Evening star., 1950-10-15
By Harold J. FIecknoe

1t is just that metal is getting
mighty scarce. Toys made of
steel and other such materials
will not be available in any great
quantities after the stocks on
hand or on order are gone.
Blame it on the Korean war.
With increased demands for war
materials, heavy metal toys will
have to suffer.
That's the dark part of the
picture. Except for metal toys
and those made of rubber. also
getting scarce, it all adds up to
the best Christmas since before
World War II.
There are a lot of brand-neW
toys this year. They are better
made than ever before, according
to the toy buyers. Increased COM
petition between toy manufac-
turers has caused this, they say.
Prices Are About Same.
Most of the toys you saw in the
stores last year will also be avail
able. but many of them have been
so refined that they look like new
items. The price tags will be
about the same as last year.
H-bomb sets? No toy dealer
here has heard of such a thing.
But one of the outstanding
achievements in the toy line this
year in an improved Gilbert
atomic. set-complete with Geiger
counter. One dealer said that last
years set didn't have the kinks
ironed out of 1t. With the i'm
proved version, junior scientists
can, perhaps. find peaceful uses
for the atom; at any rate, it is
doubtful that any will make a
working A-bomb. ~
Most Of the dealers anticipate
only a normal demand for war
toys" These are staple items
every Christmas. the dealers say,
and will be good sellers. If mill
tary news continues to fill the
front pages. however. dealers feel
that next Christmas may see
larger demands for toy soldiers
and guns.
One item from the Korean front
will be popular. some of the deal
ers say. That is a toy bazooka,
costing about So. It shoots ping
pong balls by air compression, and
is supposed to be safe to shoot in
the house.
Educational Toys Favored.
In the educational toy line. all
dealers see big sales ahead. The
toys teach children CO. ordination
and how to be useful. One of the
sets, wooden workbench. con-
tains a hammer. screwdriver, nuts
and bolts. claw hammer and other
items. 1t costs about $3.50.
For hungry children, there is
real popcorn vending machine
just like in the movie houses. 1t
comes complete with a scoop and
IL boxes of unpopped corn. Made
of plastic and metal, it will cost
about $l0.95. It will be available
in just about all OF the depart
ment and toy stores.
Electric trains will be big favor
ties, as usual. New accessories
have been added and many i'm
provements made in the sets. One
brand-new innovation is magnetic
attraction between locomotives
and track, so the train won't go
flying off the track while rounding
the curves.
Also in the higher priced line,
a big favorite should be the new
Caterpillar diesel tractor. 1t has
treads like the big ones and oper-
ates just like them. For kids 312
years and up, it will cost about
$40.
Is Dad tired of watching the
kids tear things apart? The
stores have got just the toy to
solve his problem. 1t is a new
city planning toy. with which the
kids can plan their own arrange
ments at will. Best Of all, 1t can
be put away in a jiffy at bedtime.
The set sells for about $3.50.
Available all over town is the
Magnus electric organ, selling for
about $18.75. A miniature OF a
regular organ, a child can play
wide selection of songs by using
special sheet music which comes
with it.
Big Doll Selection.
Little girls should be happy
with the big selection of dolls this
year. Many improved versions
are actually lower in price than
last year. Some of them seem
human. They walk, wear hand
me-downs, COO. cry. say yes or
no to questions. Some can be
bathed, powdered and fed like an
infant.
Tired with playing with dolls?
The stores have just the thing
for mothers little helper. 1t is
miniature housekeeping equip
ment set. Just like mothers
kitchen, it has a refrigerator,
stove, sink, cabinets and culinary
equipment. All for about $3.50.
Bicycles in all price ranges have
been improved. One bike, costing
$29.95, has balancing side wheels
in the rear, and a gun scabbard on
its side, where Junior can reach
for his trusty shootin' iron in times
of danger.
In the lower-p priced field, there
are all sorts of mechanical toys.
many made of plastic. There is
something here to fit every pocket
book. Many of these toys, accord
ing to one dealer, are copies of
German toys, which are generally
considered to be the best in the
mechanical toy field.
Camera bugs will enjoy camera
home construction kit. A box