149 nails in 10 minutes making traditional toys
DID you look forward to finding a Chad Valley toy in your stocking on Christmas morning?
The toy manufacturer was based in Birmingham and for many years its main works was in Harborne, before a new factory was built at Wellington, Shropshire.
Many Black Country folk made the daily journey to Harborne to work at Chad Valley and among them was Violet Homer, pictured on the left. She lived in Price Street, Smethwick, and was photographed in November 1963 for an article in the Birmingham Post.
Bagatelle
She is pictured making a traditional bagatelle board, hammering in 149 nails – a job that took her just 10 minutes.
These traditional games were still popular in the early 1960s, although according to the article, the firm was looking to update them with spaceage drawings.
The article goes on to say that Chad Valley used three tons of nails a year
in making its toys, but new technology and materials were on the increase: they also used 2 million plastic counters.
The business was founded in Birmingham in the 1820s by Anthony Bunn Johnson and his sons, Joseph and Alfred, succeeded him in the business.
In 1897 Johnson Brothers opened their factory in Harborne’s Chad Valley
and later adopted the name as their trademark. They were principally stationery makers but also made cardboard toys and games. These became their main lines, especially after the First World War saw toy imports restricted.
The company became one of the UK’S leading toy manufacturers but declined in the 1970s and was bought out by Palitoy in 1978.