A History of Dolls

Definition of Doll:
A child's (usually small) toy having the likeness of a human.
A pretty child.

"Nothing that grieves us can be called little: by the eternal laws of proportion a child's loss of a doll and a king's loss of a crown are events of the same size."
Mark Twain

Dolls are prolific. The very existence of the doll coincides with the dawn of human civilization itself. Pre-historic dolls might have been crudely forged from whatever material could be easily fashioned into a desired likeness. Utilized in ancient times as the representation of a deity, dolls played a significant role in ceremonies, and rituals, related to religion. Historically speaking, dolls have taken on several different figures, and a variety of unique forms. A tangible child's toy, most dolls embody the representation of a baby, or other human being. Dolls designed to resemble animals, or imaginary creatures have also risen in popularity with the progression of time. Throughout history dolls have evolved right along with the time period, often replicating the latest trends in fashion and style. As technology advanced, so also did the method of doll creation which eventually gave way to the simplified mass production of dolls. The historical popularity of dolls is not limited exclusively to children. Dolls in existence before the 1700's were not solely considered to be the playthings of children; they were also designed for adults. These particular dolls were not only dressed like adults, they were shaped like an adult also. Ancient dolls were found to have resembled sculptures more closely than their toy counterparts. Dolls are not geographically isolated either. Children in all cultures, of all races spread throughout the earth seem to enjoy playing with "little play people."

Many different types of dolls have been discovered strewn within the relics of ancient civilizations. Considered to be cult objects by primitive people, well preserved dolls fashioned out of stone, wood, clay, bone, ivory, and bronze have been found in Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Dolls were thought to be used in a symbolic nature, but also as toys for their children. There are even examples of puppets with movable arms and legs, which have been found in what would have been ancient Greece. Crochet dolls, some of which considered artistic masterpieces were utilized as representations of the nativity in Roman Catholicism. Fifteenth century fashion dolls gained popularity as gifts amongst the monarchy and its courtiers. Surprisingly these fashion dolls also played a significant role in the spread of various styles of costume. Dolls brought over to the American colonies mirrored current trends in fashion and even modeled the latest hairstyles, exemplifying the current European culture in miniature. Where dolls are concerned, a child's gender was not an issue. Seventeenth century dolls were played with by both boys, and girls. At this particular time in history Sonneberg, Germany came to be recognized as a sort of hub in the manufacture of wooden dolls. Keeping in line with their tradition, this same town later became a leading producer of the heads for dolls. These heads were made of china by the dawn of the nineteenth century. The Parisian doll industry began developing dolls that could close their eyes, and speak around this time also. The fact that the Parisian doll industry also specialized in the manufacture of "high fashion" dolls also, surprises me very little. The utilization of papier-mâché as a doll manufacturing material early in the nineteenth century seemed to stimulate the industry into doll manufacture on a larger scale, rapidly. Some of the other commonly used materials for making dolls at this time included wood, china, and wax. Hard rubber was introduced around eighteen-fifty, and bisque in eighteen-sixty two. Colonial cornhusk, and rag dolls had humble beginnings as mere domestic products. Both however quickly gained popularity commercially. The manufacture of dolls in the United States during the twentieth century has become a large and seemingly prosperous industry, to say the least.

Traditionally, dolls have been considered as toys for children. Although that may have been the original intent as to a doll's purpose, dolls are no longer viewed only as a toy. Presently, adults are collecting dolls as a hobby more than any other time in history. Dolls are collected for reasons as unique and different as the individual collecting them. Some of the reasons people collect dolls include nostalgia, a doll's beauty, a doll's craftsmanship or design, historical relevance and purpose, or as an investment in a collectible doll's appreciative monetary value. Dolls have a significance that is forever endearing to human beings, they are modeled after us. What other "toy" is specifically sought out, so it can be cared for and loved as no other possession?

Wooden Toys - Making Toys For Your Baby

When people think baby toys, they do not often think of wooden toys. However, with a few precautions, there is no reason that one could not make a wooden toy for a baby. The great part about wooden toys is that they tend to last longer than plastic toys and can become treasured favorites in the years as they grow up. They may even be toys that they pass on to their children. Here are some things that one should think about when making a wooden toy for the baby.

1.Size. Babies are small. However, they manage to fit a lot of larger things in their mouths. When a baby is exploring his or her environment, they tend to taste everything. For this reason, the wooden toy must be big enough to not fit in the baby's mouth. The wooden toy should not have any small parts that can be pulled off the toy since the baby might do that while playing with it. You do not want the baby to accidentally choke on the toy that was created to entertain him.

2.Coatings. As previously stated, babies tend to put everything in their mouths. They even tend to chew on things while teething. For this reason, one may wish to refrain from varnishing or painting the toy. If you do decide to paint or varnish the toy, be sure to use a non toxic coating and to check the toy frequently for damage to the coating. If the coating is beginning to chip off, it may be a good idea to remove the coating and reapply.

3. Materials. Be sure the wood is not pre-treated. Some of the pre-treated wood is sprayed or dipped with an arsenic type bug killer or a cyanide type treatment to help the wood to resist warping. This can be fatal to the baby if he or she swallows it. If you are creating a toy for the baby, consider using all natural wood. A soft wood is also a good idea because it will have some give to it if it is chewed and will not splinter like the hard wood would.

4. Shape. Make sure there are no pointed edges on the wooden toy before giving it to the baby. A pointed edge could easily injure the baby if he or she falls on it. To avoid this potentially dangerous situation, the wooden toy should have all the edges sanded down and all points should be sanded to a nice curve.

5. Make up. Most wooden toys have more than just wood on them. Often time's people add things like eyes and hair to their wooden toys. This is a great idea, but you must be sure to frequently check these additions to the wood for damage. If the eyes or hair appear to be falling off, it may be a good idea to remove the accessory and replace it with new. This way the baby does not risk choking on a piece from the wooden toy.

Ferret Tubes and Tunnels - Some Facts

Ferrets get a great deal of pleasure from playing with objects like furry toys and balls, yeah, but they can soon tire of them.

In my view, the greatest pleasure can come from watching them play in their Ferret Tubes and Tunnels; these toys are fantastic fun which your pet will love to race through.

There are some great tubes and tunnels to be had. The Double Fun Play Tunnel is large enough for multiple ferrets to enjoy. Ferrets have a blast exploring and playing with the bell toys while onlookers appreciate their enthusiasm. The divided tunnel has a hole on each exterior wall and one in the centre so ferrets can tunnel around.

Then there are smaller tunnels which are fleece-lined and flexible tunnels of fun that stretch up to 33 inches of extra exciting exploration space!

But the beast and the Grand-daddy of them all is the 'Super Thru Way Tunnel' which was the winner of the Best New Small Animal/Reptile

Product at the 42nd Annual APPMA Trade Show. Ferrets love to tunnel, so this is the toy your ferrets will love to play with and it is 20 foot long, so you need to make sure you have the space for it.

The newest concept in ferret housing is bubble wave funnels which attach to the cage. These can provide additional living space both in and outside of the cage. Your furry pal will spend countless hours climbing and exploring inside the easy-view translucent tubes which when attached to the cage, stand an almighty 69 inches high.

You can also get 'Tube and Tunnel' systems which can be connected to each other creating a colourful Peek-A-Boo playground system of tubes, elbows and tees. Your pet needs exercise in order to sustain a long and happy life, so this type of toy provides many hours of stimulation and fun for pets through natural exercise.

They can also satisfy the Ferret's natural curiosity as they provide a unique network of hiding places and tunnels to explore, hide and sleep in.

Then there are just Tubes which are a lot smaller than a system of tubes and tunnels. The average measure 12in x 12in and some have a snug nest at the top to lie around in. There are 3 different tubes to run, climb, hide and play in; the cardboard tubing is sturdy enough for more than one Ferret to race through.

So you get the idea, there is a lot of choice available, but before you start spending money on these spectacular designs, try your Ferret out in a simple cardboard box, it will do until they bored.

RC Construction Project Build Time Starts With the Excavators

Remote control excavators make logical choices for your first RC construction equipment purchase.

The creation of a project (to build a city, airport, or event stadium) for radio control fun takes time if you start by designing the project as a blueprint on paper, and then use your RC construction toys for the building phase.

That's why designing, and constructing these projects make such great gifts for both you and your kids or grandkids. They provide lots of high quality one-on-one time.

The planning and building probably mean more to those children than playing with the final creation.

No matter what your planned project is you'll spend a good bit of time in the research phase. Once you decide what type of project you'll build go to the library, or online, to find measurements for the full-sized versions. Your goal is to scale those measurements down to the project you're planning.

Researching is a learning experience all by itself.

If you go to the library you must know, or learn, how to locate the reference books that hold the information you're after.

Successful online research requires the ability to figure out laser focused search terms. A shotgun approach gives you too scattered a result for the precision knowledge you're searching for.

Think about the skills you give the kids just letting them perform that research with you. They'll have fun, learn a lot about finding information, and won't even think of it as a school-type activity.

Next comes the act of deciding measurements for roads, buildings, ovals, airstrips, and the like, another activity that takes a while. The ideas those kids think up about how to lay the project out will amaze you.

Then you consume more time drawing out the blueprint on paper.

And all that before any actual building work starts.

One consideration before you begin any of that design stuff is what types of RC construction equipment your project will require. Now is the time to start buying those toys, or performing maintenance on the models you already have.

The first remote control construction vehicle you'll likely need is the excavator. You'll use that to break ground, dig basements and foundations, and level the area where you'll build your project.

Buy your first RC model before you start your research. As you progress through the design phase of research, and blueprint development space out the purchases of your remote control construction toys as you go, so when the design of your project is complete your equipment waits, ready to go into action.

Building a radio control activity center requires RC construction excavators, front loaders, dump trucks, cranes, and fork lifts for completion.

Start acquiring those models early, before you start designing, space out your purchases throughout the design phase, and when building time comes you'll be ready to move forward, without the need to fork up the cash for equipment all at one time.

Your RC construction project will progress smoothly, give you and the little ones loads of quality, fun times, a great learning experience, and memories to treasure for years.

How Pedal Cars Are Constructed

Pedal cars have been around for over a hundred years. In that time frame, the basic design of pedal toys has not changed drastically, although the materials used have. The earliest cars featured a wooden body and seat with rubber tires. At the height of pedal car popularity during the late 1940's, the 1950's, and the 1960's, the vast majority of these cars were made of pressed steel. These steel-body cars are designed in much the same way as their wooden predecessors, except with longer-lasting parts.

In the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's, nearly every pedal toy on the market was made of plastic. These cars, usually constructed entirely of plastic, though sometimes with metal components, were meant to last through one generation only, and often cracked or broke. This plastic was typically not molded as finely as the steel versions, making pedal cars of this era look less and less like real cars. However, more durable steel pedal cars were simply unavailable until re-introduced for adult collectors in the late 1990's. Today, steel pedal cars can be purchased for both children and collectors, although some companies still produce plastic versions of these classic ride-on toys. Other versions can also be found with a fiberglass body, although the underlying workings are the same no matter what the body is made of.

The basic pedal toy construction includes a body piece that gives the car its style, mounted on a frame with a seat and steering wheel. Depending on the intended style of the car, the body may be constructed as a hot rod car, plane, train, truck, or another style. Any accessories, like a horn or lights, are mounted to the body or frame. Underneath the frame are the axles and wheels, usually with rubber tires. Though this may seem similar to a full-size car, the similarities stop there. The space in front of the seat is left open to allow space for pedals.

The pedal toy is driven by the child's foot power through a simple drive chain mechanism which uses pedals to turn the front axle of the car. Early models were usually belt driven, while models from the 1950's and newer are usually chain-driven, although there are exceptions. Adjustable pedals, not found on earlier models, allow the pedal car to be used by children of different ages or sizes. Other new improvements may also include a gear box to allow the car to go in reverse, although this is not common.

As with many toys, the construction methods depend on the sale price of the toy. More expensive pedal toys are often constructed of higher quality materials, with extras ranging from convertible tops and windshields to working lights or horns. A less expensive model will be bare-bones, consisting only of the drive mechanism, the frame, and the body. These variations are all cosmetic; with very little variation, the actual workings of the pedal car have remained the same for decades. These classic toys are constructed in a very simple design, no matter their outward appearance.

Having Fun With an Indoor RC Helicopter

For many years remote controlled airplanes have been quite common but an indoor rc helicopter has always been beyond my imagination.

The technology involved in model helicopters is of a much higher level than what is needed for planes or cars.

This hobby used to be reserved for people with plenty of cash and the willingness to persevere in learning how to fly them.

As electronic parts are becoming smaller and cheaper, the specialized controllers are not reserved to the military anymore but are now available for RC toys as well.

I have always considered it a disadvantage for larger gas driven models that you need a lot of space and they are noisy and polluting.

An electric micro helicopter can be flown any time in a rather limited space. For a beginner it is advised to practice at a safe distance of grandmother's fine china. A backyard is perfect on a day without any wind. Later you can move your combat missions to the living room.

You can expect to hit a few objects when you just start out. The tail rotor will need some trimming to keep the heli from spinning. In the course of your experiments you risk breaking a few rotor blades. There must be a reason they sell spare rotors in six packs!

One property you may not like is the short battery time on the smallest models. To save weight the battery has been kept small. The batteries are usually charged by connecting the heli to the remote control and it easily takes fifteen minutes for a full charge. After that you can fly for about four to eight minutes.

Larger models usually have a removable battery that lasts longer and a separate battery charger. This makes it easier to prepare for your flight. Especially if you have some spare ones you can play around for a long time.

But I suppose an indoor RC helicopter is just the first step. With experience you will definitely want to save up for a larger one!

The joy of building wooden toys

The first form of toys, comes from the era historical novels were all made ​​of wood. toy manufacturer in the world of fine-tuning the art of creating authentic hand-crafted wooden dolls, horses and classic games that we enjoy today. Over time, the progressively more complex and intricate details were included in the process. bright, lively colors, soft materials and moving parts, wooden toys opened the way for a new generation. The convoy was born with loveCase of dolls for girls. During the adjustment period after World War II Plastic People, the demand for wood products. Sorry, there are wooden toys rarely seen in stores today. Everything is automated or artificial. This time, immensely popular toys can only be found in special stores or online news.

Wooden toys are very beneficial to children. Each toy promotes a specific skill, real development will support a child in a largePuzzles with pegs for easy grip, with a dense forest to improve motor skills. Solid wood toys riding toy tractors significantly improve mobility. miniature play sets to give children a chance to work on social interactions during learning. Unlike modern toys on the market, the motion sensor is equipped with sound effects and Blue-chip technology, wooden toys and games to force children to use their imagination in Children need to imagine theImages and sounds alone. These toys are also free of many of the terms related to the toxic plastic products and the environment.

There are many ways for a manufacturer to take into account where a toy. You can be as creative as you want or stick to a basic design. Boys and girls enjoy different kinds of wooden toys, depending on their age. Infants of both sexes love wooden blocks and pull toys. Stick Horses, doll swings, cradles, puzzles,Trucks, cars, trains, soldiers, and the games are much sought after creations. Games like chess can be wooden and spindles screwhole keys are made. Play consists of farms, kitchens, doll houses and fire kits are available in wooden toys, if you need further guidance in the layout. Building Wooden Toys is a great pastime.

The pure joy that comes from the construction of wooden toys is overwhelming. If you have worked with wood or are new to the direction of the woodPerformance, like a piece of unfinished form a precious toy for your child or grandchild is wooden beyond rewarding. Create a toy that can last for decades and shared your family for generations to come is a wonderful gift. Wooden toy train, and release the soul of a child's imagination. Buildings can also be a new tradition at home. Let's nephew to be present and assist, while parts wooden toy to inspirein them confidence and pride. It 's also a great way to bond with children. Do you feel special and very important on a stool is the father or grandfather of support in the process. A set of simple wooden game or a truck has the ability to the world's favorite toy, just because he did not.