The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-11
u. S. MAKES TOYS
Most of TOpeka's Goods Are
Manufactured at Home.
Few German Toys Are Found
in Local Shops.
HUNS MAY NEVER CATCH UP
Toledo Leads in Production OF
Wheeled PIaythings.
Three Huge Factories Located
in Buckeye State.

IN buckeye State.
Is Germany going to come back to
her pre-war place as chief manufac-
turer of toys for the world? It's a lit
tie too early to make a definite state
ment on the question yet, but the in
dications are that in the manufacture
OF toys, as in the manufacture of dyes,
the United States has taken the lead
during the war and is going to hold it.
Few German Toys Here.
There are few Greman toys on the
counters of the toy shops in Topeka,
ready for the holiday trade. But they
are of a type which is not manufac-
tured in the United States, and which
is not likely to compete with American
made toys.
The cheaper, clock-work operated
mechanical toys are coming in a small
quantity from Germany to Topeka.
Some of the toys were destined to have
gladdened the hearts of American kid
dies six years ago, before the kaiser
Knocked the thought of Christmas out
of the heads of his own people and of
the world, with his idea of making
himself a Christmas present of Paris.
Cargoes of toys which have been
held in Germany since before the war
are being shipped to the United States
at the present time. But the strides
which have been taken by the industry
in America have left even the tradi-
tional toy manufacturers of the Rhine
land far in the rear, and ct least one
Topeka toy dealer believes that they
will never catch up.
Toledo Leads the World.
Toledo. Ohio, makes more wheeled
toys than any other city on the face
of the earth, either in Germany or the
United States, according to informa-
ton gathered at Topeka toy counters.
There are three huge factories there
which turn out velocipedes, coaster
wagons, express wagons, toy automo-
biles of the "kick-along'' persuasion.
and other wheeled toys. One of them
is the pioneer factory for that sort of
toys in world, and maintains its pres
tlge as the largest factory of the sort
in existence.
The kiddie car, of which there are
some fifteen varieties and types on
the market, is not only. American in
manufacture, but the idea was strict
ly Yankee, and all the kiddie cars of
whatever type are made in this coun-
try. Most Of them come from Yer
mont.
They Cost More.
Doll carriages, with wickerwork
tops and bodies, are now made In the
United States, and they cost much
more than they used to cost. on tina
account Formerly the wheels and
gears We're made in Yankeeland, and
IN m, belgium the wickerwork bodies
were woven, at a far less cost than
they could have been produced on this
SIDE OF the Atlantic. Belgium even
since the war has turned her manu-
featuring talents to other services,
ana the wickerwork is now woven in
this country.
German bisque dolls, and the in
dustry connected with their manufac-
facture. were lost to Germany when
the kaiser lost his war.
Lost Big Income.
Not only did Germany lose her hope
OF dominating the world, but she lost
a very comfortable income from the
manufacture of bisque dolls. when the
kalser'S war soured on his hands
Germany used to make the best dolls
in the world, but the Yankees. who
were able to go the Fritz one better
when 1t came to manufacturing deadly
gases and long distance aeroplanes.
We're Just as able to beat Jerry at the
doll-making game. There are now on
the markets doll heads made of a
composition which are better than the
blsque dolls, and which can be sold
at less price than the German ar
ticle. The composition doll heads are
partly because one of the elements in
their composition is molasses.
Bisque Dolls Are Scarce.
There are still very few high
priced bisque. doll heads in stock in
TINS country. which have not yet been
sold. but they are few and far he
tween, and cut no real figure on the
Topeka market
When it comes to the higher classes
of MECHANICAL toys, the Yanks have
always had it on the Germans. Their
mechanical toys have always been bet
ter, in the higher types, with better
finish. and more durability.
b b. Phillips, manager of the toy
department of Emahizer & Speilman
FURNITURE company. believes that the
labor situation in Germany and other
countries where the toys were made
before the war will keep down the
manufacture in those countries.
L. S. Makes Much Progress.
I. F. Rickenbacher, manager of the
toy department of the Fair store, be-
heves that many lines OF toys which
We're always imported before the war,
viii never be seen in their foreign
form in the United States again. Too
much progress has been made by the
to permit the Germans to
catch up. Standardization is the eA-
PLANTATION aSain-just as in the Ford
features.
There will be an ample supply of
toys for all the good boys and glrIs