| Have we lost our children in a hypnotic video game | | | | Chicago department store and with this publicity a |
| trance? Have they become ?drones? to the ?video | | | | new toy was born. After a year or so, over one |
| age?? | | | | million sets of Tinker Toys had been sold! |
| Sometimes it may seem that way as many children | | | | Lincoln Logs |
| spend hour upon hour in front of a video screen, | | | | Notched redwood logs that could be used to |
| pressing buttons or jockeying around a joystick. But | | | | construct log cabins, Lincoln Logs were the invention |
| it is up to the parents of children to say enough, | | | | of John Lloyd Wright, son of famous architect, Frank |
| let?s find some educational alternatives. However, it | | | | Lloyd Wright. The inter locking logs, invented in 1916, |
| wasn?t that long ago when we were kids?.we had | | | | were fashioned after the foundation of Tokyo?s |
| real toys?.classic toys. | | | | earthquake-proof Imperial Hotel, which the younger |
| Let?s step into a time tunnel of sorts and recall some | | | | Wright witnessed being constructed. |
| of the fascinating toys that we had the pleasure of | | | | During the World War I era, it was in vogue to |
| playing with: | | | | encourage American patriotism and for American?s |
| Tinker Toys | | | | to buy American made products, thus the new toy |
| Ahh..Tinker Toys..rods, sticks, spools, spokes..simple, | | | | was named after one of our most revered |
| but a true classic toy invented in 1914 by Charles | | | | presidents, Abraham Lincoln. |
| Pajeau, who was a stonemason by trade from | | | | The original sets sold very well and became even |
| Evanston, Illinois. He was inspired by children playing | | | | more popular with the introduction of television to |
| with pencils, sticks and empty spools of thread to | | | | the United States. In fact, Lincoln Logs were among |
| create his new toy. He saw them improvising and | | | | the first toys to be advertised and promoted on |
| using their imaginations and wondered if improve | | | | television. Capitalizing on the popularity of westerns in |
| upon what they were doing. He designed his first set | | | | early television, Lincoln Logs were successful |
| of Tinker Toys in his garage and displayed them in | | | | promoted on 1953?s Pioneer Playhouse. |
| 1914 at the American Toy Fair. | | | | Today, Lincoln Logs are still available and have stood |
| Alas, his Tinker Toys drew no interest. So he tried | | | | the test of time. As a matter of fact, as late as |
| again, this time at Christmas time, but with a new | | | | 1975, Lincoln Logs were still selling at a rate of one |
| marketing plan. Pajeau hired several midgets and had | | | | million sets per year. A sophisticated toy, it challenges |
| them dress in elf costumes. He then had them ?play? | | | | youngsters to use their imagination and improve |
| with the Tinker Toys? in a store display window in a | | | | hand-eye coordination skills. |