Toys · 1912
Tinplate Wonders and Bisque Dolls of 1912
In 1912, nursery rooms buzzed with mechanical tinplate trains, jointed wooden figures, and newly imported porcelain Kewpie dolls. As industrial manufacturing refined toy making, classic card games and plush teddy bears captured the imaginations of children across the world.
- Doll / Geo. Borgfeldt & Co.
Kewpie Bisque Dolls
Designed by Rose O'Neill and manufactured in Germany, these charming winged bisque porcelain figures became an instant international sensation in 1912.
- Plush / Steiff
Steiff Titanic Black Teddy Bear
Crafted with black mohair plush and red felt eye-backing to honor Titanic victims, this poignant teddy bear was commissioned for the British market in 1912.
- Trading Cards / American Tobacco Co.
T207 Baseball Cards
Featuring rich brown backgrounds and detailed player portraits, this classic tobacco card set was inserted into cigarette packs across America in 1912.
- Wooden Toys / A. Schoenhut Co.
Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty Circus
Children assembled intricate big-top scenes using jointed wooden clowns, acrobats, and painted circus animals that could hold poses.
- Building Set / Meccano Ltd.
Meccano Metal Construction Sets
Perforated steel strips, brass gears, and real nuts and bolts allowed young aspiring engineers to build working miniature cranes and bridges.
- Model Trains / Lionel Mfg. Co.
Lionel Standard Gauge Trains
Powered by electric transformers, these heavy sheet-metal locomotives zipped around metal tracks laid across living room floors.
- Card Game / Parker Brothers
Rook Card Game
Marketed as a wholesome alternative to traditional playing cards, this color-coded trick-taking game was a major family favorite in 1912.
- Tin Toy / Märklin
Märklin Tinplate Steam Engines
German craftspeople built elaborate miniature steam plants and clockwork locomotives with hand-painted details and operating valves.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?