Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-22
KRIS KRINGLE,S REALM.
The Constant Changes Made I'm the
Toy Trade.

The Constant Changes Made I'm the
| Toy Trade.
NEW THINGS TAKING THE PLACE OF THE JUMP
ING JACK AND THE PAINTED MONKEY OF OLD
| T1AEs-EvoLuTION OF THE BICYCLE FROM THE
| Observation-Disclosures IN THE TRADE
| MADE BY AMERICAN INGENUITY-DoLLs AND
| MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FROM ACROSS THE
| ooEAN-ELECTRIC AND MECHANICAL Toys
MODERN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PENNY BANK
| the toy trade does not stand still any more
| IMAM human ingenuity and invention. Every year
ADDS some new curiosity, some attractive device,
some ingenious toy to swell the sum total to
that OF the previous year. The Christmas buyer
OF toys has brand new experience each year.
Something of the changes which the toy trade
has undergone was told to a STAR reporter by
dealer III this city who has been in the business
for twenty years past.
Il would hardly recognize the trade as the
same. he remarked, in a musing tone. as his
| eye ran down the long vista of his store ''The
| trade of the day bears about the same COMPARE
| son to the past as the present extent of my
business does now with what it was twenty years
ago. Then the toys were limited to what we
now call the staple articles Of our trade. Such
! things. for instance, as hobby-hOrses, rattles,
| tops, marbles and dolls. Now the list comprises
an immense and an ever increasing variety.
Look at the hobby-horse for example, which
used to enter so largely into the toy business
We keep a stock on hand still. and there is de-
mand for Them but they have been superseded.
First the velocirede came, and every boy as
soon as he could walk must have one. Now
| the velocipede is giving place to the bicycle"
| The evolution of the hObby-hOrse to the BIZ
cycle, however" continued the philosophic toy
dealer, ''has witnessed an effort to modernize,
so to speak, that form Of infantile diversion,
which resulted in the double arrangement in
rockers with seat. the projecting sides being
cut In the shape of horses, elephants and
goats"
VARIETY AND INGENUITY OF MODERN TOYS.
'What Is the main feature of the change in
the toy business?" asked the reporter.
| Il consider that the modern variety" was the
reply, - is due entirely to the enterprise and in
genuity of American workmen The contrIbu-
| lions OF America are mainly mechanical toys
and this department Is increasing each year.
Americans compete with Europeans in the pro-
ductfOn Of the staple articles, but the home
made toy Is hardly equal to the imported For
able to make as fine doll In this country as they
| do In France.
Here, tor instance" he continued, taking up
doll, lis an American doll which we sell tor
SI2o. Even the head is imported but the body
| is made in this country. and if you notice it is
not made as well as this imported doll" picking
up another, (which sells for So The reason is
suppose our wOrkmen will not give the time
ana patience which the peasants in Europe de-
vote to the same work. The duty is about
| tmrty-three per cent, but in spite of that the
European doll holds its own in this market
American competition has compelled many i'm
proVements, which the manufacturers in Europe
are rather slow about making. But they are
not apt to make a new toy in foreign countries
Ihey go on year after year producing the same
thing in the same way"
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
"Musfcal instruments are made almost eXclu-
sivey in Europe" he continued, with the ex-
ception OF pianos, which are made here This is
a mechanical toy" pointing to one in the win
dow, (which illustrates American ingenuity.
Here you see this figure Of a lady seated before
piano. When wound up the figure will touch
the keys with its hand and sway its body in im-
tatl0n OF life, and the music box inside the piano
will play popular tune But our music boxes
still come from Europe, and are about the same
as when l first entered business. Then, there
are the vOns, all made in Europe. Look at
that pile OF boxes" he continued as he took
down long box from shelf "Now. this vio-
in as you see, is all complete with bow and
| strings. 1t sells for 81. and duty has to be
paid on it at that. How they manage to make
them so cheaply the American workman has
never been able to find out, or at least he has
never succeeded in initiating"
MAZE OF TOYS.
Following the dealer as he walked to the
lower end of the store, the reporter found him.
self in perfect maze Of toys of all descriptions
They were piled up on the floor lay in heaps on
the counters, and were strung along in mid air.
Wagons and carts of every descriptions, little
wooden tables. whistles and horns doll car
riages, whips. blocks. files of tin and wooden
soldiers. animals of nearly every species at
taehed to wagons and carts, small and great
pyPrVWhara I'll
and doll tea seats, and all the belongings of
doll existence which keep the fingers of the
little ones active In arranging and finally break
Ing. But these are toys which, with possibly
the exception OF improvement In details are
familiar to Christmas buyers. The novelties,
after all, are in the mechanical toys. Things
that move, and especially those that make a
noise, and in this line it may be noted that the
tastes Of boys. The toys supposed to be suit
able for girls are not found among the novel
ties of a toy store, and it is noticeable how
many more toys there are for boys than tor
girls.
THE LIMITED RANGE OF TOYS FOR GIRLS.
The girls sphere seems to be more limited. ~
remarked the dealer when his attention was
called to this TACT "a girl gets doll tea
set and book, and she is satisfied and takes
good care of them. But the boys soon get tired
of their toys and Smash them up
The truth of this observation will no doubt
find confederation In the experience OF every
parent. What is being done for boys in this line
ought to make the coming generations capable
and ingenious. Boxes of tools are provided,
which are complete carpenter chests in minia-
ture. Then there are printing presses of a yari-
ETY. of sizes, from which can be printed business
cards, hand bills, etc.
One OF the wonders the toy store however.
Is the immense line OftOy steam engines. These
are no mere models without life and motion.
but genuine engines in miniature, with spirit
lamps under the copper boilers, safety valve,
fly wheel and shaft all complete. There are
horizontal and upright engines, and they have
sufficient power to run small lathe or toy
saw mill or grist mill. If boy has any me-
chanlcal genius these toys are calculated to de-
velOp it. There are toy fire engines and tiny
steamboats,, which can navigate the waters of a
bath tub, providing the steam is up and the
waves do not run too high
ELECTRIC TOYS.
The recent discoveries in electricity have also
been utilized to amuse and instruct the rising
generation. There are electric motors and elec-
trio tops, besides little batteries which give a
current Of considerable power The new toy OF
the season has electricity for its main feature
This is a square box covered with glass and be-
meath the glass are small figures of different
kinds. The glass Is rubbed with powder
which is already prepared, and in this way an