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Posts Tagged ‘toys’

The Traditional Breyer horse collection are the main product line for Breyer and are actually the largest selling line of model horses across the world. As they are typically made to the 1:9 scale in size, they harken back to the very first Breyer model horse that was produced in 1950. The dimensions of a Breyer Traditional are typically about 12″ long by 9″ in high.

Breyer Horse Traditional models appeal to young and old, horse riders and non riders alike. The more rare Breyer horse models might sell for thousands of dollars, depending on how old they are, how many of the particular model Breyer made, and of course the condition of the individual model.

Since it’s inception, the Breyer company has produced the most adored and requested model horses on the planet. Every one of these Breyer horses is hand-painted and designed to be as realistic and lifelike as possible, the originality going so far as to assure that no two models, even of the same make and model number, are quite exactly same.

The explosion of children in the 1950′s saw an enormous expansion in the toy industry. Toy horses were always popular. Among the most collectible of all the Traditional horse models from Breyer are the Misty and Stormy horses, which were based upon horse characters in the semi-historical, semi-fictional children’s book ‘Misty of Chincoteague’ published in 1947. Breyer Traditional horses are often made to resemble famous real-world horses such as Newsworthy, the big gray Welsh/Thoroughbred cross pony hunter whom several young riders have ridden to championships in some of the United States’ most prestigious horse shows.

To the uninitiated, Breyer horses may just look like a simply toy. In fact, they tend to brush them off after a mere glance with thoughts that they are just plastic children’s horse toys. But, even though they are loved by children and do get played with, these are no mere toys, and their creative artistry (given what they are) becomes far more apparent if you take the time to look at them closely.

From the beginning, the Breyer company has limited the number of horses it produces of each model. Retired Breyer horses are a category all their own. Partly this is to keep each individual horse model unique, partly it’s to keep the artisans from the drudgery of making the same thing over and over, and partly it’s to increase the value of each collectible from both the personal perspective and the monetary one (some Breyer Traditionals will sell for a few thousand dollars at auctions).

The other day I posted a question on “answer bank” and had several replies. It appears that there are loads of people out there with fond memories of the toys that they owned back in their childhoods. 

My question was what do you think was the best or most entertaining toy you ever owned?” 

The first response I got back was “etch a sketch” I too remember having one of those and got hours of fun out of it. 

Next up was “Hungry Hippos” probably a game that many people have either owned or heard of. It’s a very addictive game and one that you never seem to get tired of. 

Someone else said it was a yo yo and another “juggling balls” which kept them amused for hours. 

Football was mentioned often using Mums washing line to make your own makeshift goalposts in the back garden. And boomerangs. 

Another real old favourite was lego which I suppose really took over from mecano. 

For the girls out there it was of course “Sindy”, “My Little Ponies” and the “Barbie Doll”. 

It seems that a lot of the girls were lucky enough to have their own dolls houses. Very often they have been kept in the family and passed down to further generations. 

One thing I do notice is that out of all the replies there is only one game which requires more than one to play. 

I wonder what that says about our childhoods or do we just prefer our own company? Maybe we were simply just used to entertaining ourselves better, that’s my theory anyway! 

When I look at all the different toys I think what strikes me most is the lack of computer games. It looks like the good old fashioned traditional toys are the ones that seem to stand the test of time and its those that we remember best! 

What do you think?

Biscuit - My Lovin Pup

Christmas is always an expensive if exciting time, especially for those of us with children. With children being targeted by TV advertising, it is an almost impossible task to decide what toy to purchase with our hard-earned cash.

Many of the UK’s leading toy shops are members of the British Toy Retailers Association, representing over 150 companies responsible for selling over 90% of the toys sold in the UK. It is an independent body based on 50 years experience and it acts as the retailer’s voice and spokesman taking into account what customers are looking for, what excites children and keeping abreast of the latest trends. Every year, following the international toy exhibitions where all the new innovations are shown to the toy trade for the first time, they print a list of what they found to be exciting and what they expect to be the top selling toys for Christmas that year.

Now when I was a lad the highest of high-tech was a Triang electric train set. These days we can find amazing toys including toy dogs that obey your spoken command, dollys that eat, drink, sleep, cry….and pee !! and a complete host of electronic toys which range from voice changing masks to games consoles to strange little machines that detect weird mutants floating around the ether.

Let’s take a look at three toys from this year’s British Toy Retailers Association award winners and we’ve simply got to start with that loveable puppy. It’s made by FurReal and named “Biscuit – My Lovin’ Pup“. It costs a a hefty £119.95, but this astonishing life-sized Golden Retriever puppy obeys your every command. He sits, lays down, gives you his paw and has a number of sensors that know when you’re touching him so that he can wag his tail and make strange “puppy-like” noises. Leave him undisturbed for a minute or two and he nods off and starts snoring.

It’s time to move from cute and lovable to high-tech, sci-fi and absolutely weird. The Catcha Beast is a hand held electronic toy that detects invisible beasts that inhabit the atmosphere around the user. Once the monster is detected then it has to be reeled into the machine. It’s pretty to describe, so I’d advise that click the link and watch the video of the toy being used. The Catcha Beast retails at £17.95.

Our final offering is priced halfway between those earlier toys. Elmo Live is a much loved character from Sesame Street and costs £59.95. He’s another outstanding introduction being able to speak, sing, sit and stand together with crossing his legs whilst seated on a chair telling stories. He isn’t voice activated like Biscuit the dog, but he has a variety of actions as you squeeze his tummy, nose, foot or back.

So there we have it. Our top three toys for Christmas 2008. Check out our top toy website for a selection of other great gift ideas.