This sled is in excellent shape and the paint is completely intact. My grandfather relayed many memories of the races between his friends down the hills of Racine here in Wisconsin during the long winters. He showed me how it was designed to steer with your feet when sitting up or with the rope tied to it correctly you can utilize it to steer also. Lying down steering is easy. He said it was about the fastest, easiest to steer and most coveted sled around at the time. It is a gem.
I bought three of these for $1 each just to put jewelry/earrings in for my dresser. They are odd--seem to be made of fine china--they are not opaque--but they are pitted, not of uniform shape, and the painting of the blue and orange markings appears to have been done hastily. Yet, there is gold markings, and someone went through the trouble to make these. I mostly have been wondering where they could have come from, and why are they so odd--like someone made them from hand. They have faded since I have owned them, because I was putting items in them. Just an oddity, I suppose.
I have a bell marked, I think, "C. S. Bell Company" and "Hillsboro, O" and marked with a "2" and "UPRIGHT" and a date "1889". Yellow too. I'd like to find out how much the bell is worth, when it might have been made and approximate value someone will pay today.