Russ Harrington, circa 2015
Mike Harrington
THAT'S MY DAD.
As more clients came calling, he expanded his catalog of available replacement parts by accumulating patterns and castings from several large foundries, collectors and restorers, as well as at auctions. Recognizing that there were only a finite number of original parts to be had, he also built a small foundry that would allow him to sand cast replacement parts.
Russ Harrington began collecting antique toys back in 1963, not long after marrying my mom, Sheila. As his passion for cast iron toys grew, so did his knack for repairing them. He saw an opportunity to earn extra income restoring banks and toys for others, and before long what began as a hobby turned into a nice little business that allowed him to leave his day job as an electrical supervisor at Baltimore's Bethlehem Steel Plant.
That's where I came in. Growing up around these fascinating toys, I fell in love with them just like my dad. At 14 I started helping out in the foundry, sand casting replacement parts for dad's repairs, and a few years later I took over the casting business full time. I also began learning the intricacies and subtleties of a proper restoration.
My dad passed away in 2017, leaving behind a legacy of providing the highest quality craftsmanship and exemplary service to his customers. That's a legacy I do my very best to honor every time I hang my apron around my neck and sit down at our work bench to tackle a project. These toys are not only historical artifacts, but they're important pieces of our personal lives as well. We thank you for entrusting their maintenance and repair to us.
Russ and Sheila,
circa 1963