“Spotlight on Metal Toys” in 1944
It feels as if today’s world is one of constant war, with near-daily conflict around the world at a point it is background buzz for many us of privileged enough to be far removed from the scenes of battle. It is easy to forget about issues around the world when you spend your days focused on your work, and despite my job relying on manufacturing I cannot say that global military actions have disrupted business.
This wasn’t true seven decades ago, as this 1944 Billboard magazine article shows us. You see, during WWII the toy industry was working within limitations, and as this March of 1944 article tells us, metal restrictions during the war were affecting toys since toymakers weren’t able to incorporate metal bits into the construction of toys.
“Since the use of metal in toy production was stopped, manufacturers have shown great ingenuity and skill in supplying games and playthings made of plastics, fiber or paperboard and wood, and now these substitute materials are classed as critical materials while many types of iron and steel are piling up.”
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- “Licensing has become a coordinated professional effort . . . “ (battlegrip.com)