Construction

Construction toys, such as Lego and Meccano, have been hugely popular for many years.

Alphabet Blocks

Most children have played with alphabet blocks at sometime. They are now known as a classic educational toy.

Bayko

In 1933 Charles Bird Plimpton set up the Plimpton Engineering Co Ltd especially to manufacture Bayko. This company continued to manufacture Bayko until 1959 when it was taken over by Meccano.

Lego was invented by the Dane, Ole Kirk Christiansen, who started making wooden toys in 1932. By 1934 he was using the name Lego, derived from two Danish words, which mean 'play well'. In 1939, the company produced its Automatic Binding Brick, which, in 1953 was renamed the Lego Brick.

Lott's Bricks

At the beginning of the 20th century the toy industry was based predominantly in Germany. However, during the First World War imports from Germany were banned. The British government encouraged the toy industry at home to make the toys that were missed.

Meccano

Meccano is one of the best known British construction toys. It was the invention of Frank Hornby (1863-1936) and has been around for over 100 years. Hornby, who was a shipping clerk with no formal engineering training, wanted his two sons to learn the basics of engineering, so he invented a construction toy which he called 'Mechanics Made Easy'.

Minibrix

Patented and first available in 1935, Minibrix were construction kits that enabled children to build their own miniature houses. Like the later and more famous construction toy, Lego, Minibrix consisted of interlocking bricks with moulded studs on the surface.

Mr Potato Head

The invention of George Lerner, Mr Potato Head was launched by the toy company, Hasbro in 1952. The original Mr Potato Head contained only parts, such as eyes, ears, noses and mouths, and parents had to supply their children with real potatoes.