Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-20
CHRISTMAS TOYS FROM GERMANY
by FREDHaIo J. HAsKTN

- Ac1zINcsTON Oct Jeff parents want German
\NI TOYS for their children this Christmas. they
Wv must do their shopping early The last snip
ment of dolls was received last FEBRUARY anu
while this sufficient to stock large numoer VI
department stores throughout the country the supply
= dIsnctIv limited After it is exhausted there will
be no more. Already the toy departments OF some Oh
the most enterprsing stores beginning to assume
holiday appearance
The German toy industry largest in the world
For the past fifty years factories scattered all
over the empire have supplied the children OF ali
nations from America China with dolls and bears
and sparkling Christmas tree balls Every year large
numbers of American buyers went to Germany ana
travelled from one city to buying special kinds
of toys for almost every city there is celebrated
for separate distinct brand For undressed cnar
acter dolls buyer went to Waltersnausen ana
Ohrdr1f while dressed dolls and handmade toys ne
visited Sonnenburg. Here the German peasants earn
their living by making toys their homes, bring
inc them into the toy market Saturday night IN
huge baskets strapped their shoulders At Nurem-
berg small and metal soldiers and all sorts
of mechanical toys manufactured while Lischten-
fields is famous its little toy baskets bought In
such great numbers every Easter
Now many of Germany's toy factories manufac-
turing explosives and American buyers patronizng
American toy factories Since the beginning OF the
war the American toy industry has grown rapidly 1t
is estimated there now within the neighoor-
hood of $50 toy establishments in this country, while
before the war there were only half as many More
over great progress has been made in American toy
invention wooden dolls that jonted on flexible
steel so that they will assume any human posture;
animals of Ifelike design, and the eX-
tremely popular kddekar are some new inventions
made-n-Amerca which greatly In demand But
there is thing that so far has batied American
manufacturers, and that is the bisque doll.
However if the war continues still cut
off from German toy supplies, it likely that
this childhood wonder will be made in America. 1t
onv stands to reason industry that barely
two wears old cannot Immediately compete with one
which has been carefully built up for half century,
hut give il time and buyers believe it will
he
meantime the demand in this country is in
creosing every year. Go into the toy department of
the average department the day after Christ
mas and YOU will toys that have been broken
in the crush but the of the shelves
it's dolls and tin soldiers when it hasn't enough to
eat
TOYS are one of most important factors in the
system of the department store In bringing
children to also bring their parents and
sale of a doll often results in the sale of rug or
s+ of ready-made Heretofore, however the toy
departments been at their best only during the
holiday seasons. Now a movement is on foot among
dry goods men a continual toy display that
viii attract children the stores day. One large
concern lately adopted the plan of giving away free
most card photographs Of children who bought toys;
other stores window displays of toys, and
great many firms established playrooms with all
sorts of play equipment in charge of trained assistants
where parents leave their children while shopping
in other parts of the store.
With this growing Importance Of toys. many private
individuals going INTO the business of toy making
A couple of years young by
trolley car and badly crippled that he unable
to pursue his occupation professional
st All day long he sat helpless in his wheel chair
without the inspiration live, seeing one
little sister. One day she handed him block of