Circuits & Motors
Electricity gives toys the power to move by themselves. Electric circuits are powered by motors. This power can be provided by batteries or mains electricity. Vehicles are the most obvious toy to benefit from this technology with trains and cars leading the field. Motors in toys continue to become more and more sophisticated. Many toys, dolls in particular, can now look and act like the real thing.
Battery toys were first developed in the early 1900s. A battery contains special metals and acids that produce electricity. The electricity starts flowing when the ends, or terminals, of the battery are connected to form a loop or circuit. The electricity in a circuit from a battery will always flow in the same direction. Most battery-powered toys have an electric motor. An electric motor consists of magnets and coils of wire; when electricity (from the battery) flows in the coiled wire it makes the motor turn. The Museum has a number of examples of battery-powered toys including trains, cars, dolls and robots. There are also a number of examples of electrical toys in the Museum such as trains and racing track games.
Robosapien
Robosapien burst onto the toy market just in time for Christmas 2004 and was crowned UK Toy of the Year that year, selling over two million in the UK alone. Robosapien is the first robot to be made using the science of applied biomorphic robotics - 'a fusion of technology and personality'.
Hogwart's Express
Frank Hornby (1863-1936) was one of the leading names in the toy train market. Famous as the inventor of Meccano, Hornby produced his first clockwork train in 1920.
Scalextric
Scalextric was developed in the 1950s by Fred Francis. Through his small company, Minimodels, Francis introduced a line of toy cars called Scalex in 1952. They were metal model racing cars with a unique type of clockwork motor.
