From bikes to wood toys, Frank Curti’s generosity started with spare parts.
His generosity started with spare parts
As far back as children have existed, they have loved and played with toys of some kind. These days, the majority of toys are made entirely or partially of plastics. But for centuries, children played with toys fashioned from wood.
Frank Curti, who sometimes seems like a bigger version of a kid who simply loves having fun, is very serious about continuing the tradition of making toys by hand with wood.
When there used to be the annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots auction, Curti made numerous large toys that would auction for hundreds of dollars. He cut and carved wood into John Deere tractors, airplanes and motorcycles (just to name a few of his creations) that he mounted to large, sturdy rockers. He would then paint them in bright colors and give them to the Toys for Tots campaign.
He also donated other wood toys he made to the Marines for them to give directly to children.
This year Curti is making another motorcycle rocker for the Toys for Tots raffle on Dec. 8 at a meeting of Rome’s Marine Corps League at the library.
It is his favorite of all of the toys. “I wanted a motorcycle but my back will not let me hold up a motorcycle,” Curti said, noting that he did have a motorcycle in younger days. “Now I live my life with the (toy) motorcycles.”
Curti loves working with wood, sawing, sanding and carving. He has quite a gift. His eyes light up talking about the pieces he creates. He creates figurines and carves fish that look as real as any live fish swimming in Rome’s rivers and streams. From butternut wood, Curti has carved the face of Christ in anguish as he suffers the crucifixion. It was a gift he discovered in his youth when he started taking a class in high school in industrial arts — better known to some as shop class.
“It just stuck with me all these years,” Curti said. “I just love working with wood. “
His work with Toys for Tots did not involve his personal talent at first.
While working for Georgia Power’s Plant Bowen in Cart- ersville more than 30 years ago, Curti started making regular rounds to Walmart and Kmart. He would see numerous bicycles that could not be sold because they were damaged. He asked the employees what they did with the broken bikes.
“They didn’t do anything,” Curti said. “I asked if I could have them for Toys for Tots.”
So Curti began a regular collection of unsellable bicycles. Bob’s Bicycle Shop in Rome donated parts to Curti so the bikes could be repaired, and Curti and the men who worked with him stayed after hours fixing them. Curti would collect 20 or 30 bikes per year. All but two would be fixed to give to the Marines to raise money for their auction. He would hold one girl’s bike and one boy’s bike to give to the Marines to give directly to children.
“That’s what got it started,” Curti said.
If a person were to ask him how long it took to make one of his giant wooden toys, Curti wouldn’t know how to begin to calculate the time. If it’s too hot, he can’t work in his small workshop at his house. It’s the same if it’s too cold.
But toss in a couple of hours during the day here and a few hours during another day there over several months and Curti is sure to emerge with one of his magical toy creations to give to the Marines for Christmas.
The cost for his hobby comes out of his own pocket. Curti estimates that one of his large rocking motorcycles or trucks costs at least $145 in raw materials.
Curti wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s all for the kids,” he said.