much lighter tinplate construction, rather than heavier pressed steel. None are likely to be cheap, the crane complete with rubber caterpillar tracks being particularly desirable.
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork crane |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork crane |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork forklift truck |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork farm implements |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork farm implements |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork fuel/petrol pump |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork fuel/petrol pump |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork ice cream vendor |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork Vespa scooter |
La Hotte St Nicolas clockwork Vespa tricycle |
page views since 1998