{"product_id":"humpty-dumpty-clown-coin-eater","title":"Humpy Dumpty Mechanical Coin Eater","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wonderfully eccentric vintage reproduction of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Humpy Dumpty”, a mechanical coin-eating clown\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, holds a very special place in Simon’s Collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePurchased by Simon approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e15 years ago, this was the very first piece he ever bought\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — the beginning of a collecting journey that would eventually lead to the collection of curious, unusual and forgotten objects featured here today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBased on the earlier mechanical \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHumpy Dumpty coin-eater\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the figure features the wonderfully unsettling character of a traditional mechanical clown, complete with pointed red hat, painted face, ruff collar and outstretched hands. The open mouth is part of the original coin-eating concept, with the figure designed around the entertaining act of “feeding” the clown a coin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis particular example has acquired plenty of honest age and wear over the years, with rubbing and losses to the painted finish that only add to its character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor Simon, however, its importance isn’t really about condition, rarity or monetary value.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe first piece\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe one that started the hunt for the strange, the forgotten and the slightly odd — and ultimately led to everything that became \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSimon’s Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn unusual little piece of mechanical Americana, but more importantly, the beginning of a 15-year collecting story.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56747421466964,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1049\/5246\/3700\/files\/IMG_6580.jpg?v=1786311914","url":"https:\/\/drodditiescabinetofcuriosities.co.uk\/products\/humpty-dumpty-clown-coin-eater","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}