AT THE TOY FAIRS.

THE BRITISH OUTPUT.

With the opening of the toy fairs at the great shops, the real business of Christmastide begins. There was a hopeful feeling as to a busy Christmas in this direction, for every season shows that, even if people are economising generally, they can always show generosity when the happiness and enjoyment of the children are involved, and at such a time factions and unrest are not allowed wholly to mar the spirit of goodwill.

Much talk is heard as to the German efforts to recapture the English market for their toys. Returns of the Board of Trade are not altogether encouraging on this point, showing as they do for 10 months of the year a considerable increase over the arrivals of German-made toys and dolls of the pre-war figures of 1914. On the authority of Sir Robert Horne, we learn that the imports of toys from our erstwhile enemy amounted to £1,095,262 for the first 10 months of the year. But a good many qualifying factors must be taken into account when the price of materials and labour – even in Germany – are greatly more than they were six years ago. Moreover, it is stated by an expert of the home trade: “There is no doubt that this enormous quantity of German toys and games has arrived in this country, and there is absolute certainty that the big bulk of it is still unsold. Very large stocks are being held by the original importers from Germany. Wholesalers who rushed in to buy are also landed, and many foolish retailers are not feeling very happy over the German toys they have bought.” There is every reason to accept this statement, which clearly indicates that the evil should right itself.

Meantime, a study of wholesale advertisements shows that competition among the Allied nations in this branch of commerce is running keenly at the present time. The French doll is no new thing. The graceful elegance of her exquisitely-made trousseau has long been known in the nursery of the wealthy home. Today, however, we are receiving beautiful things from across the Channel in new applications of celluloid, tin and India rubber to the purposes of toymaking. The Japanese are again sending in a big variety of cheaper wares, and have been consistently watchful of the trend of taste after the war. But what is not yet widely realised is that the United States is making a big bid for a share in this trade. There are now agents in this country who represent the leading American manufacturers, and who are sparing no pains to bring their goods to the notice of the English buyers for the retail trade. A particular make of dolls, for instance, is being energetically “pushed” and they certainly have a characteristic piquancy and quaintness that are likely to prove decidedly attractive.

FOR THE BOYS.

For the time being the tin soldier and the appurtenances of war are “dead”. The wooden horse, on the other hand, seems to have taken a new lease of life. Those clever craftsmen, the disabled soldiers working at the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops, have given a wholly new turn to the wooden horse, with its gaudy strips of blue and scarlet leather-paper to indicate saddle and bridle, which a past generation loved. In place has come “the charger”, which, when pushed along with the three-year-old toddler astride it, whisks its long tail and throws about its head and amply-maned neck with the bravest movements. The rocking-horse has been invested with new attractions, and examples hung lightly on springs that give something of equine movement figure largely in the lists. The “scooter” is, perhaps, as popular with girls as with boys, and all the manufacturers of the larger wooden playthings make these prominent features for the season. There is also a great deal of ingenuity shown in designing the wooden barrows and pushcarts that children can use out of doors in the garden.

In expensive mechanical toys, there would seem to be a tendency to revive some of the costly and elaborate things of prewar days. Probably these afford more interest to fathers and bigger brothers than to the youngsters themselves, for it is certain that many of them need very careful handling if they are to be constructed or made to work as directed. But there are various simple forms of aeroplane and many applications of the principles of the kite that will afford happy hours to the small boy without danger to himself or his playmates. Wooden bricks have undergone transformation since the days when those now grown up included them in the treasures of the nursery. THE DOMESTIC NOTE.

The English doll has improved steadily since manufacturers gave serious attention to it. There will be an enormous field of choice this season, starting from the inexpensive item that has, none the less, its appeal to the heart of the little girl, up to those costly examples that the opulent uncle is wont to bestow upon some favourite small niece. But let no one think that the possession of a doll and even a change of its hat and frock sums up all a modern young lady’s requirements in this direction. The accessories for the doll’s house include furniture and dinner services, miniature stationery wherewith to send invitations to the dolls of her other friends, and among the novelties of the year are tiny replicas of baskets of fruit that may be placed upon the table. The baby dolls, moreover, have their feeding bottles and their bath sets, for all the world like those of the last-arrived brother or sister.

There is a little note of domesticity that is worth recording in connection with the season’s novelties. Perhaps the little girl who, when not attending school, must help her mother by doing some of the cleaning up would think disdainfully of a dustpan, a brush, and a duster on a small scale, even if gaily painted. But it is quite to be imagined that the tiny maiden who has watched the nurse and the housemaid using these things would be only too delighted to possess a set of her very own, and might thus unconsciously acquire skill that would serve her later on; and these, it may be said are included in the catalogues. Then, again, there is the kitchen equipment that is offered. Kettles, saucepans, gridirons, frying-pans, basins and jugs “made in England” and of nursery proportions, are rather a novelty after some of the eccentricities that have been put forward.