Childhood red toys

Iconic Raggedy Ann & Andy rag dolls. Chalkware Raggedy Andy hangs above the dolls.


Today I am sharing a few vintage red toys. They are a part of our cultural history. I thought this would be a nice addition for Sue's Wednesday is Rednesday @ It's a Very Cherry World.

Spokes, spools, rods and reels . . . Playskool's Tinkertoy® Construction Sets, the tools of America's tinkerers were invented in 1914. Tinkertoy® Construction Sets are one of the truly classic toys of all time. They have driven the imaginations of children for generations, proving that fun and stimulating toys never lose their appeal.

Tinkertoy® Construction Sets are the invention of Charles Pajeau, a stonemason from Evanston, Illinois who established The Toy Tinkers company. Inspired by watching children play with pencils, sticks and empty spools of thread, Pajeau developed several basic wooden parts which children could assemble in a variety of three dimensional abstract ways. He designed his first set in his garage, and with high hopes, displayed the toy at the 1914 American Toy Fair. But nobody was interested. He tried his marketing skills again at Christmas time. He hired several midgets, dressed them in elf costumes, and had them play with "Tinker Toys" in a display window at a Chicago department store. This publicity stunt made all the difference in the world. A year later, over a million sets had been sold. Playskool acquired the Tinkertoy® line from Child Guidance in 1985.


I love the price tag. It reads $1.18. Below that price is says "Price west of the Rockies $1.29". The actual price of the can of toys was $1.15.


This next game Alley Oop is based on a comic strip that appeared 78 years ago. At its height, Alley Oop with its caveman and dinosaur characters was carried by 800 daily newspapers. It was popular around the world in both comic strips and book formats.

The game featured the comic character in an interesting mural on its reverse. One to four players get to flip their "oops" into the can. Manufactured by the Royal Toy Company, Inc. Copyright 1937 Stephen Slesinger Inc. (Stock Number 005alleyoop)

How fun are these games..... makes you want to be a kid again. Please be sure to join Sue for some more fun. For more childhood fun, please check out my vintage Wild West toys @ Thriftiques.

Got it at Goodwill
Sherrie