Isn't it amazing that the same toys that children loved 100 years ago are still being enjoyed by children today. And most likely be enjoyed by future generations. I played with many of these toys as a child, and my own children are now playing with them also. To me this article is a fun trip down memory lane viewing some old friends, and I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
Crayola Crayons
Crayola Crayons first box of eight crayons was first introduced in 1903. Invented by cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold. Smith , the crayons sold for a nickel a box and came in black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green. Today there are over a hundred different types of crayons being made by Crayola.Erector Set
Invented in 1913 The Gilbert Erector Set quickly became a favorite with little boys everywhere. You can still find erector sets in stores today, but there's nothing quite like the original which can still be found for sale on ebay for a fairly decent price.Lincoln Logs
Invented in 1916 the Lincoln Logs quickly became a success. The inventor John Lloyd Wright claimed that the shape of the logs was inspired by Tokyo's earthquake-proof Imperial Hotel which he saw while it was under construction.Yo Yo
The Yo Yo which with dolls being the first may actually be the worlds second oldest toy, first made a come back in the 1920's. A young man from the Philippines who worked as a bellhop at a Santa Monica hotel started his own company called The Flores Yo You Company which was later bought out by an American business man and the rest is history.View-Master
Invented in 1939 the View-Master was introduced at the New Yorks World Fair, the first View-Master was intended as an educational tool aimed at adults. But it soon caught on with the Military, and with children when they obtained the rights to display Disney characters on their reels. This opened up an amazing new world for children everywhere.Candy Land
Who could forget Candy Land, invented in 1949 Candy Land has been a beloved game with children for almost 60 years now. The game was first invented by Eleanor Abbott to keep herself busy while she was recovering from polio. Children loved the game so much that she submitted it to Milton Bradly where it went on to become the number one top selling preschool game of all time.Mr. Potato Head
Invented in 1952 by George Lerner Mr. Potato Head has the distinction of being the very first toy ever to be advertised on television. The original Mr. Potato Head contained only parts such as arms, eyes, nose etc. and parents had to supply the potato. Eight years later a hard plastic body was included and Mr. Potato head went on to be a world class personality. In 1987 he gave up his pipe and went on to be a spokespud for The American Cancer Societies Great American Smokeout campaign.G.I. Joe
Invented in 1964 G.I. Joe was the very first action figure! G.I. Joe was born when inventor Stanley Weston convinced that boys were secretly playing with Barbie dolls felt that they deserved their own action figure. At Hasbro it quickly became taboo to call G. I. Joe a doll. During the Vietnam era Joe slowly began to loose popularity and eventually sank from sight. Only to reappear again in the 1980's with a new look, new weapons,and new enemies. Launched in 1982 the new G. I. Joe proved to be one of the most successful toys of that era. By the mid 1990's Joe again ran out of steam and Hasbro stopped producing them. Only for Joe to make yet another come back, in recent years Joe and his Cobra have yet again returned to toy store shelves.
