Keystone Manufacturing Company
Boston, Massachusetts
1919-1960
Founders: Edward Swartz, J. M. Welsman, Isadore Marks and Benjamin Marks
Keystone Manufacturing Company was founded in 1919 to produce moving picture machines. Interestingly, at the time Isadore and Benjamin Marks were the president and treasurer, respectively, of the Marks Brothers Company, which had been in the toy business since 1911. In 1924, Keystone started their line of pressed steel toys, for which it is best known. The line of toys was modeled after the Packard trucks of the day and featured the Packard logo on the grill. In 1932, Keystone introduced a line of pressed steel “Ride ‘Em” vehicles of which the mail plane is the most recognized.
Keystone began producing wooden toys in the 1930s with the acquisition of Jacrim Manufacturing Company, another local Boston toy company. Isadore and Benjamin Marks had a controlling interest in Jacrim since 1926, only four years after Jacrim was founded. Keystone Manufacturing would continue producing film equipment, pressed steel and wooden toys until 1953 when the company was divided. Keystone Manufacturing produced the film equipment and pressed steel toys while Keystone Wood Toys handled all of the wooden and “tekwood” toys. In 1954, the company would split again forming the Keystone Camera Company and Keystone Manufacturing Company, which continued to produce the pressed steel toys. Keystone Wood Toys ceased production in January 1958 and Keystone Manufacturing continued on until 1960. In 1965, Keystone Camera Company was purchased by Berkley Photo and in 1967 was moved from the Boston location, thus ending the existence of the Keystone Manufacturing Company.
I recently acquired a Keystone Sixty K 8mm projector at an estate sale and would to find any information as to when it was made or any other information that may be out there about this model.
Thanks,
Steve
Hello Steve,
While I do have information about the camera side of Keystone I know very little about it. There are several camera collector website that may be able to help.
Derrick
Thanks for your reply. I’m just trying to find information their projectors.
I own a Curtiss Candy Keystone pond boat probably
made in late 40’s to early 50’s. My father worked for them from late 40’s to early 60’s when Standard Brands bought the company. Value of these old boats?
Hello Drew,
As a private label boat I would put in the $100 range. I have two of these and honestly do not know the numbers produced. As you can guess the less that were made the more valuable it would be.
Derrick