Ralph Waldo Emerson
American writer
1803-1882
Tinkertoys have provided wonderful imaginative playtime for many children in their 95 year history. The inventor of Tinkertoys was Charles Hamilton Pajeau, born August 18, 1875, the son of Joseph and Mary Pajeau. In the 1900 Federal census dated June 07th he and his wife, Grace Fuller Pajeau, were living with his parents in Hyde Park in Chicago, Cook Co., Ill. They were in the granite business. Stories abound that after watching children at play with sticks, pencils and spools of thread Charles was inspired to make the Tinkertoys. He introduced the toys at the 1913 American Toy Fair in New York. They were overlooked at the fair, so Charles took them to New York City. He made deals with the managers of two drug stores to sell his Tinkertoys. Charles built a Tinkertoy windmill and set it in the display window of the drugstore. Using electric fans to power the windmills, it was to much to resist. One location sold 1500 sets in 5 days. Within a year of introducing Tinkertoys he had sold between 900,000 - 1 million sets. Charles' World War I Draft Registration Card list his occupation as a manufactuer. His employers name "The Toy Tinker". Reports are that he had a partner, Robert Petit, who designed the canister that held the Tinkertoys.
My brother, Joe, had a set of Tinkertoys. My mother kept them in a box saving them for the day my brother would have a son of his own. The Tinkertoys are still here at our house. When he was about 9 years old he entered a Tinkertoy contest and won for the State of Tennessee with his moon rover model. Although Tinkertoys were thought of as toys for young boys, girls find them interesting also.
Earlier in the day I heard usual noises coming from Abigail's room. I thought it might be her guinea pig, Rose, rustling around in her cage. The noise persisted. It was Abigail. She was at her desk playing with the Tinkertoys. I left her to her project. It was later that I found out she had built something I haven't seen built with Tinkertoys. A canopy bed for her doll!
Charles Hamilton Pajeau was one of many toys inventors in the State of Illinois. He was one of many who helped make the Chicago area famous for their toy industry. Over the years there have been several changes in Tinkertoys with color being added in the 1950's, the company was sold to Playskool in 1985, redesigned in 1992 for their 80th anniversary and now the wooden toys have gone to plastic. Tinkertoys have been honored at the National Toy Hall Of Fame. Through all those changes one thing hasn't changed. Children still love to create with their hands what their minds dream of.
Resources:
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American writer
1803-1882
Tinkertoys have provided wonderful imaginative playtime for many children in their 95 year history. The inventor of Tinkertoys was Charles Hamilton Pajeau, born August 18, 1875, the son of Joseph and Mary Pajeau. In the 1900 Federal census dated June 07th he and his wife, Grace Fuller Pajeau, were living with his parents in Hyde Park in Chicago, Cook Co., Ill. They were in the granite business. Stories abound that after watching children at play with sticks, pencils and spools of thread Charles was inspired to make the Tinkertoys. He introduced the toys at the 1913 American Toy Fair in New York. They were overlooked at the fair, so Charles took them to New York City. He made deals with the managers of two drug stores to sell his Tinkertoys. Charles built a Tinkertoy windmill and set it in the display window of the drugstore. Using electric fans to power the windmills, it was to much to resist. One location sold 1500 sets in 5 days. Within a year of introducing Tinkertoys he had sold between 900,000 - 1 million sets. Charles' World War I Draft Registration Card list his occupation as a manufactuer. His employers name "The Toy Tinker". Reports are that he had a partner, Robert Petit, who designed the canister that held the Tinkertoys.
My brother, Joe, had a set of Tinkertoys. My mother kept them in a box saving them for the day my brother would have a son of his own. The Tinkertoys are still here at our house. When he was about 9 years old he entered a Tinkertoy contest and won for the State of Tennessee with his moon rover model. Although Tinkertoys were thought of as toys for young boys, girls find them interesting also.
Earlier in the day I heard usual noises coming from Abigail's room. I thought it might be her guinea pig, Rose, rustling around in her cage. The noise persisted. It was Abigail. She was at her desk playing with the Tinkertoys. I left her to her project. It was later that I found out she had built something I haven't seen built with Tinkertoys. A canopy bed for her doll!
Charles Hamilton Pajeau was one of many toys inventors in the State of Illinois. He was one of many who helped make the Chicago area famous for their toy industry. Over the years there have been several changes in Tinkertoys with color being added in the 1950's, the company was sold to Playskool in 1985, redesigned in 1992 for their 80th anniversary and now the wooden toys have gone to plastic. Tinkertoys have been honored at the National Toy Hall Of Fame. Through all those changes one thing hasn't changed. Children still love to create with their hands what their minds dream of.
Resources:
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