Toy company

A.C. Gilbert Company

Alfred Carlton (A.C.) Gilbert founded and led the A.C. Gilbert Company for over 50 years. What began with magic sets was soon anchored with his invention of Erector Sets and the enameled wire. Over the years, A.C. Gilbert Company also produced chemistry sets, radio kits, microscopes, telegraph sets, electricity sets, weather stations, Atomic Energy sets, and American Flyer trains.1 A.C.'s philosophy “never to work at anything that wasn't fun” created “educational” sets that made learning fun for a generation of children.2

1. West, Robert D. “The Life & Times of A.C. Gilbert.” Westr. < http://people.msoe.edu/~westr/gilbert.htm > 11 Nov. 2011.
2. Barker, Thomas. “The story behind the magnificent Gilbert Company.” American Flyer.

Coleco

Coleco was a toy developer and manufacturing company that was most famous for the home video game system, ColecoVision, and the Cabbage Patch dolls. The company also produced wading pools, doll carriages, tabletop hockey games, electronic hand-held games, Power Cycle plastic tricycles, pinball machines, pool tables, and sleds.

Martin Greenberg founded the Connecticut Leather Company, a supplier of leather to shoemakers, in 1932 in Hartford, Connecticut. Coleco, an abbreviation of Connecticut Leather Company, was a family business that increasingly involved Martin’s two sons, Leonard and Arnold.

Crayola

Crayola began as Peekskill Chemical Works in upstate New York where they ground, packaged, and distributed charcoal and lamp black. Joseph W. Binney founded Peekskill in 1864 and was joined by his son, Edwin Binney, and nephew, C. Harold Smith, in 1880 when he established the headquarters in New York City.1 They were in the business of pigments: black from charcoal and lamp black and a red iron oxide paint often used on barns.

1. “Binney & Smith Inc. - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Binney & Smith Inc.” Reference for Business Company History Index. <http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/50/Binney-Smith-Inc.html> 4 Feb. 2011.

Duncan Toys

The Duncan name is synonymous with the yo-yo which began with Pedro Flores in 1928 and his Yo-Yo Manufacturing Company. As an immigrant to the United States, Pedro thought of marketing the Philippine traditional wooden toy, the “yo-yo,” which he played with as a child. Though many cultures had a similar toy, it was the Philippine Tagalog language that gave it the yo-yo name, which meant “come-come.”1

1. “Duncan Toys Company – Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Duncan Toys Company.” Reference for Business, Company History Index. < http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/37/Duncan-Toys-Company.html > 27 Jan. 2011.

Fisher-Price

Herman G. Fisher, Irving L. Price, Irving's wife Margaret Evans Price, and Helen M. Schelle founded Fisher-Price in 1930 in East Aurora, New York. Their mission was to produce toys with “intrinsic play value, ingenuity, strong construction, good value for the money, and action.”1

1. “Our Creed.” Fisher-Price Human Resources. < http://www.fisher-price.com/us/hr/aboutus.asp > 27 Jan. 2011.

Hasbro Inc

The Hassenfeld brothers, Henry, Hilal, and Herman, as recent Polish emigrants in Providence, Rhode Island, began selling cloth leftovers in 1923. Three years later they founded Hassenfeld Brothers, Inc. with eight family members to manufacture pencil box covers from these cloth leftovers. By 1929, under Henry's direction, they employed 150 in the manufacture and sale of pencil boxes and cloth zipper pouches containing school supplies.

K'NEX

K'NEX designs, manufactures, and distributes plastic toy construction sets that encourage creativity, interaction, self-confidence, fine motor skill development, and an understanding of math, science, and technology concepts. With a slogan of “IMAGINE – Build – Play”,1 K'NEX believes that “play is the work of childhood and a prerequisite to the development of many important skills and abilities.”2

1. “About K'NEX.” K'NEX. < http://www.knex.com/About_KNEX/ > 27 Oct. 2011.
2. “Benefits of K'NEX Constructive Play.” K'NEX. < http://www.knex.com/Parents/Benefits_of_KNEX.php > 27 Oct. 2011.

Kenner

Kenner Products was formed in 1947 by the Steiner brothers, Philip, Joseph, Albert, and Albert's son, Robert, as a soap, flavoring, and extract business.1 They named their new company Kenner, after the street their office was on in Cincinnati, Ohio.

1. Skomial, Marcin. “Joseph L. Steiner, 95, a Founder of a Well-Known Toy Maker.” The New York Times. 15 May 2002. < http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B1EFA395D0C768DDDAC0894DA404482 > 10 April 2011.

LEGO Group

Ole Kirk Kristiansen, a carpenter in Billund, Denmark, expanded his business in 1932 by making and selling wooden toys. He named his toy business “Lego” from the Danish words “leg godt,” which means “play well.”1 Selling his toys door to door, Ole augmented this toy line with household items, such as ladders and milking stools. After World War II and a fire which destroyed his factory, Ole restructured his family toy business and built a new factory. By 1947 the LEGO Billund Toy Factory, Ltd. manufactured nearly 150 kinds of carved wooden toys.2

1. “Lego A/S.” Funding Universe. < http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Lego-AS-Company-History.html > 29 June 2011. p. 2.
2. Ibid.

Mattel

Ruth and Elliot Handler joined with Harold “Matt” Matson to form Mattel Creations in 1945. The Mattel name was a combination of Harold's nickname Matt and part of Elliot's name. However, very early on Matt's ill health necessitated that he sell out, which left Ruth and Elliot to design, manufacture, and market products for the new company.

Milton Bradley

Milton Bradley, lithographer and inventor, formed the Milton Bradley Company in 1860 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Having the only lithograph machine in Massachusetts outside of Boston, Milton was busy with free lance orders but was looking for a more stable base for his business. After playing an old English board game, Milton designed an American version called The Checkered Game of Life, produced several hundred copies, and sold all of them in a few days in New York City. This sparked a fad and Milton sold 40,000 copies that first year and thereafter focused his business on games.1

1. “Milton Bradley Company – Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Milton Bradley Company.” Reference for Business Company History Index.

Ohio Art Company

The Ohio Art Company manufactures and distributes toys in the United States and internationally, the most famous of which is the classic drawing toy, the Etch A Sketch. They also manufacture retail and wholesale custom metal lithography and molded plastic products.1

1. “Ohio Art Co.” Bloomberg Businessweek. < http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot_article.asp?ticker=OART:US > 20 Jan. 2012.

Parker Brothers

George S. Parker, believing that strategy and amusement games could be enjoyed by adults as well as children, developed the classic games Monopoly, Flinch, Pit, Rook, Boggle, Risk, and Sorry.1 His own passion for inventing games was expanded upon by strategic acquisitions of other inventors’ products and his 12 tenets for running a good business - his own rules for the “game” of a successful corporation.2

1. Whitehill, Bruce. “George S. Parker and Parker Brothers.” The Big Game Hunter. < http://thebiggamehunter.com/company-histories/parker-geo-bros/ > 9 Sep. 2011.
2. Turner, Glenn. “The Game Makers: The Story of Parker Brothers from Tiddledy Winks to Trivial Pursuit (Literature).” The New GAMER. 27 April 2005.

Playskool

Playskool, Inc. manufactures preschool and infant toys that engage young children in play and learning. What began as the idea of two retired women schoolteachers continues today with the belief that “Play is nature's classroom.”1

1. “The PLAYSKOOL Story.” PLAYSKOOL. < http://www.hasbro.com/playskool/en_US/discover/for-parents/why-playskool.cfm > 11 Nov. 2011.

Radio Flyer Inc

Radio Flyer Inc. is one of the oldest national toy companies that is owned and operated by the original founding family. As makers of the little red wagon and subsequent models of wooden, steel, and plastic toy wagons and tricycles, Radio Flyer has been making coasting toys “for every girl and boy” since 1917.1

1. “Radio Flyer Wagon.” National Toy Hall of Fame. < http://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys/radio-flyer-wagon > 11 Nov. 2011.

Tonka Corporation

Tonka Corporation began in 1947 as Mound Metalcraft Incorporated. Founded in Mound, Minnesota by Lynn E. Baker, Avery Crounse, and Alvin Tesch, they first manufactured hat, tie, and shoe racks as well as gardening tools.1 That first year, Edward C. Streater of Streater Industries, Inc. approached the partners about manufacturing steel toys. Mound Metalcraft subsequently bought the tooling of the Streater designs. Alvin refined their designs, and they began manufacturing the #100 Steam Shovel and the #150 Crane and Clam from leftover materials.2

1. “Tonka History.” ChooChooParts. < http://www.choochooparts.com/eBayStore/Images/Collectibles/tonka%20history.pdf > 23 March 2011.
2. “History of Tonka Toys.” Antique Toys Today.

Toys "R" Us

Charles Lazarus, the founder of Toys “R” Us, began selling baby furniture in 1948 in Washington D.C. Aiming for the post World War II baby boom market, Charles soon added rattles, cradle gyms, stuffed animals, tricycles, books, and toys. He called the store the Children's Bargain Town.1 Charles' next store, which pioneered the supermarket floor plan, was called the Baby Furniture and Toy Supermarket. However, in 1957, when he opened a store in Rockville, Maryland, that longer name wouldn't fit the sign. Thus the current name, Toys “R” Us - with the backwards “R” - was born.2

1. “The Beginning.” ToysRus. < http://www.toysrusinc.com/about-us/history/ > 22 May 2011.
2. “Toys “R” Us, Inc.

Tyco Toys

Tyco Toys began in 1926 in Mantua, New Jersey, when two friends, James P. Thomas and John N. Tyler, formed the Mantua Toy Co. to manufacture wood and metal model sailboats. Their first product, a 3 foot cabin cruiser featuring a small electric motor, was offered in 1927. Since finding a quality small motor was difficult, John, an electrician, designed their own 6 volt motor.1

This Number 100 motor and the model boat were the inaugural products of the Triple-T Electrical Toys line. The Triple-T stood for Thomas, Tyler, and Tyler, with the additional Tyler being John's wife and James' sister, who was actively involved as well.

1. “Mantua Metal Products History.” RailStop.com. < http://www.railstop.com/History/Mantua/MantuaHistory.asp > 6 June 2011.

Wham-O

With over 60 years of producing consumer products designed for fun, play, and sport, Wham-O markets many recognizable brands of toys that continue to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Many of their toys encourage physical activity, and they have become known as classic, well made toys.

Wiffle Ball Inc

Wiffle Ball Inc. is the creator, manufacturer, and distributor of the Wiffle Ball and Bat, “an outdoor toy, designed to get people out in the fresh air, playing ball and getting exercise.”1 Designed to be played in small spaces, such as a backyard or city street, Wiffle Ball is a simplified version of softball or baseball that has the additional challenge of hitting a plastic ball that ducks and dives as it crosses the plate.

1. Silverman, Fran. “Wiffle Ball Inc. Has Changed Little In The 50 Years (a blast from your past).” Hartford Courant. 1 Aug. 2004. < http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1190391/posts > 11 Nov. 2011.