Toy Forum

Toy ID Boards => Toy ID Help => Topic started by: curious3069 on Friday 08 October 2010, 08:01 pm

Title: Unknown Playset!!!
Post by: curious3069 on Friday 08 October 2010, 08:01 pm
I'm trying to identify the tall playset in the back of this photo!

(http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa475/klef3069/RoyalStables.jpg)

It's approximately 10 inches tall, maybe 12 inches long.   The gold coat of arms says "Royal Stables".   You can flip up the top gable and there a sign stating "parade today".    If you turn the set around, the sides fold out and it looks like a city block.   There are shops lining the street-ie, bakery, toy shop, etc.     The base is marked "Empire, Inc." and it was made in China.   

It's a really cute set so I'd like to find more of it and any accessories that might go with it, but I can't for the life of me figure out what the heck it is!
Title: Re: Unknown Playset!!!
Post by: funkyfifi on Friday 08 October 2010, 10:54 pm
Hi! Does it have a year or anything? I found this link, but think it was more boys toys, but shows Empire Toys catalogue??
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/07/tarheel-empire-and-empire-made-story-so.html (http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2009/07/tarheel-empire-and-empire-made-story-so.html)
Title: Re: Unknown Playset!!!
Post by: curious3069 on Saturday 09 October 2010, 01:01 am
Now that I'm home and it's in front of me..it's dated 1999 and yes, I think that's probably the same company.     The full marking is:

@1999 Empire Ind, Inc
Tarboro, NC

From what I found, the company was known as Tarheel Industries, Carolina Enterprises, and Empire of Carolina at one point or another.    If it's the same company, they made a line of toys called "Empire Gnomes" which were a smurf knockoff.