Vintage Troll Carrying Cases

Most 1960s trolls were small, only about 3 inches tall (not counting their hair). Their size and variety made them ideal for collecting, which in turn necessitated the purchase of a carrying case, and there were many styles available. 

Below are two of my favorites, both made by the Ideal Toy Company. The first is the basic model, while the second is the much rarer deluxe version, complete with a little cave and waterfall inside. Cozy!

 

 

Another style is this carrying case made by Bunallan, cleverly called the Troll Troveling Bag. It's usually found with its cardboard clothes box missing, so this was a particularly happy discovery. It also came with its original owner's trolls, and I've kept them all together.

"Lucky Shnook" Monster Trolls

These odd trolls date to the 1960s, and were made by an unknown Hong Kong manufacturer capitalizing on the troll fad. Their scary heads have led to them being referred to as "monster" or "vampire" trolls, but the mint-in-package examples reveal their true identity: "Lucky Shnooks." Never would have guessed that one...

1960s Trolls & Houses

Toy trolls had a wide range of real estate available during their 1960s craze. Two of my favorite vintage troll abodes are the Stik-Shack, a Polynesian-inspired creation made by Ideal, and the rarely-found Troll Manor, reminiscent of a hobbit-hole, cozy and just a bit twee. 

Below, two lovely Scandia House girls wave from Troll Manor's front yard:

A tropically colored vintage Dam troll hangs out in front of the Stik Shack:

The Stik Shack opens into a beach hut, with wonderful images of jungle and surf visible through the downstairs "windows", and a fantastic "pad" upstairs:

1960s Troll Cave House

Besides the fantastic trolls, manufacturers during the 1960s craze made several wonderful troll abodes, little houses that often doubled as carrying cases. These homes were usually made of printed vinyl over cardboard or, less frequently, a particularly crispy and unfortunately fragile variety of plastic.

This posting showcases the most commonly found of the troll houses, often referred to as "the Troll Cave". While common, it is nonetheless spectacular: the outside looks like an intriguing, inviting cave mouth, while the inside depicts an uncommonly cozy cavern, complete with a carved stone hot tub, a roaring fire, and comfy chairs. The Dam trolls below look very happy living here, and I find myself wishing I could shrink down to their size so I could hang out in the cave, too...

 

Scandia House Troll

1960s Scandia House trolls are known for their "big hair" and color coordination, and this one is no exception. She wears her vintage coatdress that nicely complements her green spiral eyes.