Old Photographs: Children With Toys

I'm always on the lookout for old photos of children with toys. They make nice accessory pieces to a toy collection, plus they're just interesting items in their own right. I usually set up a display of several at Christmas time. Here are a few of my favorites. (Click on the pictures to see them in more detail.)


This first picture is of my friend Ron, who can be seen here in about 1939 - 1940 driving his pedal car down a street in his Detroit neighborhood.


I don't know who this little girl is, but I love her bobbed haircut, funky boots, and stuffed doggie. Circa the 1920s.


This last picture is considerably older, probably around 1900. Two sisters in fancy dresses posed for a studio portrait, with another stuffed dog.

Tracy's Vintage Christmas Photos

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Christmases past (click to see 'em bigger):

I think I'm one year old here. Mom is trying to hand me off to Santa. I'm not happy about it, and am, in fact, about to begin screaming. Meanwhile, my cousin David takes advantage of the distraction to loot Santa's gift box.


Here I am aged about 2 with my new dollhouse and footy pajamas.

And in this one, I'm about 3 or 4, and have just opened two of my favorite gifts: a Viewmaster and the classic Inchworm riding toy. Moments after this was taken, I crashed into the sofa while attempting to ride the Inchworm while looking through the Viewmaster.

Free Toy Giveaways for Christmas! UPDATED: We Have Winners!

It's time for another Free Toy Giveaway!

This time the giveaway features Girls Toys & Boys Toys for Christmas. Growing up in the 1970s, that's how the big Sears Wish Book and JC Penney catalogs divided up their offerings (not that we paid any attention to such distinctions) and so it is with a sense of nostalgia, not misogyny, that I offer these two lots. (Click on the pictures for more detail.)

First up is a set of 1960s Skediddle Kiddle Magic Stay-On Dolls. Included in the original box are all 3 glossy hardboard dolls, tons of paper clothes (some cut out, but many not), 2 doll stands, and the original pink plastic scissors. These dolls are so cool: the paper clothes just stick to them like magic (hence the name). Also in this lot is a Shirley Skediddle Kiddle doll, with her original clothes, molded shoes, hair bow, and pusher!

The next set is a lot of vintage James Bond action figures made by Gilbert Toys in the 1960s. Includes M, Miss Moneypenny, Dr. No, Bond in "casual wear", and Oddjob with his deadly hat. These are unplayed-with old store stock, but they do have the many imperfections common in these crudely made old toys. Still fantastic vintage items for the Bond aficionado or spy toy collector.


The fine print: Free Toy Giveaways are open to adults in the United States, and are intended for people who want the toys for themselves, not for dealers intending to resell. I pay the shipping, so they are totally, incontrovertibly free. I just like sharing toys and making people happy. No hidden agenda other than that! To enter, just leave a comment telling me which lot you'd like and why. It's probably best not to put your address in the post: we'll get that info. later if you win. I'll take entries from December 1 -11, choose 2 winners at random, and send the items out in time for Christmas!

UPDATED: 12-11-09: We Have Winners! Yay!
The winner of the Kiddles is Mary Ann from California! Congrats! I'll get these out to you as soon as I can.
And Barty is the winner of the Gilbert Bond toys! Barty, send me another comment with your address (I won't post it) and I'll get these in the mail to you. Hope you like them!

Antique Doll Chamber Set

Just found this wonderful doll-sized chamber set, dating from the late 1800s - early 1900s. Includes a pitcher (4 inches tall), chamber pot, soap dish, and toothbrush holder. The porcelain appears to be handpainted, and the set was probably made in Germany.

Looking at the chamber pot makes me really grateful for modern plumbing...

Victorian Dolls Tea Set

Along with the larger doll-sized dinner dishes shown in the post below, I found this wonderful miniature tea set, still in its original box.
Made in Germany around 1880, these sets were churned out rapidly and are consequently rather crude, but still quite charming.
Sized for small dolls or children's play, the set includes 6 cups and saucers along with a teapot and creamer. Each teacup is 1 inch tall.
The box lid, though faded with age, still bears its original lithographed label portraying little girls at a tea party.