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