Wooden Toy Railway Beginnings – Skaneateles Handicrafters.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans.
OLDWOODTOYS.COM: For today’s children, the introduction to wood toy railroading likely starts with Thomas the Tank Engine … happily duplicating his TV adventures on the playroom floor. Along with Thomas, wooden train sets of nearly every size and description, and with an almost endless variety of accessories, are widely available. However, we can’t really give Thomas all the credit. The most important contribution was made about 70 years ago by Marshal Hart Larrabee II and his wife, Elizabeth.
Marshal was a graduate of Wharton School in 1931, but was struck down with tuberculosis a year later. During his lengthy recuperation, he took up woodworking to occupy the long days. After making a variety of items, he asked Elizabeth what to make next. Prophetically, Elizabeth said, “make a little train that a child will hold in his hand”. So Marshal made “little trains”. Read more.
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