*** boys' toys : country trends England








Children's Toys: Country Trends--England

English toy store
Figure 1.--Here we see a museum display of a 19th century English toy shop, wonderfull stocked with period toys. The museum is the Salford Museum - Larkhill Place. This is a fascinating museum replicating a Victirian stree with all kinds of different store fronts.

All of the major European countries had important toy industries. England was one of these countries. They also imported from other countries, especially Germany. Toys in the 19th century were often made out of wood, but we also see cast iron toys. We see animal figures (often done as pull toys), balls, blocks, cannons, dolls, doll houses, hobby horses, horns and drums, stuffed animals, tops, toy soldiers, and much more. Toys become even more diverse in the 20th century. Mechano sets, ??? trains, and match box cars were especially popular. There was considerable trade in toys across international borders before World war I. German companies lost many of their English markets as a result of the War. There was some recovery by the 1930s, but after the NAZI take over toy production was scaled back. Thus most English children had domestically produced toys. We believe that until after world war II, most toys were sold in department stores or small dedicated toy shops. Hopefully our English readers will tell us more about toys there. Photographs provide some information about period toys. We notice that pull animals were popular toys in the 19th century. One of the most popular were horses. We see both small horses and large horses. This little English boy was photographed with what look to be his toys, probably in the 1920s (figure 1). Notice the studio back drop. Clearly this is not his home. Thus the toys appear to be those from the photographic studio. He has blocks and toy animals. They are not stuffed animals, I'm not sure about the material.

Toy Industry

All of the major European countries had important toy industries. England was one of these countries. They also imported from other countries, especially Germany. There was considerable trade in toys across international borders before World war I. German companies lost many of their English markets as a result of the War. There was some recovery by the 1930s, but after the NAZI take over toy production was scaled back. Thus most English children had domestically produced toys.

Chronology

Photographs provide some information about period toys. Toys in the 19th century were often made out of wood, but we also see cast iron toys. We see animal figures (often done as pull toys), balls, blocks, cannons, dolls, doll houses, hobby horses, horns and drums, pupets, stuffed animals, tops, toy soldiers, and much more. Toys become even more diverse in the 20th century. Many of the old favorites such as balls and blocks continue to be popular. Times change but certain toys will appeal to children regardless of the era. We see Mechano sets, ??? trains, and match box cars were especially popular. Of course by the late 20th century computer games and other electronic toys appear.

Marketing

We believe that until after World War II, most toys were sold in department stores or small dedicated toy shops. Hopefully our English readers will tell us more about toys there.

Types of Toys

English children had a wide range of toys to play with. Images show teddies and other stuffed animals, puppets, blocks, and toy soldier. We notice that pull animals were popular toys in the 19th century. One of the most popular were horses. We see both small horses and large horses. Of course what a smll boy really wanted was a hobby horse big enough for hm to ride. A lot of images show trumpets and drum. One little English boy was photographed with what look to be his teddies and puppet friends at Christmas as well as a pop gun, probably in the 1920s. Notice the studio back drop. Clearly this is not his home.Boys enjoyed all kinds of guns. Girls of course loved dolls and doll houses. Boys in addition to animals liked vehicles they could play with like trains, ships, and in the 20th century, trucks and planes. A partiularly popular toy was a train, especially electrical trains in the 20th century. Older boys enjoyed erector/meccano and chemostry sets.

Individual Experiences

As an American boy in the 1940s I remember my wonderful toy soldiers from England--my brother and I played hours on end with our Red Coats. They were the beautifully done lead soldiers, not the modern plastic stuff. An English reader recalls his toy soldiers as well.






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Created: 1:52 AM 9/23/2005
Last updated: 7:29 PM 8/17/2007