When I think of classic, vintage, and retro toys, I think of my brother’s soldier-making kit. The kit included a lead crucible, tools to manipulate the container, and molds for an army of toy soldiers. Hour after hour, he poured lead into the molds and polished the lead soldiers. At the time, we did not know about the dangers of lead and we thought this was normal.
How times have changed! Some unsafe classic, vintage and retro toys have been recalled, but hundreds remain and are being sold. Books, trade magazines, and dozens, if not hundreds, of Internet websites are suited to this search. You may be a collector yourself or know people who collect historical toys.
According to an article on the Brainz website, the most popular toys of all time are Tickle Me Elmo, Beanie Babies, Super Soaker, and Etch a Sketch. Other historical toys were equally popular. Why do they last?
Design is one of the reasons. These toys were made to stimulate imagination and hours of play. Several years ago my husband and I inherited a pinball game from the late 1930s or early 1940s. The wooden game board is in good condition, as is the spring that launches balls into the game. Chinese chess, checkers, and checkers have become collectibles and some people display the boards as if they were art.
The fun factor is another reason. Ask a friend to name their favorite childhood toys, and you’ll hear stories about balsam wood gliders, Slinky, Lincoln logs, sock monkeys, and more. Manufacturers are replicating these designs and adding a new twist. For example, I made Sock Monkeys for my daughters. You can buy the monkeys today, as well as Sock Monkey keychains and quilts.
Durability is yet another reason. Many classic, vintage, and retro toys were made from sturdy wood and metal parts that withstood constant use. Tonka trucks, made in Minnesota, were so tough they could be passed from one child to another or from one generation to the next. These trucks are very collectible today.
Adaptability is the final reason. The historical games are the warm-ups of today’s party, something to relax a group before dinner or a shared dinner. Shoppers scour garage sales, Salvation Army stores, and antique stores in search of the games they played as children. “Games have been a constant human concern,” according to “Ancient and Ancient Games,” an article published in “Collectors Weekly.”
Before buying classic, antique, or retro toys, check the condition. Does the toy have rough edges or are parts missing? Are all the pieces of the game there? Is the toy in its original box? Also reach out to your family members, because they may still have these toys in your basement or attic.
Some manufacturers are remaking toys from the past. Associated Press business writer Michael Liedtke writes about a manufacturer in his article, “Vintage Toy Maker Wham-O Tries to Regain His Strength,” published in “The Berkeley Daily Planet.” Although Wham-O had been through a difficult financial time, explains Liedtke, “the company that gave the world the Frisbee, the Hula Hoop and the Hockey Sack is trying to regain its position as a pioneer in toys.” The first step toward this goal is to remake the company’s Slip’N Slide toy.
Whether they’re classic, vintage, or retro, toys are fun. Historical toys remind you of childhood, a simpler time, and family bonding. You may want to buy a historical toy if you find one. If you have historical toys that you no longer need, donate them to a history museum or children’s museum. These well-designed, fun, durable, and adaptable toys are well worth keeping.
Copyright 2011 by Harriet Hodgson