Customer Reviews

Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It took me only a few moments of flipping through this book to realize how much fun it would be to read. After staying up much too late that same night reading the book in greater depth I knew that my initial reaction had been correct. This text isn't just a dry history of toys and games, but instead is a collection of fabulous childhood memories woven together with smiles and giggles. If you had even a couple of these playthings when you were growing up you are sure to find great interest in those and the write-ups on many others.

Before I talk further about what's in the book I want to make mention of the overall look and feel of the book itself. This is a hard cover, full-color, coffee table sized book. But the brilliant design of the book ensure that it won't sit on your coffee table for very long. It begs to be picked up and examined. The pictures are large, sharp and reproduced in vivid colors. Even the dust jacket deserves a special mention. It uses a special fold at the top and bottom that has left room for extra info and a quiz to be printed. The nearly 300 thick glossy pages mean that this is a heavy book. Don't worry though, you'll have so much fun reading it you'll never notice!

Now a bit more about what's inside...

The contents are arranged chronologically, with special sections in the middle for toys from WHAM-O and designer Marvin Glass. These sections don't break up the flow of the book at all, but rather fit nicely with all of the other entries. Each toy, game or plaything includes information about the year of debut, the inventor, the company or companies that produced it and so on. The text is arranged in a two-column per page format but wraps around the pictures and illustrations as needed. Perhaps the text at first feels subservient to the photos but not for long. As I'll mention shortly the text is expertly crafted and carefully thought-out.

I noted above that the book runs nearly 300 pages but what's interesting is that it does not contain short paragraphs on hundreds and hundreds of different toys and games. Rather, and what I feel is better, the book devotes on average about 4 full pages of text and pictures to each plaything that is discussed. Walsh, as he describes at the beginning, set very strict criteria for the items that could be included. By sticking to that guideline he was able to give us more detail and depth in each entry than you would typically find in a book covering nearly a century of toys and games. So when you find your favorite memory in the book be sure to sit down and really enjoy the work that the author has put into that passage.

It's important to mention that Walsh hasn't just filled these long entries with fluff or boring statistics. The truth is completely the opposite. After even a few paragraphs of any entry you'll come to the same conclusion that I did. Tim obviously has a great sense of humor and enjoys his subject matter thoroughly. This isn't a a book by a writer who found something to write about and tried to make a decent product out of it. This is a warm and entertaining book written by an enthusiastic participant in this field who also happens to be a really good writer.

Along with his obvious love for these playthings Walsh has clearly brought a huge amount of research to the table. As the author mentions in his notes at the start of the book, "I didn't want to write a book that contained information anyone could readily find by searching the Internet in an afternoon." And I'm pleased to say he didn't write that book. He wrote one filled with pictures you simply won't find on the net and certainly not in the clarity and color that fills these pages. Interestingly though the book does share a common feature with a website. Since there is no single narrative binding the book from front to back you are free to `surf' as it were through the pages finding toys you remember or discovering ones you may have missed by simply being born in a different decade. This is yet another thing that makes this book fun. You don't have to feel pressured to sit and read it cover to cover. You can pick it up and read a few pages, set it down and then pick it up again and read from an entirely different section the next time.

To his credit the author has included the wonderful stories behind these carefully selected and well-deserving icons of childhood. It's really those personal tales that make history interesting. While it's nice to know that Crayola makes nearly 12 million crayons per day there are more to playthings than mere statistics. You see, it's even more fascinating to know that Crayola (called Binney & Smith at the turn of the 20th century) won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition. That award was for their carbon black production that helped make darker shoe polish, printing inks and car tires. And further, it was that recognition that to this day inspires the 'gold medal' label included on their packaging. There are tons more stories like that awaiting you between the covers of this book.

If you can appreciate the time and effort that must have gone into creating the prototypes for the first Spirograph or the first Rubik's Cube then you can no doubt appreciate the high level of craftsmanship that has gone into writing this book. I cannot recommend 'Timeless Toys' highly enough. I think it should be on every coffee table in the world alongside a vintage Monopoly game, a Slinky and of course, a pile of LEGO bricks. If any one of the toys or games noted earlier in this paragraph made you smile then you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this book!

A book for everyone to enjoy, Timeless Toys is a pleasure to read through. The author details the development of classic toys from the 1900s through the 1990s. For each toy the author includes who created it, when it debuted, the various companies that produced it, changes in design, the trials the inventor went through getting it to market, how the toy changed over time, and a lot of other fascinating facts. Some of the toys detailed in the book include Lionel Trains, the Teddy Bear, Erector set, Radio Flyer wagon, Monopoly, Slinky, Clue, Silly Putty, Frisbee, Hula Hoop, Super Ball, Lite-Brite, Etch A Sketch, Lego, Uno, Rubik's Cube, Trivial Pursuit, and Super Soaker. What a great way to bring an older generation and younger generation together through the classic toys common to both and an ability to share toys of the past with children of today. A thoroughly enjoyable read complete with many photographs and illustrations, Timeless Toys is highly recommended for the child in all of us.

Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Invented Them is one of the most beautiful books about toys and games that I've ever seen. Walsh looked at the history of nearly every major toy and game invented in this century. He covers the history of Teddy Bears, Crayolas, Tonkas, Play-Doh, Crossword Puzzles, Mr. Potato Head, Frisbees, Etch-A-Sketch, G.I. Joes, and so many more. Whatever your favorite toy during childhood was, you'll probably find the history of it and the people who invented it in this book.

I love that the book not only takes a look at the games themselves, but also at the real people who invented them and the stories behind them. Sometimes they're touching, sometimes they're silly. They're all interesting, though, and they'll bring you a new appreciation of all the toys and games you've always loved.

I can't emphasize enough how beautiful and interesting this book is. When we first got it, we actually argued over who got to read it first ("But Honey! I have to read it! For work!"). It's been sitting on my coffee table ever since, and every adult who has been in our living room has picked it up and become completely engrossed. Pick it up and see for yourself!

As a toy inventor I was surprised when I first saw the book by how beautifully designed it was as well as the extraordinary quality of the photography. On further examination, it greatly surpassed my first impression with its fascinating stories and (truly astonishing), that it got its facts right!

In addition to the fun of seeing all those cool looking toys and taking a nostalgic look back over the last century, it's an historical tribute to American and American immigrant's genius and hard work that has given us all so much pleasure.

treat yourself and your friends to this fine book.

A typical child between the ages of two and nine spends 28 minutes each day coloring --- and wears the nub 730 crayons by the time he or she turns 10. Frank Lloyd Wright's son John invented Lincoln Logs. In 1908, Dr. A.. C. Gilbert won a U.S. gold medal at the Olympics --- the same doctor who invented Erector sets. Think of this as timeless trivia that's part of the appeal of Tim Walsh's delightful book. Filled with hundreds of color photos of classic toys as well as archival photos and vintage ads, Timeless Toys demands playtime for the young-at-heart. Your move.

As someone interested in toys and collecting, I've read lots on the subject. But Tim Walsh still told me things I didn't know. The best part is that someone with no interest in the subject will still find this lavish, inviting coffee table book an enthralling read. The reason is the author, Tim Walsh. Most toy collecting books start with no criteria as to what goes in and what stays out of the book. Tim did. One criterion was that the toy had to be created or invented by an outsider. Thus, a lot of well- known toys already didn't make the cut.

The ones that did have stories a lot better than the title, Timeless Toys, makes them sound. By that I mean that this isn't one of those nostalgic "see how much better these simple toys were than all your overdone gadgetry?" books that abound in collecting circles. You might come to that conclusion, but Tim started somewhere else. When he made his own games, he started asking questions about others. Why is the box like that? Why is this that color? Where did they get that name?

Those are the same questions one asks playing with toys. The cynical answers are that marketing research showed that more people would pick up the package if it were blue, and a computer poll of all co-eds showed they liked the letter "Z". But Tim shows, thank heaven, that those cynical answers are wrong. Lots of great toys came from accidents, and many inventors began with a sense of wonder.

Tim doesn't stop there. Those outsiders need insiders to make a toy. Tim covers all that, including the most famous toy designer, Marvin Glass. As with Andy Warhol, the Glass name covered a design team, and Tim introduces some of the faces behind the scenes. Many toys were inspired by other toys, and Tim traces the roots back. His findings usually don't jibe with the urban legends surrounding their creations, and when there are multiple tales, Tim tells them all.

The most interesting parts to me are some that might be overlooked. They are small sidebars showing the origins of a toy and some of the companies that have made it. Often the company names change because the companies are bought by other firms. A decade ago Tyco was bringing back all the classic toys that ever existed, having bought those companies or their toy molds. Where's Tyco now? I wondered, until Tim revealed it was bought by Mattell.

Tim also tells the origin of many toy companies, including one started by two guys named Matson and Elliot. I've read about Wham-O before, and even interviewed an animator who made Superball commercials, but Tim reveals the secret of how Wham-O made so many great toys. Tim also breaks it all down with by decade timelines. He often shows the box art of toys that were revived in various decades. Toy art in the '50s and '60s, much of it done by comic book artists, is a wonder to behold, while the overdone, throwaway art of today really does look like the result of committees on market research.

The bad news is that this 300 page book is only about 75 toys. But that may be a good thing. Those interested might track down Bill Bruegman's Toys of the Sixties or related volumes to read on. Don't buy The Playmakers, though, because Timeless Toys is the new title of the same book. Tim Walsh convinced me that creative souls, even today, even if by accident, may still have a chance. If toys be the fruit of wonder, play on!

The author has created an excellent book covering the most popular toys of the 20th Century. As you go through this book, you are going to come across many toys you remember from your own lifetime. While some have faded with time, many are still popular and have entertained ever since they first appeared.
The book takes a rather wide view of what a toy is; and includes many games,puzzles,and other things that have entertained young as well as those who are young at heart,if not in years.
The first toy discussed was the Flexible Flyer sled.It brought back a memory to me ,since I had one as a kid.Mine had the straight-runner,and I ran into a gutter grate and punctured my thigh. It seems it happened enough that the runners were rounded.Then, there is the Big Wheel. The kid next door had one and he loved it so much ,he wore completely through the plastic wheels.
Here, you will not only see great pictures of the toy or game ;but also the story behind its being invented and marketed. You will also learn about the person who invented it,details about patents,how many were sold;and lots of other interesting details. It's highly likely that you will find your favorite toy or game covered.
At the back of the book you will find an extensive Bibliography. The book covers many games and puzzles.I have been a long time fan of puzzles and if you are interested in them ,I suggest a search under Jerry Slocum,[...]or The Slocum Puzzle Foundation,Beverly Hills,California.
Overall,a wonderful book that would be interesting to just about anyone who enjoys toys,games or puzzles.

This magnificent big coffee table style book is wonderful. It is a look at the past's most popular toys of the 20th Century. I was so impressed with the write-ups on every toy, and pictures of the toys as well. A must have for toy fanatics, or those wanting to remember the toys of their youth.

Fantastic book! We all had a favorite toy or game growing up. Those toys usually have memories attached to them... bringing up an image to said toy can bring along with it memories of our youth, the home we played with them in as well as the people who were a part of this time.

Arranged in chronological order, this book is a delight for any one - any age. As I looked through this book I was filled with nostalgia, for games such as Candy Land, Slinky, Silly Putty...

Each game/toy has the year it was originally made, the packaging as it changed through the years, and it's creator. I enjoyed reading this book literally page by page absorbing all the facts behind my favorites and seeing the brilliance that was behind favorites like Scrabble:


Alfred Butts was the creator of Scrabble (originally called Lexico (1931-1938) and the n Criss-Cross(1938-1947). In1931 Butts made sets of this game by hand and sold them to friends and acquaintances. More significantly, he tried to license his creation with Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers and both rejected him. Butts assigned each letter a face value based on its occurrence in every day language. He gave the Q and Z 10 point values. By using this criteria there should have been more S's in the game than Butt's had introduced, but he correctly surmised that the game would be too unbalanced if easy points were often scored by pluralizing. He shrewdly added two blank tiles, which could be used for any letter the player wanted. By 1953, to fill the demand, 150,000 Scrabble tiles were made daily.

This book is a true treasure that I will keep on my bookshelf for reference for years to come. My whole family enjoyed looking through this book and sharing facts on our favorites and I am sure yours will too!

I have nothing to add to all the other five star reviews, just that this book is amazing, a real labor of love, huge amount of illustrations and history, and impossible to put down. it's worth every penny of the list price as a fascinating coffee table book, and you can get it for ten percent of the list value, used,as well. apparently there were two publishers with two titles, 'timeless toys', and 'playmakers' seems to be the same book.