The Games children played – Part two
I have been reminded of a lot more games children played in the fifties but here are a few of the toys children had back then too.
A typical fifties doll, of which we had many. My great aunt & uncle had a ‘Doll’s Hospital’ shop. People would bring all their broken dolls, and dolls that were no longer wanted. My auntie & uncle would fix them up and sell them on. Sometimes they would bring some over for us girls, which was always a special treat for us.
The Lone Ranger that I’m sure you’re all familiar with, was a typical book for little boys. There were lots of books like this along with hard back comic books like – Beano, Dandy, Minnie the Minx, Desperate Dan, Beryl the Peril, Dennis the Menace….. the list goes on.
Comics were a lot larger then too – about the size of a newspaper. I remember when they changed the format and made them smaller, just as I was growing out of comics.
A friend of mine had one of these little cookers when she was a child. She said that you placed little candles below the burners and could actually cook on it. Apparently she cooked an egg on hers.
Lets not forget the famous ‘Matchbox’ toys for boys. here are a couple showing the rag and Bone man and the milk man I spoke of in my other post.
This little musical box made of tin was another favourite.
Mum painted hundreds if little tin soldiers as homework once. It must have been boring work. I don’t know when she found the time while looking after a home and such a large family.
Most toys would be considered dangerous now days – painted with lead paint, made of sharp tin or other metal. Not many (if any) would pass the safety standards of today. We lived to tell our tales though :O)
As always I expect a lot of you can remember even more toys.
These photos were taken in a museum, by special permission.
PLEASE RESPECT THE COPY WRITE LICENSE. THEY ARE NOT FOR GENERAL USE. Thank you
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granny grimble | 26 March 2008 at 14:48
Very interesting Babs. One point though, the soldiers weren’t painted with lead, They WERE lead.
They could be melted down, and even used to draw with like lead pencils! I remember well Mum’s soldier painting. We all used to have a go. Arthur and I were engaged and saving up to get married, so any extra money was a great help.
Sindie | 26 March 2008 at 15:10
But they did use lead paint too. Right up until recently (70’s) lead paint was even used on babies cots!
weechuff | 26 March 2008 at 15:47
I too remember sitting for ages of an evening, helping mum paint the soldiers. Even down to tiny little eyes and mouths! I can still remember the strange ‘clunk’ sound of the lead soldiers as we shook them to untangle them, ready for painting:0)
Beetle | 26 March 2008 at 16:00
Yes, I meant lead paint was used in general not for the soldiers :O)
Swubird | 26 March 2008 at 17:35
Beetle:
Great post. The Queen is a natural born collector, and she’d give her right arm for some of those old things. What a wonderful collection.
For myself, they bring back memories of years past when we would spend the entire day playing with our toys. What a life it was.
Another winner post for you.
Have a nice day.
Drowsey Monkey | 27 March 2008 at 6:02
Ohhh, that stove – I love it!
(I tagged ya if ya wanna play)
Bong (JB) | 27 March 2008 at 14:10
The lone ranger was a staple of my kid years. Our daughters (2 and
will surely love that stove.
Thanks, your post reminded me to whip up some magic for them this summer.
Ella | 27 March 2008 at 20:03
A great blog, I memories are such nice things to have,even if some of them are not nice , it makes us who we are today, look forward to your next post xx
Spider | 4 April 2008 at 16:10
oooh what another good blog Babs.
Memories of yesteryear, I feel sorry for todays children (well they are not children for long are they?)
Tinax