Handmade Toys: Wooden Toy Resources
Down through the centuries, wooden toys have entertained the world's children. From Ancient Egypt to Victorian England and America during World War II, wooden toys were a part of everyday life. Even as nations became more industrialized and toys began to be mass produced, wooden toys continued to be made by hand. Today, antique wooden toys are displayed in museums and private collections, while more modern toys made of wood can be still be found in toy boxes or in places of honor on bedroom shelves. Among these highly prized playthings are handmade wooden toy miniatures, well-worn alphabet blocks, nutcracker soldiers and rocking horses. However, these childhood treasures are no longer confined to the playroom, as many adults have become avid collectors who still enjoy the world of wooden toys.
- Brief History of Toys: An overview of the history of toys, including doll's houses and wooden blocks. Menu also links to photos and information about an 18th century wooden doll.
- Survey of Toys: The evolution of toys, includes lots of wooden toys, with a link to a page about pre-industrial toys.
- Toy Horses: Site offers a page on the King Charles I rocking horse and one on toy horses in general.
- Rocking Horses: About the history of the much loved rocking horse.
- Antique Rocking Horses: A little history and some tips about collecting rocking horses from Antiques Roadshow at PBS.
- The Hobby Horse: History through a poem and painting about the hobby horse in the 19th century.
- Toys of Egypt: A look at the toys and games of the children of Ancient Egypt, including links to wooden toys at the Petrie Museum.
- Biltmore Estate Industries: About the Toy-Makers and Wood-Carvers of Tryon. Also links to other North Carolina carvers.
- Jacob's Ladder: Instructions for making one of the world's oldest toys.
- Native American Dolls: Extensive information about American Indian dolls from the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
- Japanese Wooden Dolls: Award winning site devoted to the various types of Japanese Wooden Dolls.
- Wooden Toys: A brief history of wooden toys, a part of the online exhibit, Yesterday's Toys.
- Homer McNeil: Wooden toy collection made for his son during World War II.
- From Abraham Lincoln: From the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champlain, photo of a trundle toy made by Abraham Lincoln.
- Toys Are Us: The history of toys from the Yale-Newhaven Teachers Institute.
- Children of the Fort: Page about toys that would have been enjoyed by children at Fort Scott, Kansas, during the mid-1800s.
- The Wooden Toy: Photo galleries of antique wooden toys.
- Micro Maestro: Narrated slideshow about the work of William R. Robertson.
- Toys & Games: Brief profiles of historical wooden toys and games.
- Toy Soldier Nutcrackers: History of nutcrackers, includes information about toy soldier nutcrackers.
- American Folk Toys: All about traditional American-made folk toys from The Historical Toymaker.
- World of Toys: A collection of wood-turned toys made by the Bucks Woodturners for a collaborative challenge.
- Wooden Toys for Charity: Profile of an 80-year-old toy maker who aims to bring smiles to children in need, with his handmade wooden toys.
- Toys Blocks: History of the timeless wood toy block.
- Wonderful Wooden Toys: From simple toys to clever toys, a look at the Cyril Hobbins Collection.