As I '
node for the ages' - I can't help think about one of the premier 'toys for the ages' - Tinkertoys.
This classic
American construction set has captured the imagination of kids for over 80 years.
The toys sell in a metal canister, come with instructions for creating elaborate
mechanical "tools," such as
airplanes,
printing presses,
windmills,
lathes,
vehicles,
ferris wheels,
bird cages and
saws. The sets included
wooden spools with holes around the edge and one in the middle, wooden rods of various lengths, and included little pieces of green cardboard used to make windmill blades. The possibilities for construction play are endless with Tinkertoy Construction Sets, referred to early on as the "Thousand Wonder Builder".
The 1950s brought color to Tinkertoys, the new version featured brightly colored plastic pieces.
Eventually Giant Tinker Toys were introduced and plastic Tinkertoys replaced the original wooden style in the 1990’s.
Joining Tinkertoys in the early
20th century were a host of other construction toys, including
Erector Sets,
Legos and
Lincoln Logs. While providing endless hours of entertainment these toys also help to develop a child's
spatial intelligence.
After
Playskool acquired Tinkertoys in 1985 they redesigned the toy in honor of its 80th
anniversary.
I highly recommend Tinkertoys, I could never have enough of them as a kid. The possibilties of play are truely endless, you can build structures that swing, roll, spin and incorporate other toys into your play. They offer the creative freedom to build what you want and invent new toys out of the Tinkertoys.
Preschool and elementary teachers often equip their "Architecture Center" with tinker toys, Tinkertoys are an ideal learn-while-you-play toy.
In 2001 Tinker toys won a Toy of the Year' ( T.O.T.Y). Awards sponsored by the
Toy Manufacturers of America, so as you see they are still going strong 90 years later, and I have a hunch they will still be going strong 90 years from now.
For tinker toy collectors, I recommend -
Collector's Guide to Tinker Toys by Craig Strange.
For a fascinating story about research done with a walking tinkertoy robot at Cornell University see:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/April98/tinkertoy.walker.ssl.html
Official site of Tinkertoys - www.tinkertoy.com
(source: www.tinkertoy.com)