Chew toy (2)
One more photo, because there is a small story to tell....
The chewing behaviour was an important consideration for Hilary Page when he decided to make his toys out of plastic.
In Plastics as a Medium for Toys, he wrote:
"PLASTICS HAVE SOLVED the greatest problems for the designer and manufacturer of toys for babies and young children. For generations we have tried to find some type of paint or enamel which cannot be sucked or gnawed off, in view of the fact that practically every toy or plaything given to a baby or a young child goes straight to his mouth. This is a perfectly natural instinct, because he is endeavouring to find out whether it is fit to eat and also he is helping his teeth to come through by biting on a hard surface.
The use of plastic provided a safe way to create toys in a wide range of colors without painting them. In addition the plastic toys were more hygienic because dust and germs do not gather on the smooth surface and the plastic toys could be washed in hot soapy water. These advantages are still valid today.
The building blocks made by Hilary Page/Kiddicraft became a major inspiration for LEGO a few years later.
These days, LEGO meets strict safety standards to ensure that the toys will withstand excessive chewing without releasing potentially toxic chemicals.
Chew toy (2)
One more photo, because there is a small story to tell....
The chewing behaviour was an important consideration for Hilary Page when he decided to make his toys out of plastic.
In Plastics as a Medium for Toys, he wrote:
"PLASTICS HAVE SOLVED the greatest problems for the designer and manufacturer of toys for babies and young children. For generations we have tried to find some type of paint or enamel which cannot be sucked or gnawed off, in view of the fact that practically every toy or plaything given to a baby or a young child goes straight to his mouth. This is a perfectly natural instinct, because he is endeavouring to find out whether it is fit to eat and also he is helping his teeth to come through by biting on a hard surface.
The use of plastic provided a safe way to create toys in a wide range of colors without painting them. In addition the plastic toys were more hygienic because dust and germs do not gather on the smooth surface and the plastic toys could be washed in hot soapy water. These advantages are still valid today.
The building blocks made by Hilary Page/Kiddicraft became a major inspiration for LEGO a few years later.
These days, LEGO meets strict safety standards to ensure that the toys will withstand excessive chewing without releasing potentially toxic chemicals.