| Every Christmas, it seems like there's a new and | | | | of Meccano, introduced the first Hornby train sets. |
| different group of toys battling for our children's | | | | The popular 'Hornby Dublo' line was released in |
| attention. A few years ago, Japanese virtual pets | | | | 1938. After a halt in production caused by the |
| like Pokemon and Tamagotchi were all the rage, | | | | Second World War, the trains were reintroduced |
| and shortly after that, toys like Furby and the | | | | in 1947 and have been a favourite with children |
| Teletubbies seemed to dominate Christmas. Many | | | | and collectors ever since. The Hornby company |
| of these toys come and go as children lose | | | | also created Dinky toys, a line of miniature toy |
| interest and move on to the 'next big thing'. But | | | | cars, which were bought by the manufacturers of |
| there are some toys, dolls, and games whose | | | | Matchbox cars in the late 1980s. |
| appeal has lasted for generations, and are still | | | | Scalextric is another name in the world of toy |
| popular with children whose parents, or even | | | | vehicles which has stood the test of time, having |
| grandparents, enjoyed playing with them when | | | | populated toy shops for over 50 years. The slot |
| they were young. | | | | car racing sets have been in production since 1957 |
| Toys, dolls and games that have delighted for | | | | and have never lost their appeal to kids of all |
| decades | | | | ages. Scalextric are now owned by Hornby |
| There are some classic names in the toy industry | | | | Railways. |
| that immediately spring to mind, perhaps one of | | | | Family favourites for generations |
| the most obvious being Barbie. This fashionable | | | | As well as dolls and toys, there are a number of |
| young lady has been a favourite with young girls | | | | board games that have continued to be |
| (and young boys) since her launch in 1959. Barbie | | | | favourites with all the family for generations. |
| was created by Ruth Handler, whose husband | | | | Perhaps the best known is Monopoly. The |
| was a co-founder of the Mattel toy company. | | | | commonly-known version of this board game was |
| Before Barbie, most dolls were based on babies. | | | | patented in 1935 by Charles Drew, with the board |
| Handler noticed that her daughter enjoyed giving | | | | featuring locations from in and around Atlantic |
| adult roles to these dolls, and spotted a gap in the | | | | City, New Jersey. It was a based on an older |
| market. After seeing an adult doll on a trip to | | | | board game, The Landlord's Game, invented in |
| Germany, she came back with the idea for the | | | | 1904 by Elizabeth Phillips. Many versions of |
| Barbie doll, which was an enormous success on its | | | | Monopoly now exist, some with streets, towns |
| release. Today, Barbie is responsible for 80% of | | | | and other locations from various countries, some |
| Mattel's revenue. | | | | based on popular films and television programmes |
| Another famous 'doll' that has stood the test of | | | | like Star Wars and The Simpsons. |
| time is Action Man. Originally launched in 1966 and | | | | Other board games which have endured over the |
| based on the American GI Joe range, Action Man | | | | decades are Scrabble, first launched in 1938, and |
| came in a variety of military outfits and was a | | | | Cluedo, released in 1948. As with Monopoly, both |
| popular toy with children until the closure of its | | | | of these games are available in a number of |
| original manufacturer in 1984. Action Man was so | | | | different versions, which has helped to keep them |
| missed that in 1993 Hasbro, makers of GI Joe, | | | | popular with young and old players over the |
| relaunched the toy, and the line is still going strong | | | | years. |
| today. | | | | So next time you're in the toy shop, look beyond |
| Classic toy cars and trains | | | | the latest fads and fashions. Take a look at how |
| Toy vehicles have also been perennially popular, | | | | many toys are still around from your own |
| and one name in particular has been synonymous | | | | childhood. Chances are they'll be entertaining your |
| with toy trains and cars for almost a century. In | | | | children, and grandchildren, for many years to |
| the early twentieth century Frank Hornby, who | | | | come. |
| had already achieved success with the invention | | | | |