Tinker Toys History

This popular child's toy seems like a simple enough idea that it would have existed in one form or another for centuries. Although Tinker Toys are old, these building sets are not quite as old as a person might expect a toy based on such a simple idea to be.

The Tinker Toy Precursors

Tinker Toys were invented by a stonemason, Charles Pejau, in the early part of the 20th century. Pejau came upon the idea after he saw children playing with sticks, pencils and empty spools of thread

These simple items being used as building tools inspired the idea for the sticks and spools that would allow Pejau to create the three-dimensional and extremely simple building toy known to us today.

Early Failures of the Construction Toy

The new building set did not meet with rousing commercial success in 1914, but the corporation realized its initial marketing mistakes. The American Toy Fair may have seemed like an ideal place to unveil a new simple but effective toy, but the sticks and spools did not catch anyone's attention.

The Tinker Toy's First Success

The inventor of the Tinker Toy did not let this deter him. Pejau and his investors tried again. When Christmas of 1914 rolled around, the stonemason employed a different strategy. A team of midgets dressed as Santa's elves were hired to play with the new construction sets in the display window of a Chicago department store.

The Tinker Toy Turns 80

Playskool obtained the rights to make these construction sets in 1985. The venerable wooden construction is remembered by children and adults, but Playskool toy designers saw room for improvement when the construction set celebrated its 78th birthday.

What Replaced the Classic Wooden Sticks

The wooden sticks and spools were replaced with plastic tools that allowed for larger structures than its wooden predecessor. Those who remember the small spools and wooden sticks will not have any difficulty when playing with the new Tinker toys with their children or their grandchildren.

The Fun Continues with the Plastic Tinker Toy

Ferris wheels and wheeled vehicle plans are included in every set of the modern Tinker Toys. The wheels on the amusement park ride and the cars and trucks actually rotate, too. The imaginative child or adult can come up with ideas of their own.