B  C  J  L  M  P  S  T   Contrary to the later beliefs of the Pokémon generation, kids at the Turn of the (last) Century have more than their share of toys to play with. By refusing to shoot a cub, Theodore Roosevelt inspires the invention of the Teddy Bear. Meanwhile, Lionel lets out a mighty 'All Aboard' with the development of its ...

B  C  E  J  L  M  P  R  S  T   Raggedy Ann sweeps the imaginations of girls, while Erector sets and Tinker Toys get boys excited about contruction. Henry Ford's Model T car gets shrunk down to toy form, as die-cast cars from Tootsietoys and others become all the rage for those too young to drive the real thing. BB guns C Cap Guns Checkers Chutes and Ladders Crayola Crayons E Erector ...

Spinning tops Most kids before computers would remember getting dizzy watching a spinning top. A top, or spinning top, is a toy that can be spun on an axis, balancing on a point. This motion is produced by holding the axis firmly while pulling a string. An internal weight then rotates, producing an overall circular motion. Typically ...

B  C  E  J  L  M  P  R  S  T  Y   The twenties roar on, as kids play with everything from Lincoln Logs to Yo-Yo's. Antonio Pasin starts mass-producing the little red wagons that will soon be called "Radio Flyers," Pogo Sticks send kids bouncing happily down the street, and J. Pressman gives the European game Halma the more exotic-sounding name of Chinese Checkers. B BB guns C Cap Guns Checkers Chinese ...

World War II halts the production of metal toys for the first half of the decade, but the post-war years more than make up for it. Chutes and Ladders, Cootie and Candy Land delight the pre-adolescent set, Slinky makes kids crazy over a metal spring, Ertl die-cast toys bring the farm to the city, and the Magic 8 Ball answers all questions with its liquidy, mystical powers.

B  C  E  J  L  M  P  R  S  T  V  Y   The 1929 Stock Market Crash makes toys a luxury most 30's kids can't afford, but imagination makes do in the meantime. The Great Depression does make the man who invented Monopoly a millionare, and a mouse named Mickey brings smiles to every product his rounded ears grace. Parker Brothers releases Sorry! to a game-hungry public, ...