Index of Toy Manufacturers

Toy Manufacturers Advertised in Playthings — July 1926

This directory identifies manufacturers, producers, and toy companies documented in the July 1926 issue of Playthings, Volume XXIV, Number 7. Company locations, product descriptions, trade names, and page references are drawn from contemporary advertisements and the American Doll Manufacturers Association's membership announcement.

The entries establish documented commercial activity in July 1926 but do not necessarily establish a company's founding date, the first production date of a toy, or the duration of manufacturing.





The A. Mecky Company operated at 1705 Allegheny Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and marketed children's wheeled vehicles under the Velo-King trademark. Its assortment included velocipedes, scooters, small bicycles, and scooter cycles. The company described its Scooter Cycle as the first of its kind in America, a promotional claim that requires independent verification.

Source: Playthings, July 1926, p. 34.



The American Character Doll Company advertised dolls designed with slender bodies, double-jointed legs, expressive faces, and fashionable clothing. Its July advertisement promoted the new figures for the coming holiday selling season. The American Doll Manufacturers Association listed the company at 67 Spring Street, New York City.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 14, 72.



The American Flyer Manufacturing Company, located at 2219 South Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, manufactured miniature railway systems. Its July 1926 advertisement emphasized electric and mechanical engineering, accessories, and the repeat business generated by expanding train layouts. The company maintained eastern and western sales offices in New York and San Francisco.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 4.



The American Game and Toy Corporation of 84 Hudson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, advertised the Little Champion miniature pool table, featuring a patented spring-operated cue. The company also marketed Radio Shot, a marble-shooting game, and Radio Ring, a skill game featuring radio-themed targets. Its advertisement announced that these products had been taken over by a newly financed manufacturing organization, indicating a change in their commercial ownership or production arrangements.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 46–47.



The American National Company of Toledo, Ohio, manufactured children's pedal automobiles and other juvenile vehicles. Its July 1926 advertisement introduced an automobile featuring enclosed bevel gears, a gearshift, two forward speeds, reverse, and neutral. The company reported operating four factories in Toledo.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 8.



The Arranbee Doll Company, located at 5–9 Union Square, New York City, advertised its Dream Baby family of dolls. The July 1926 offering included the Nursing Bottle Baby, whose attached bottle appeared to empty when raised to the doll's mouth and refill when lowered. The company indicated that patent applications had been filed for the mechanism.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 67.



The Art Metal Works of Aronson Square, Newark, New Jersey, manufactured novelty toys under the Ronson trademark. Its 1926 assortment included a mechanical Santa Claus with sparkling eyes, toy revolvers and rifles, a machine gun, sparklers, a pinwheel, the Ronson Pussy Cat, and a Talk-O-Phone. The Santa Claus used a pull-string mechanism that automatically rewound.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 39.



The Averill Manufacturing Corporation marketed Madame Hendren dolls, including long-legged Mama Dolls and a Betty Bronson Cinderella doll. The Cinderella figure could be inverted to transform its appearance from a plainly dressed girl into a princess. Its advertising office was listed at 37 Union Square, New York City, while the American Doll Manufacturers Association listed 387 Wales Avenue in the Bronx.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 12–13, 72.





The Bing Corporation, located at 33 East 17th Street, New York City, advertised a portable typewriter and its Beauty Babies doll line. The dolls were offered with bisque or composition heads, painted or sleeping eyes, and various knitted accessories. The relationship between this American corporation and other businesses using the Bing name requires further investigation.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 19.





The Century Doll Company of 62 West 14th Street, New York City, advertised Bottie Baby, a drinking doll with a mechanical bottle-feeding feature. The product was offered with composition heads or Kestner bisque heads and was scheduled for September 1926 delivery. The advertisement cited German patent No. 912503 and an American patent application.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 27.





The Daisy Manufacturing Company of Plymouth, Michigan, advertised its line of juvenile air rifles and promotional store displays. The July advertisement included rifle models numbered 3, 11, 12, 25, and 30, with dealer costs and suggested selling prices. The company supplied a cardboard rifle display rack depicting a boy and distributed a promotional Daisy Manual.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 20.



The Dorfan Company, located at 135G Jackson Street, Newark, New Jersey, manufactured electric and mechanical toy trains and accessories. Its 1926 advertising emphasized the Loco Builder, a patented locomotive designed to be disassembled and reconstructed. The sets were offered in standard gauge and O gauge. The company maintained New York display headquarters at 221 Fourth Avenue.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 32.



The Durable Toy & Novelty Company of 869 Broadway, New York City, advertised Uncle Sam's registering savings banks. Manufactured from cold-rolled steel, the banks registered coin deposits and automatically unlocked when a designated amount had been accumulated. The advertisement described the product as being under new ownership and identified H. H. Payson as president. The company also marketed miniature play-store cash registers.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 59.





E. Goldberger operated a doll factory at 307 Richardson Street, Brooklyn, New York, with the EEGEE trademark. The company's line included Mama Dolls, unbreakable infant dolls, and Steppin' Babies, advertised as capable of walking and dancing without assistance.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 52, 72.



The E. I. Horsman Company, located at 900 Broadway, New York City, advertised Babyland Dolls. The dolls incorporated slender composition legs with hip and knee joints, stuffed bodies, and composition arms. The company promoted the articulated construction as a patented or patent-pending improvement to conventional Mama Dolls.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 2–3, 72.



Educator Playthings Company of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, manufactured Color Jacks from colored Pyralin with nickel-plated central pins. Offered in red, white, and blue, the pieces were intended for traditional jacks games but could also function as small spinning tops. The company offered inexpensive penny and ten-cent retail packages.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 26.



The Embossing Company of Albany, New York, marketed educational games and play materials under the slogan "Toys That Teach." Its products included dominoes, picture and alphabet blocks, puzzles, Color Cubes, and Everedy modeling sets. The company claimed a manufacturing history extending to 1870 and maintained a New York display office at 200 Fifth Avenue.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 17–18.





The Ferdinand Strauss Corporation of New York manufactured spring-powered mechanical toys, including lithographed metal trucks and buses. Illustrated July 1926 models included a Tip Top Dump Truck, Standard Oil Tank Truck, Long Haulage Truck, and Bus De Luxe. Geo. Borgfeldt & Company was identified as distributor.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 24.



Fleischaker & Baum, with sales offices at 45 East 17th Street and general offices at 45 Greene Street, New York City, manufactured Effanbee dolls. Its July 1926 advertisement introduced Bubbles, offered in nine styles and sizes, with costumes of organdie, lawn, or silk. The company also advertised Lovey Mary during this period.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 11, 72, 114.





The Gem Toy Company of 42 Greene Street, New York City, marketed the Gem Dolls line. Its July 1926 advertising emphasized the construction, clothing, and appearance of its dolls and invited retailers to request sample selections.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 63, 72.



The Gendron Wheel Company of Toledo, Ohio, manufactured children's vehicles under the Pioneer trademark. Its line included sidewalk cycles, scooters, pedal automobiles, and other wheeled toys. The July 1926 advertisement claimed 53 years of experience in vehicle design and production and listed a New York office at 7 East 17th Street.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 49.



The Gibbs Manufacturing Company of Canton, Ohio, produced mechanical toys made from wood and metal. The July 1926 advertisement featured the No. 58 Steeple Chasers, a pull toy with moving horses and jockeys, and the No. 80 Gibbs Filling Station, a miniature service station equipped with a pump, hose, and gauge. Its 1926 illustrated catalog reportedly contained 42 toys.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 76.



The Gluck Manufacturing Company of 108 East 16th Street, New York City, was identified as a licensee authorized to manufacture the Pull-A-Way toy under Becker patent No. 1,583,567, issued May 4, 1926. The licensing notice appeared in an advertisement by Go-Toy Manufacturers.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 75.



Go-Toy Manufacturers, Inc., located at 77–79 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, manufactured animated pull toys made from wood and metal. Its July assortment included Merrygo, Whirlygo, ABC Merrygo, and Tipsygo. The company cited a patent issued May 4, 1926, and additional patent applications covering its mechanical designs.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 75.



The Grey Iron Casting Company of Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, manufactured cast-iron toys and novelties. Its 1926 assortment included Blue Bird toy ranges, banks, trains, miniature sad irons, Christmas tree holders, toy hammers and hatchets, jackstones, and Greyklip miniature armies. The toy ranges were offered in fourteen models with retail prices from 50 cents to $6.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 41.





The H. C. White Company of North Bennington, Vermont, manufactured wheeled toys for children. Its products included Kiddie Kars, Kiddie Pedal Kars, Zip Pedal Cars, scooters, strollers, and related juvenile vehicles. Its new 1926 pedal car featured roller bearings, pressed-steel gearing, and improved steering, with retail prices from $3.50 to $6.50.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 1.



The Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, manufactured cast-iron toys. Its July 1926 advertising featured miniature kitchen cabinets, Alaska refrigerators, toy trucks, buses, and fire apparatus. The kitchen appliances were finished in white enamel, with imitation glass doors and miniature accessories.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 33.





The Ideal Novelty & Toy Company, located at 273–287 Van Sinderen Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, manufactured dolls. Its July 1926 advertisement featured Suck-A-Thumb, an infant doll with flexible rubber arms, and Vanity Fair, another new doll creation. The company maintained a New York showroom at 215 Fourth Avenue.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 30, 72.



The Ives Manufacturing Corporation of Bridgeport, Connecticut, manufactured electric and mechanical toy trains. Its July 1926 advertisement announced a new 44-page color catalog featuring additions to its train line. The company maintained a general sales office at 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City, and a Pacific Coast branch in San Francisco.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 10.





The J. & E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, Connecticut, manufactured cast-iron mechanical banks, toy ranges, safes, cap pistols, and related products. In July 1926 it advertised two new banks: the No. 128 Pay Phone Bank and the No. 127 Radio Bank. The advertisement identified the company as established in 1843 and incorporated in 1869.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 40.



The Juvenile Educator Company of 1725 Dickson Street, Chicago, Illinois, marketed Playskool, a combination kindergarten desk and table with folding legs. The product included educational materials and was promoted as a portable, complete individual kindergarten rather than an ordinary toy.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 70.





The Kelmet Corporation, with offices at 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City, marketed Trumodel miniature construction machinery. The July 1926 advertisement illustrated a Power Hoist and Swinger and listed dump trucks, cranes, steam shovels, cableways, excavators, derricks, electric winches, and power hoists. Retail prices ranged from $3.50 to $50.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 50.



The Kenton Hardware Company of Kenton, Ohio, manufactured cast-metal toy automobiles. Its July 1926 advertisement introduced passenger sedans and coupes featuring separately cast chassis and bodies, permitting detailed reproduction of automobile fenders and proportions. The Riemann-Seabrey Company of New York acted as its sales organization.

Source Playthings, July 1926, inside front cover.



The Keystone Lantern Company, Children's Vehicle Department, operated at Tacony and Cottman Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its assortment included Keystone velocipedes, sidewalk cycles, scooters, Kidobikes, and handcars. The company stated that these vehicles were manufactured in its own factory rather than merely assembled from purchased components.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 71.



The Keystone Manufacturing Company of 288 A Street, Boston, Massachusetts, manufactured large pressed-steel toy trucks and vehicles. Its products included fire engines, aerial ladders, water towers, chemical trucks, moving vans, steam shovels, and dump trucks. The July advertisement emphasized functioning pumps and other mechanical features.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, front cover and p. 38.



The Kilgore Manufacturing Company of Westerville, Ohio, manufactured cast-iron toys and E-Z-FLY folding tailless kites. Its iron toy line included Boy Ranger repeating cannons, Toytown soldier sets, gasoline pumps, Ford coupes, and animal savings banks. The company identified a Toytown Workers Division.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 58.



The Kingsbury Manufacturing Company of Keene, New Hampshire, manufactured large mechanical vehicles under the Kingsbury trademark. Its July 1926 advertisement illustrated the No. 272 Pumping Fire Engine and No. 259 Aerial Ladder Truck. The fire engine measured 24 inches long; the aerial truck was 34 inches long with an extending ladder. The advertisement emphasized their exceptional strength and durability.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 45.





Louis Amberg & Son, located at 869 Broadway, New York City, manufactured and marketed dolls and stuffed toy animals. Its July advertising featured the Newborn Bottle Babe, a mechanical drinking doll, along with Newborn Basket Babes, Kuddly Animals, Rollie Animals, and Mama Dolls. The company claimed a business history extending to 1879.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 21, 72.



The Lubbers & Bell Manufacturing Company of Clinton, Iowa, produced games under the L & B trademark. Its July 1926 advertisement announced revised prices and promoted Puzzle-Peg and the newly introduced Blue Moon game. The company described itself as "The Fun Factory."

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 68.





Messmore & Damon, Inc., of 404–408 West 27th Street, New York City, manufactured large animated papier-mâché display figures for department stores and toy departments. Its July 1926 advertisement illustrated a mechanical Hawaiian Hippo Clown and Zip Elephant Clown, each approximately six feet tall. Although intended primarily as commercial displays rather than domestic playthings, they represent an important branch of mechanical novelty manufacturing.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 31.



The Moline Pressed Steel Company of East Moline, Illinois, manufactured Buddy L steel toys. Its July advertisement introduced the No. 280 Concrete Mixer, a working miniature machine capable of mixing actual concrete for small construction projects. The company described itself as the exclusive manufacturer of genuine Buddy L toys.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 29.



The Mullin Manufacturing Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, advertised Tony, a mechanical walking horse. Made entirely of metal, the toy moved down an inclined surface without springs. It measured approximately 5¾ inches long and 4¾ inches high and retailed for 50 cents. The company maintained a Canadian branch office in Winnipeg.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 56.



The Murray-Ohio Manufacturing Company of 1115 East 152nd Street, Cleveland, Ohio, manufactured Steelcraft pressed-steel vehicles. Its July 1926 assortment included Mack Truck Junior and Senior models and a Chevrolet pedal automobile equipped with springs. The advertised Chevrolet model retailed for less than $15.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 61.





Parker Brothers, with factories in Salem, Massachusetts, and New York salesrooms in the Flatiron Building, manufactured board games and tabletop amusements. Its July 1926 advertisement included the Boy Scouts' Progress Game, Lincoln Highway Game, Campfire Girls Game, Captain Kidd Jr., Dew Drop Inn, and Pyramid Pool.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 5, 112.





The R. B. & L. Manufacturing Company operated at 39–47 West 19th Street, New York City. Its July 1926 advertisement promoted a new doll with a washable, unbreakable head designed to resemble the texture of an infant's skin. Further investigation is needed to establish the materials employed and the commercial name of the doll.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 57.



The Regal Doll Manufacturing Company of 375 West Broadway, New York City, manufactured dolls under the Regal name. Its July advertisement emphasized child and baby character dolls, proportioned bodies, detailed costumes, and factory production.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 55.



Reisman, Barron & Company, Inc., of 893 Broadway at 19th Street, New York City, manufactured inexpensive dolls. Its July 1926 advertising claimed a selection of approximately 300 styles and a factory workforce exceeding 150 employees. The company emphasized its ability to produce complete dolls in its own manufacturing establishment.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 6–7, 72.





Schoen & Yondorf, Inc., located at 207 Wooster Street, New York City, marketed Sayco dolls and novelty toys. Its July 1926 advertisement featured Weigh the Baby, a miniature baby scale accompanied by a stuffed infant doll. The set retailed for $1.75.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 28, 72.



The Scott Manufacturing Company, Inc., of 1701 West 74th Street, Chicago, Illinois, manufactured Bilt-E-Z construction toys. The system enabled children to build miniature structures and purchase additional pieces to expand their sets. The company maintained an eastern sales office at 130 West 42nd Street, New York City.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 115.



The Sovereign Toy Manufacturing Company of 1421–1425 Solon Street, Chicago, Illinois, marketed Go-Pony, a mechanical riding toy designed to produce a galloping action. The July advertisement identified numerous national distributors and described the toy as an alternative to the conventional rocking horse.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 74.





The Ted Toy-lers of New Bedford, Massachusetts, manufactured colorful wheeled mechanical toys. Its July 1926 advertisement illustrated a soldier, sailor, jockey, racing car, locomotive, and acrobat. The advertisement claimed that the company employed 160 workers less than two years after the introduction of its toy line.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 62.



The Teter Rabbit Company, with general offices at 318 Majestic Building, Detroit, Michigan, marketed children's exercise toys resembling miniature seesaws. The toys were offered with rabbit or horse heads and were designed to reproduce playground seesaw movement.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 44.



The Toy Corporation of America of Appleton, Wisconsin, manufactured toy and juvenile furniture. Its line included miniature tables, chairs, desks, beds, dressers, bassinets, high chairs, wardrobes, and play yards. The company advertised more than 57 different products and identified Kaufman, Levenson & Company as sole distributor.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 53.



The Toy Tinkers, Inc., of Evanston, Illinois, manufactured Tinkertoy construction sets and related educational playthings. Its July 1926 advertisement illustrated numerous construction toys and novelties, including Choo Choo Tinker, Pony Tinker, Whirly Tinker, and Tinker Beads. The company maintained New York display rooms at 200 Fifth Avenue.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 48.





Whirlwind Toys & Novelties, Inc., of 1404 Avenue U, Brooklyn, New York, advertised mechanical carousel toys operated by compressed air. Pressing a rubber bulb caused the miniature figures to revolve while the mechanism played music. The company promoted the absence of winding keys and springs as a distinguishing feature.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 64.



The Wolverine Supply & Manufacturing Company, with a factory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, manufactured Sandy Andy toys and games. Its July 1926 advertisement featured an improved toy vacuum cleaner that produced suction and collected small amounts of dust and paper as it was pushed along the floor. The company maintained a New York sales office at 200 Fifth Avenue.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 42.



The following companies were listed as cooperating members of the American Doll Manufacturers Association on page 72. Their inclusion establishes participation in the association's July 1926 advertising campaign but does not, by itself, identify particular toy models.

*'''Albert Bruckner's Sons''' — 31 Union Square, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

*'''Atlantic Toy Manufacturing Company''' — 25 West Houston Street, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

*'''Cameo Doll Company''' — 213 Greene Street, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

*'''Domec Toys, Inc.''' — 30 University Place, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

*'''European Doll Manufacturing Company''' — 57 Greene Street, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

*'''Penn Stuffed Toy Company, Inc.''' — 71 Greene Street, New York City. Stuffed toys.

*'''Perfect Toy Manufacturing Company''' — 636 Broadway, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

*'''Royal Toy Manufacturing Company''' — 1–5 Bond Street, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

*'''Star Doll & Toy Company''' — 5 University Place, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

*'''The Toy Shop''' — 149 Wooster Street, New York City. Listed as an association participant; its precise manufacturing activities require verification.

*'''Well-Made Doll Company''' — 79 Crosby Street, New York City. Doll manufacturer.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 72.



The following businesses appear in the July issue but should be distinguished from confirmed manufacturers.



Geo. Borgfeldt & Company, located at 111–119 East 16th Street, New York City, was a major toy importer and distributor. The company's advertised merchandise included Ferdinand Strauss mechanical vehicles, Madame Georgene dolls, and licensed Felix the Cat merchandise. It was identified as a distributor and licensee rather than the original manufacturer of every product it handled.

Sources Playthings, July 1926, pp. 22–25.



The Hollywood Dollies Sales Corporation, located at 64 West 48th Street, New York City, marketed colored paper cut-out figures representing motion-picture stars. The line included Tom Mix, Colleen Moore, Norma Shearer, Rudolph Valentino, and other contemporary celebrities. The company also marketed miniature theatrical stages and scenery. The advertisement identified Butler Brothers and Owens-Kreiser as national distributors; the actual production arrangements are not established.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 60.



Jacobs & Kassler, with offices at 9–11 East 16th Street, New York City, marketed Kiddiejoy infant dolls and related accessories. The firm maintained a warehouse in Brooklyn and a foreign office in Fürth, Germany. Its precise manufacturing role requires clarification.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 65.



The John Bing Company, Inc., of 242 Fourth Avenue, New York City, distributed imported and domestic toys, dolls, children's tableware, novelty merchandise, miniature garages, and games. Its advertisements provided wholesale prices for several products but did not identify it as the manufacturer of every item.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 9.



Langfelder Homma & Hayward, Inc., of 915 Broadway, New York City, imported Japanese merchandise, including bisque dolls, celluloid dolls, rubber dolls, lanterns, parasols, fans, and novelty goods. Its July advertisement solicited advance orders for spring 1927 delivery.

Source Playthings, July 1926, p. 54.



The July 1926 advertisements provide evidence of company activity, product lines, and commercial addresses but should not be treated as complete corporate histories. In particular, claims concerning production volume, patents, exclusive inventions, or market leadership represent statements made by advertisers unless independently confirmed.

Several advertisements disclose potentially important historical changes, including new ownership of Uncle Sam's registering banks, the transfer of Little Champion games to a newly financed manufacturer, and changes in corporate identities or addresses. These subjects warrant investigation in earlier and later issues.

The American Doll Manufacturers Association's membership list on page 72 supplies an especially useful independent directory of doll businesses active or participating in the organization's campaign in 1926.



*Playthings, Volume XXIV, Number 7, July 1926. McCready Publishing Company, 381 Fourth Avenue, New York.
*Playthings, July 1926, pp. 1–76, manufacturer and distributor advertisements.
*Playthings, July 1926, p. 72, American Doll Manufacturers Association membership directory.
*Playthings, July 1926, pp. 77–116, trade news and editorial reports.



*[https:books.google.com/books?id=VNI0tLghpK8C Playthings//, digitized volume, Google Books]
*[https://www.museumofplay.org/ The Strong National Museum of Play]

Category:Toy Manufacturers
Category:American Toy Industry
Category:Toy Industry Directories
Category:Playthings Magazine
Category:1926