Today, children mainly play with modern, electronic toys or plastic toys. However, environmentally friendly wooden toys and tin toys in retro style are on the rise. First and foremost, skywalker board reviews the popular humming gyro for winding is still made of sheet metal. But how long has it been in the children’s rooms and what other tin toys were there in the children’s rooms of your parents and grandparents? In the following article, we have the answers for you.
The history of tin toys
At any time in history, children have played with toys that were easily affordable. In ancient cultures, clay toys or carved figures made of wood, ivory or bone were completely normal. Here in Germany, there were initially many wooden toys, as we had large stands of trees and forests. Later, however, during the industrial revolution, toys made of tinplate appeared. Some of them were mechanically operated. This means that old tin toys were meant to be wound up.
The first tin toy in Germany
It is assumed that the first tin toy in Germany was manufactured by the Swabian company Rock & Graner. At first, of course, only the wealthier people could afford these toys. From 1890 there were tin toys in mass production. These became all the more interesting when in 1889 the colored sheet metal print was added and the toys became all the more beautiful. Shortly before the turn of the century, in 1898 there were the first tin toy cars from the company Bing.
Industrial mass production
Tin toys were produced with the help of industrial mass production as early as 1890 and collapsed during the two world wars. Because the big companies had to keep their capacities free for war equipment. From 1948, production picked up speed again, until the Japanese manufacturers in the 1950s and 1960s with cheaper products depending on the German ones. In addition, toys made of plastic and zinc were slowly on the rise, and interest in tin toys declined.
Nostalgia wave after the doldrums
After a total lull, old tin toys came back into fashion in the 1980s. Interest grew again and a tin car retro trend began. Thanks to this new wave of nostalgia, the German manufacturers, some of whom initially produced abroad, were able to score points again with their old products. They launched their antique tin toys, i.e. their classic models, partly as a replica, partly in a new guise.
Which tin toys are there?
The humming gyro was particularly well-known as a tin toy for winding. However, with the first model cars made of sheet metal, the tin toy airplane and the tin toy railway, as well as the tin toy motorcycle, came up. These toys were more attractive to the boys.
But in addition to all the tractors, model steam engines, ships, and military toys, there were also items for girls. For example, in addition to the humming gyroscopes, they also found the tin toy carousels or the Laterna Magica interesting.
In addition, there were tin toys for winding up that are still available today in all variants. Tin animals that move around hopping, classic boxers fighting in the boxing ring, small carousels, humming gyroscopes, robots, drummer clowns, and so on. However, the toy is not old, but completely new and only based on classic tin toys.
However, not all tin toys are intended for winding. Also popular are the small cheap cracking frogs made of sheet metal or the tin drums with batons.
Tin toys as collector’s items
Lovers of the old tin toys have recognized the value and a passion for collecting has set in. Original old toys made of tinplate sometimes bring in very high prices. Newly-made tin toys, which are handmade and painted, are intended only for decoration and as a collector’s item. They are not toys. Mainly sought after as a collector’s item are the old model railways and cars or various mechanical toys to wind up. The rarer and the better in shape they are, the more valuable they are.
My first humming gyro
The first humming rotors were turned from wood and were driven by a string. If you have manual skills and the necessary equipment for milling and turning, long range electric skateboards you can even make such a humming gyro from wood yourself. Instructions can be found on the Internet.
The humming gyro made of sheet metal can hum, sing or hum due to production. He even plays songs when he is provided with slits and reeds. Today there are also modern humming roundabouts with music. The gyroscopes, which can play children’s songs, are also called chorale gyroscopes.
