Founded in 1898 by Bertha “B.” Shackman in New York City, B. Shackman & Co. began as a small importer of novelty goods and greeting cards. Over time, the company evolved into a beloved Fifth Avenue toy and gift shop known for its whimsical treasures, dollhouse miniatures, and reproduction antique novelties.
The original store stood at Fifth Avenue and 16th Street — a location now replaced by modern retail storefronts. After Bertha Shackman’s death in 1925 (reported in The New York Times following a tragic automobile accident), the business continued under the Shackman name, growing steadily throughout the 20th century. From 1971 to 1998, B. Shackman & Co. operated at 85 Fifth Avenue, becoming a destination for nostalgic shoppers, collectors, and families visiting Manhattan during the holiday season.
Shackman became especially known for dollhouse miniatures, Victorian paper dolls, puzzles, holiday novelties, and lithographed tin toys. Rather than manufacturing in-house, the company sourced and commissioned items from overseas producers — particularly in Japan in the post-war period, and later from Taiwan and Hong Kong. This allowed them to offer colourful litho tins, wind-ups, and affordable decorative toys that blended old-world charm with mid-century accessibility.
For many families, a visit to Shackman was part of cherished New York holiday traditions. Small novelty gifts — animal erasers, miniature collectibles, reproduction paper ephemera — were often tucked into stockings or given as special little surprises. Interestingly, many of the reproduction “antique-style” pieces sold in the 1960s and 70s are now collectible in their own right.
By the 1980s, the brand introduced “The Shackman Collection,” a signature line focused on reproduction antique toys and vintage-inspired stationery. This collection reflected the company’s ongoing commitment to nostalgia and craftsmanship, even as the toy industry shifted toward plastic mass production.
The litho tin Santa Yo-Yo in our collection reflects this legacy beautifully. Decorative, festive, and rooted in traditional tin lithography, it represents Shackman’s talent for capturing the spirit of holidays through small, affordable keepsakes.
Though B. Shackman & Co. eventually closed its doors by the beginning of the 2000's, its legacy lives on in collections worldwide — a reminder of a time when a Fifth Avenue toy shop could feel like stepping into a cabinet of curiosities.
At My Doll Cottage, preserving pieces like these ensures that the charm of B. Shackman & Co. continues to inspire curiosity for future generations.
With love
Shyloh
Tales from the youngest daughter of adoll collector — raised on Milo, Vegemite, and more antiques than a country opshop.
