| When it comes to toys, there's a lot to be | | | | Today, railway modelling is a deeply |
| said for the appeal of the classics. Most of | | | | involving hobby with various levels of |
| us have fond memories of playing with a train | | | | sophistication available to the hobbyist. You |
| set, pounding out chaotic melodies on a | | | | probably don't want to break the bank helping |
| xylophone, or pulling one of those | | | | your child collect hundreds of so called |
| telephone-on-wheels with the rolling eyes. We | | | | "prototypically accurate" models and rails, |
| have fond memories of those toys because they | | | | so there are simpler kits available through |
| were a heck of a lot of fun. Sooner or later, | | | | child toy stores to allow the fun of playing |
| most kids develop an interest in whatever the | | | | with model trains without having to spend too |
| Big Toy is this year. Most parents have | | | | much money or worry about the more delicate |
| not-so-fond memories of shelling out loads of | | | | models breaking all the time. |
| cash for whatever the hit baby dolls toys or | | | | |
| super cool action figures are this year, only | | | | Wooden Toys |
| to have the kids wind up forgetting all about | | | | |
| those Christmas presents in a month or two. | | | | There are literally hundreds and hundreds of |
| The classic children's wooden toys, the old | | | | different types of wooden toys available. The |
| school train sets and doll house toys, they | | | | benefit of classic wooden toys is that, not |
| all have a sort of timeless appeal, which is | | | | only do they have a kind of timeless appeal, |
| why toy companies keep making them. Here's | | | | often times they are also dirt cheap, and |
| some info on a few of the more iconic | | | | they are usually quite durable, without any |
| classics: | | | | pointy edges or easily breakable parts. Baby |
| | | | wooden toys are available, providing a safer |
| A Brief History of the Xylophone | | | | alternative to pointy plastic toys, and there |
| | | | are plenty of small wooden models, such as |
| The xylophone is actually based on an ancient | | | | airplane toys. |
| design which originated in Africa and Asia. | | | | |
| Interestingly, the instrument was developed | | | | A Brief History of the Teddy Bear |
| independently in both countries, rather than | | | | |
| being based on a design by just one person. | | | | A piece of not-so-little-known trivia is that |
| In Africa, the instrument still carries | | | | the Teddy Bear was named after American |
| cultural significance. | | | | president Theodore Roosevelt. What fewer |
| | | | people know, however, is that the concept |
| It is believed that the xylophone must've | | | | came from a political cartoon printed in |
| reached Europe during the Crusades. In the | | | | 1902. The cartoon depicted an actual incident |
| early 20th Century, the instrument became | | | | in which, on a hunting trip to Mississippi, |
| popular in American jazz bands, until it was | | | | Roosevelt's attendants had managed to tie a |
| displaced by the vibraphone, but not before a | | | | black bear to a tree for the president to |
| miniaturized version caught on around the | | | | shoot (as he was the only member of the |
| world as an inexpensive toy for children with | | | | hunting party who hadn't shot anything yet), |
| an interest in music. | | | | and Roosevelt refused, deeming it |
| | | | unsportsmanlike. When Brooklyn store owner |
| The Train Set | | | | Morris Michtom saw the cartoon, he was |
| | | | inspired to create little stuffed bears, |
| Known in the US as Model Railroading and in | | | | which he displayed in his store window beside |
| the UK, Australia and Canada as Railway | | | | a sign reading "Teddy's Bear". |
| Modelling, train sets have an incredible | | | | |
| appeal not only to children, but to full | | | | The immediate success of the toy allowed |
| grown adults. The earliest form of the model | | | | Michtom to found the Ideal Novelty and Toy |
| train was seen in the 1840's, and was known | | | | Company, which still supplies teddy bears to |
| as the carpet railway. These early models | | | | toy shops even today. |
| were considered fairly crude representations | | | | |
| of the real thing, and it wasn't until the | | | | au is a leading Australian online toy store. |
| early 20th Century that more realistic models | | | | Visit au for a wide selection of Kids Toys at |
| began to exist. | | | | discounted prices. To save money on your next |
| | | | purchase, please visit Toys. |