Through the author's handicraft volumes, and magazine and newspaper articles, thousands of boys and girls who never realized they could make their own toys, have succeeded in constructing models which would do credit to Santa Claus' master toy-makers.
The success of this new home industry has suggested the need of a volume devoted entirely to toy-making, and in Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys the author has brought together a large number of the toy ideas from his former handicraft volumes, and from his articles published in the Ladies' Home Journal, Woman's Home Companion, Good Housekeeping, the Boys' Magazine, and other publications, and he believes that as collected and arranged the material will be found a veritable gold-mine of toy-making information.
Go to any toy store and price the toys similar to those described within these covers, then estimate if you can how much the other toys you do not find would cost if manufactured, and you will discover that one hundred dollars would not cover their value. One splendid thing about these home-made toys is that the greater part of them require little more than the pick-up material found at home. Few boys and girls are given a one hundred dollar assortment of toys at a time, yet any one can own a collection of this value who is willing to spend the time necessary to follow the instructions given in this book. Probably, though, some of the toys will be wanted now, and the others one, two or three seasons hence, because, you see, the book is an all-the-year-round handy book with suggestions for every season. Some of the toys will be of especial interest to boys, yet girls who like what boys like will enjoy making them also.
Home-made toys are generally longer lived than store toys because the boy or girl who expends a certain amount of effort producing gives them better care. Home-made toys have a greater value than boughten ones because there is as much fun making them as playing with them. Doing something interesting, getting satisfying results out of the work, putting an idea into tangible form, and having a toy to show of which it can be said, "I made this all myself,"—these are the factors in toy-making so fascinating to boys and girls.
It is no less a child's nature to want to do that which is most pleasing to him, than an adult's, so why not encourage this wholesome activity of toy-making to which the child takes as readily as a duck takes to water? It trains the mind to think clearly, the hands to work cleverly, replaces destructive thoughts with constructive ideas, and, in making the boy or girl dependent upon himself or herself for toys, is invaluable in developing resourcefulness.
Recognizing how easily the child's interest is attracted and held by anything of a building nature, toy manufacturers have placed scores of so-called "construction sets" upon the market, but, though excellent as these outfits are, the toys they form are merely assembled, not really made by the boy or girl, and much of the value of making is lost. Exactly as good models as those assembled with "construction sets" can be made of pick-up materials, as chapters in this book show. In fact, some of the models in the manufacturers' instruction pamphlets—merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels and swings—are almost identical with home-made models devised long ago by the author for his readers. Furthermore, there are many, very many toys in Home-made Toys for Girls and Boys which are beyond the limited possibilities of "construction sets."
A. N. H.
Oak Park, Illinois,
May 31, 1915.
| PAGE |
| Chapter I | |
| Home-made Windmills | 1 |
| The Paper Pinwheel—The Pinion-wheel Windmill— To mount the Pinion-wheel—The Four-blade Windmill—To mount the Windmill—The Eight-blade Windmill—The Hub—The Eight Blades—The Shaft—The Tail—To pivot the Windmill—To operate a Toy Jumping-Jack. |
| Chapter II | |
| Home-made Kites | 9 |
| How to make a Malay—The Sticks—Framing the Sticks—Covering the Framework—Attaching the Bridle—Flying-line—The Box-kite—The Kite Sticks—The Side Frames—Covering for the End Cells—Assembling the Kite—Attaching the Bridle—A Good Hand Kite-reel—A Body Kite-reel. |
| Chapter III | |
| A Home-made Model Aeroplane | 21 |
| Accuracy in Model Construction—The Most Successful Type of Model—The Fuselage— The Thrust Bearings—The Bow Hooks—The Main Plane—The Elevator—The Fin—The Propellers—How to prepare the Propellers—The Propeller Blank—The Propeller-shafts—The Motors—The Home-made Motor-winder—How the Egg-beater winds the Motors—Care in winding the Motors—Position to take for launching a Model. |
| Chapter IV | |
| A Home-made Toy Motor-boat | 33 |
| How operated—The Hull Bottom—The Sides—The Deck—The Propeller—The Propeller-shaft— The Bearing Plate—The Thrust Bearing—The Rubber-band Motor—To wind the Motor—How to elaborate upon the Design and Construction. |
| PAGE |
| Chapter V | |
| Home-made Toy Water-motors | 38 |
| A Varnish-can Water-motor —The Case—The Water-motor Wheel—The Eight Paddles—The Wheel Shaft—An Outlet—A Pulley-belt—Pulley-wheels—Connecting up the Water-motor—Another Water-motor—The Water-motor Wheel—The Wheel Supports—To mount the Wheel—The Pulley Wheel—The Water-motor Case. |
| Chapter VI | |
| A Home-made Toy Railway | 47 |
| The Trolley-line—Supports for Trolley-line—Power for Operating—Railway—Tracks—The Cars—A Gondola Car—A Street Car—Other Cars—Operation of the Railway—A Station. |
| Chapter VII | |
| Home-made Toy Elevators | 59 |
| A Toy Elevator that appears Magical in its Operation—Adapting Elevator to Toy Office Building—Floors—Partitions—The Elevator Car—The Elevator Guides—The Cables—The Counter-balance—The Smoke-stack—The Overhead Pulleys—How the Car operates—Ballast—To make the Car Rise—A Simple Control—Two Levers—An Outdoor Elevator—The Guide Supports—The Car—The Guides—The Counter-balance—The Lifting Cable—The Lowering Cable. |
| Chapter VIII | |
| Home-made Mechanical Toys | 71 |
| The Simple Construction of Small Mechanical Toys—A Buzz-saw Whirligig—Operating the Whirligig—The Clog-dancer—A Toy Jumping-Jack—A Cricket-rattle—The Turtle Toy—To make the Turtle Crawl. |
| Chapter IX | |
| Home-made Tops | 79 |
| Top Spinning on the South Sea Islands—Clock Wheel Tops—A Rug-tack Top—A Spool Top—A Spinning Top Race-track—A Shoe-polish Can Top—A Spiral Top—A Merry-go-round Top—How the Top Spins—Horses and Riders—A Flag. |
| PAGE |
| Chapter X | |
| Home-made Clockwork Toys | 88 |
| The Necessary Materials—How to prepare the Clockwork—The Merry-go-round—The Standard—The Tent—The Tent-poles—The Horses—The Sleighs—The Shafts—The Girl Riders—The Boy Riders—The Platform—How to operate the Merry-go-round—Other Animals—A Miniature Ferris Wheel—The Standard—The Clockwork Motor—The Station Platform—The Wheel—Rims—Hubs—Spokes—Assembling the Wheel—The Cars—Axles—How to mount the Wheel—The Platform Steps—The "Flying Airships"—The Standard—The Mast—The Cars—Increasing the Speed of the Clockwork—An Electric Motor—An Automobile—The Frame—The Belt—Testing the Machine—The Cardboard Sides—The Wheels—The Mud-guards—The Lamps—The Steering-wheel—The Horn—The Brake—The Chauffeur—Painting the Machine—An Automobile Delivery Wagon—The Cardboard Sides—The Wheels—Other Portions—Painting the Wagon—A Clockwork Railway. |
| Chapter XI | |
| Home-made Electrical Toy | 117 |
| An Electro-magnet Derrick—The Electro-magnet—A Home-made Switch—The Derrick—The Windlass—The Hoisting Cables—How the Derrick Works—A Toy Shocking Machine—The Induction-coil—The Primary-coil—The Secondary-coil—The Handles—An Interrupter—How the Interrupter Works—A Toy Electric Motor Truck—The Wheels—The Upper Shaft—The Belts—The Battery—The Bi-chromate Battery Fluid—Amalgamating a Zinc Pencil—The Seat and Canopy-top—The Seat-arms—The Steering-wheel—The Levers. |
| Chapter XII | |
| A Home-made Toy Shooting Gallery | 140 |
| The Framework—The Circular Target—The Animal Targets—The Card-shooting Pistol—How to number the Targets—How to shoot at the Targets. |
| Chapter XIII | |
| A Home-made Doll-house | 145 |
| The Building Material—The Floor Plans—The Partitions—The Elevator-shaft—The Side Walls—The Rear Wall—The Front Wall—The Windows—The Roof—The Chimney—An Elevator—The Car—The Guide-wires—The Pulleys—The Chain Cable—The Counter-balance—The Gable-ends—Spring-catches—The Stairway—Stringers—Treads and Risers—Newel-posts—Hand-rails—Balusters—The Front Steps—The Window Openings—The Window Glass—The Front and Rear Doors—The Outside Trimmings—The Interior Woodwork—Setting the Nail-heads—Painting. |
| PAGE |
| Chapter XIV | |
| Furnishing the Home-made Doll-house | 156 |
| The Walls and Ceiling—Hardwood Floors—Carpets—Rugs—Window-shades—Lace Curtains—PortiÈres—Pictures—A Cosey-corner—Buying Furnishings—Making Furniture. |
| Chapter XV | |
| Furnishing the Home-made Doll-house | 160 |
| Dimensions of Stable—The First Story—The Roof—The Gable-end—The Stall Partitions—The Feed-troughs—Windows—Ladder to Hay-loft—Feed-hoist—The Drop-front—A Stable Door—Painting—If you prefer a Garage. |
| Chapter XVI | |
| A Home-made Doll Apartment Building | 165 |
| A New Idea in Doll-houses—How the Three Units are arranged to form a Three-story Building or Six-room Apartment—Building Material—The Room Dimensions—The First Story Unit—The Second Story Unit—The Third Story Unit—The Door and Window Openings—The Bay Windows—The Joints between the Units—The Roof Construction—The Chimney—The Windows—The Front Door—The Inside Doorways—The Interior Trim—A Fireplace—Lighting Fixtures—Decorating—Painting the Outside Walls. |
| Chapter XVII | |
| Home-made Doll Furniture | 174 |
| Metal Furniture—Miniature Mission Furniture—Material—Drawing the Patterns and Enlarging by Squares—The Chairs—The Settee—Tables—A Dining-room Table—A Sideboard—A Mirror—The Grandfather's Clock—Kitchen Furniture—The Beds—The Dresser—A Wash-stand—Finishing. |
| Other Cigar-box Furniture | 187 |
| A Folding-bed—A Dresser—A Wardrobe. |
| PAGE |
| Chapter XVIII | |
| Home-made Cigar-box Toy | 191 |
| Material—Cutting—An Express-wagon—A Cart—An Auto Delivery-wagon—A Jack-in-the-box—A Round-seated Chair—A Round Center-table—A Dining-table—A Square-seated Chair—A Doll's Cradle—Finishing the Cigar-box Wood. |
| Chapter XIX | |
| Home-made Spool and Cardboard Toys | 196 |
| Material—A Baby Carriage—A Two-wheel Cart—A Toy Merry-go-round—A Teeter-board—A Doll Swing—A Sofa—A Chair—A Square Center-table—A Round Center-table. |
| Chapter XX | |
| A Home-made Toy Mail-box | 205 |
| Playing Postman—Material for Mail-box—The Sides, Ends, and Bottom of Box—The Top—The Letter-drop—The Collection-drop—Reinforcing the Corners—Covering the Box—A Collection Schedule Card—How to hang up the Mail-box—A Mail-bag—The Way to play Post-office. |
| Chapter XXI | |
| A Home-made Reflectoscope | 210 |
| The Working Principle of the Reflectoscope—Material for making One—The Lens Opening—Ventilator Holes—The Interior Arrangement—A Hood for the Ventilators—If Oil Lamps are Used—If Electric Light is Used—How to mount the Lens—Puttying Cracks—Painting the Inside of the Box—The Back Boards—The Picture Holder—How the Lens reverses Pictures—Adjustments. |
Index | 215 |
