Produced from 1904
Product number 200
Hand lacquered
Mechanism: clockwork
Height approx. 20 cm / 7,87 inches

Here a free translation from a article in the “La Nature” from 1906 pag. 36

The popular Hercules.
We all know, having seen him, how often this Hercules, lining up in a public square with weights and dumbbells of 20, 50 and 100 kg.
After the compliments from the audience, he takes the opportunity and announces that he is going to lift the weights and barbells and asks if anyone from the audience is willing to come and do the same.
In general, amateurs do not come forward, and if there are some, after trying, they are soon obliged to abandon the experiment.

The little Hercules that we present does not hesitate to take on the work: on his right hand he carries a weight of 20 kg which he holds horizontally, while with his left hand he successively raises and lowers a dumbbell of the same weight.
He walks, moves to the left and to the right and shows that these movements come about in a very natural way for him through the force he knows how to use.
He is not afraid of the competitor who may come along and shows the society around him that he can fulfill the promise he made, to bear the burden for a long time.
In fact, he only stops after going around the meeting several times.
Also wonderful, this little Hercules manages to convince us that he is a strong man who can skillfully handle heavy weights.
​

Produced from 1891
Product number 115 (In the books known to us, this toy has the Martin product number 35 which is not correct, see below on the original catalogue page in the left corner)
Hand lacquered
Mechanism: Rubber band

Length approx. 15,5 cm/ 6,1 inches
Height approx. 14,7 cm/ 5,8 inches

There are not many copies left and often the arms have disappeared, even the toy that was in Martin’s gift in 1908 to the Paris museum Musée des arts et métiers, no longer has arms.

If there are arms attached, they are often not the original but repro arms. It is advisable to check this with UV lighting, only if the replacement took place a long time ago then this will no longer be visible with UV light.

I found this image and text of how the boxers toy works in this magazine.

La science moderne – Journal illustré 1891 :  NUMBER 49  OKTOBER 03-1891  PAGE 105

THE WONDERS OF INDUSTRY

The Boxers

Our chapter of the wonders of small industry will be enriched, this time, with a very curious toy.

These are two boxers practicing and having a real match.

The mechanism, as in most of these toys, is very simple. A horizontal rod shown at the bottom of the drawing serves as a pendulum.

It is connected to an arm by an axis which supports an outgoing shaft.

The movement is given by a strong elastic band which is twisted using the external crank; this elastic, by relaxing, turns a toothed wheel which meshes with the outgoing shaft. 

One foot of each boxer is fixed on a vertical axis folded in Z;

The two axes are connected by a connecting rod which makes them perform the same movements.

One of the axes has the arm extended to the end of the horizontal balance; there is therefore produced each time the toothed wheel turns, a back and forth movement which is communicated to the two boxers.

As they only have one foot attached and the other three limbs are made mobile thanks to a rubber, it follows that with each movement the limbs execute a series of very curious and well-suited gestures boxing scene represented by this toy.

Paul Hisard.

During my collection years, I only came across this toy in five different color versions.

• dress in yellow with the details in red
• dress in blue with the details in red
• dress in green with the details in red
• dress in red with the details in blue
• dress in light blue with the details in gold-colored

See this link https://fernandmartintoys.nl/fernand-martin-the-rope-jumping-girl-number-31-la-sauteuse-de-corde/

Now a reader of my blog has sent me some photos of a new color variant, dress in yellow with the details in green, we now know that there are 6 different color variants.

And we clearly see that there is a pattern of small green/red flowers on the yellow part of the dress.