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.