George Carette
31 years in operation (1886–1917)
About George Carette
Georges Carette, a Frenchman operating in Nuremberg, produced some of the finest tin toys of the Edwardian era. His clockwork automobiles, boats, and trains are considered masterpieces of the toy maker's art, with exquisite lithography and mechanical precision. WWI ended the company.
Founding
Georges Carette, a Frenchman who settled in Nuremberg and founded his works there in 1886.
History of George Carette
Carette produced some of the finest tinplate ever made, and did it in a shorter run than almost any comparable maker. Its motor cars — open tourers, limousines, landaulets — are the reference standard for pre-1914 tinplate automobiles: correctly proportioned, hand-painted, glazed with real bevelled glass in the better models, and fitted with lamps, horns and upholstery.
The company also made trains, steamships, stationary steam engines and optical toys, and manufactured extensively for Bassett-Lowke in Britain, which sold Carette-built rolling stock and locomotives to British outline. Much of what British collectors know as early Bassett-Lowke was made in Carette's Nuremberg workshops.
Carette's French nationality ended the business. When the First World War broke out he was expelled from Germany as an enemy alien, and the works closed in 1917. That abrupt ending, after barely thirty years, is why fine Carette pieces are scarce relative to Bing and Märklin.
Timeline
- 1886Georges Carette founds his works in Nuremberg
- 1905Hand-painted tinplate motor cars with glazed windows set the standard for the period
- 1908Carette manufactures extensively for Bassett-Lowke in Britain
- 1914Carette is expelled from Germany as a French national at the outbreak of war
- 1917The works closes permanently
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Carette clockwork limousine (1910)
- Carette tin steamship
- Carette open touring car
- Carette tin garage with cars
Identifying & Dating George Carette Toys
- Look for a "GC & Cie" mark, or a flag or pennant device with the initials, stamped or lithographed on the base or chassis, usually with "Bavaria".
- Pieces made for Bassett-Lowke may carry the British retailer's name only and are attributed on construction and pattern.
- Real bevelled glass rather than celluloid or open windows, and separately applied lamps and fittings, are strong Carette indicators on early cars.
Collector's Notes
- The limousines and tourers are among the most valuable toy cars in existence, and the market is small, specialist and auction-based. Restoration disclosure is essential.
- Completeness of the applied fittings — lamps, horn, driver figure, windscreen, tyres — dominates value, and each of these has been reproduced.
- Original paint on Carette is hand-applied and shows brush character. A uniformly smooth, evenly glossy finish on a 1910 tinplate car is a warning sign, not a good sign.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was George Carette founded?
George Carette was founded in 1886, based in Nuremberg, Germany.
Is George Carette still in business?
No. George Carette ceased operations in 1917, after 31 years in business.
What is George Carette best known for?
George Carette is best known for Carette clockwork limousine (1910), Carette tin steamship, Carette open touring car, among other toys.
Where was George Carette located?
George Carette was based in Nuremberg, Germany.
What kinds of toys did George Carette make?
George Carette is categorized under tin toys, trains, ships, clockwork.
Who founded George Carette?
Georges Carette, a Frenchman who settled in Nuremberg and founded his works there in 1886.
How can you identify genuine George Carette toys?
Look for a "GC & Cie" mark, or a flag or pennant device with the initials, stamped or lithographed on the base or chassis, usually with "Bavaria". Pieces made for Bassett-Lowke may carry the British retailer's name only and are attributed on construction and pattern. Real bevelled glass rather than celluloid or open windows, and separately applied lamps and fittings, are strong Carette indicators on early cars.
Are George Carette toys valuable?
The limousines and tourers are among the most valuable toy cars in existence, and the market is small, specialist and auction-based. Restoration disclosure is essential. Completeness of the applied fittings — lamps, horn, driver figure, windscreen, tyres — dominates value, and each of these has been reproduced. Original paint on Carette is hand-applied and shows brush character. A uniformly smooth, evenly glossy finish on a 1910 tinplate car is a warning sign, not a good sign.