Miniature Diecast Ship - Identification Help Appreciated

[gardengirl]

I have 2 vintage miniature ships possibly diecast. The first is red, approximately 1 1/2 inches long 1/4" wide. It has 2 smoke stacks and a small slit in the bow. The second is yellow and the exact same size and model. No marks/numbers on either ship. They look to be from the 1930's -1940's. Very heavy given their tiny size.

I've spent quite a bit of time trying to identify these ships and I'm pretty convinced that they're not Tootsietoy Midgets because they're too small and because the photos don't match. The Tootsietoy Midgets were over 2" and had more detail on them with rounded edges. These have less detail and sharper corners.

I'm thinking they could be Cracker Jack toys or game pieces.

The coin in the photo is a quarter.



Thanks in advance for your help!

[LittleRockRob]

These ships are CJ, they were made by tootsietoy are are usually dated in the 1940's. They are listed in Larry White's "Cracker Jack Toys". Like many other small toys they were probably also sold separately.

[gardengirl]

Thank you so much for the id!

Do you know what the slit in the bow was for? Was there a flag/mast of some sort?
Thanks again!
Julie