The dada decreed that she is 'old enough' to inherit his 'fun-ho!' tractors.
The wee tiny tractor below was his favorite. He carried it in his tiny hand, back in the days when no one worried about kids choking on stuff that small, until it was lost when he was seven or so, on the farm somewhere.
Miraculously it was dug up, nearly 40 years later, just before his mother retired off the farm.
He is awestruck when he see's her carrying it around just as he did.
But it's also decreed that it's an 'inside toy' from now on!
A poignant toy for my husband as his father died when he was just 5 years old, in a farm accident
in a tractor, just like the one below.
Not Toy-Story, but toys with a story.
Fun-ho! was a New Zealand made toy brand that started in the early 1940's,
and ended, much like the local studio pottery scene, with the abolishment of import duties in the early 80's
A perfect heirloom, cast metal=indestructible.
It's very collectible, but I had no interest in it until last night when hubby, researching the collectability of Claud's new playthings, pointed out that Fun-ho! made doll house furniture!
I've ordered the bathroom suite (at front, except the sink is yellow) from 1942!
A combination of a preference for plastic toys, passed on to cousins when we outgrew them, my mothers 'if it ain't used fling it' gene and living 20,000 or whatever kms from my family mean Claud has no heirloom toys from my side of the family.
But, I spied this down the oppy ages ago and got it for her in lieu of an Pickering family toy heirloom. Exactly the same vintage as mine was, the same squeaky noise, and dog with two tails mental wagging.
It's story? I swallowed the bauble on the end of the lead, and mum yanked it out by the string!
It was a hit with Claud, and she gets such admiring looks when she takes it for a walk.
It is decreed a 'no-chew' toy!
What's your toy story?
I have lots of toy stories having been an avid collector of teddy bears virtually since birth (though my most special of bears - Misha - was acquired when I was 8). Those vintage toys are just lovely, and yes - such stories :)
ReplyDeleteWe have lots of, now vintage, Fisher Price from when we were little ... castle, hospital, town, farm etc. I love seeing my youngest playing with them.
ReplyDeleteThank God your mother had the fortitude to yank the cord! I'd have probably panicked and run around screaming and waving my arms.
I feel a bit sad to read your husband's father died when he was little. His mother must have been very resourceful to have kept the farm going.
That little tractor was meant to be found.
Dolls' furniture!
I just love your husband's old fun ho tractors Max (and their stories) and how cool that you've discovered their dolls house furniture, the little 1942 bathroom suite will be perfect in its new abode.
ReplyDeleteBtw I'm enjoying your Blogtober posts v.much x
Your husbands collection of toys is amazing -
ReplyDeleteWhen my parents split up my lil brother sold all of his toys at the local school fair ;'( I have all of my childhood books and some of my dolls clothes and my cousins matchbox cars and plastic meccano . . .
I loved my Fisher Price dog!
ReplyDeleteWell done Mr Blackbird for looking after your toys (and your MIL).
My mother is not sentimental, got rid of all our toys. Shame. I had loads of vintage Barbie stuff picked up from charity shops.
My MIL has lots of old toys, including some of hers and her mother's.
I didn't enjoy the toy as much as the places they took me in my head. When I watch the destructive way my boys play, I dread to think what's going on in their mind!
The tractors are lovely, very poignant stories attached to them. I like their drivers too. I still have quite a lot of my old toys - the boys enjoy my portable fisher price record player, although of course they insist that it plays CDs!
ReplyDeleteWhat great sentimental things to own.I have a fair few things from child hood hubby has none wonder if he had toys now I must ask lol
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to see the toys being played with rather than exalted on an altar to retro cool.
ReplyDeleteWe have a family friend who made cane rattles. As the RSI took its toll he stopped making them, gave up basket making and became a programmer instead. Little did we know that he had stash kept aside for significant babies. I felt incredibly privileged when he was able to pull out a rattle for each of my girls.