Our first newsletter of 2009...

In early January, we sent out our very first newsletter and would like to send one to anyone who is interested.

If you would like to receive our newsletter, please visit our Facebook Group and drop us a line until our new web site goes up in mid- January.

Happy Holidays...

As Christmas grows ever closer, we want to take this opportunity to wish everyone who has supported TJ Whitneys' Traditional Toys over the past ten years and we look forward to serving you even better in 2009 with an all new web site.

Maud Humphrey (Bogart)

Maud Humphrey was one of the most popular American, Victorian illustrators, at the turn of the 19th century, having a career that spanned from the late 1880’s up to the 1920’s. Her commercial illustrations’ included advertisements, calendars, cards, and more than 20 story books and promoted companies such as Prudential Insurance and Ivory Soap. Other work appeared on the covers of Harper’s and Century Magazines and was exhibited in major exhibitions in both Boston and New York.

In addition, her young son, Humphrey Bogart, was used as the model for a national advertising campaign for Mellin’s baby food and became a celebrity soon after his birth as “the original Maud Humphrey baby”.

Maud became part of the early suffragette movement and broke through the constraints of Victorian motherhood to continue a successful working career.

We are pleased to reproduce some on these beautiful illustrations from Maud Humphrey’s Mother Goose.

For more information, visit our web site >

The History of Alphabet Blocks...

Alphabet Nursery Blocks were originally developed in 17th Century England.

In 1693, the philosopher John Locke, made the statement that “dice and playthings, with the letters on them to teach children the alphabet by playing” would make learning to read a more enjoyable experience.

A century and a quarter later, Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel, the originator of the kindergarten system, introduced geometric solids carved from wood. Known as Froebel “gifts” they soon led to alphabet blocks.

By 1820, alphabet blocks were manufactured in New York. The first large-scale production of blocks was initiated in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn by S.L. Hill, who patented hi paper-on-wood spelling blocks in 1858.

By the 1880’s, The Embossing Company of Albany, New York patented “ornamenting wood”, a patent related to painting or coloring a block surface prior to the embossing process and then adding another color after embossing to create multi-colored blocks. In 19th –Century America, these toys became a staple of schools and nurseries and sold for only a few cents.

The tradition of ABC Blocks continues to this day. In 2003, “The Toy Hall of Fame” at the Strong Museum, inducted ABC Blocks into their collection, granting it the title of one of America’s toys of national significance.

Visit our web site at tjwhitneys.com to see our award winning series of Alphabet Blocks >

Our Jessie Willcox Smith Halloween Cards...

Jessie Willlcox Smith was one of America’s premier illustrators, epitomizing the home life of the late Victorian era. During the 44 years that her professional career spanned, she illustrated over 60 books, 250 periodicals and almost 200 covers for Good Housekeeping as well as many posters, calendars and prints.

TJ Whitneys Traditional Toys offers 48 brand new greeting cards adorned with the delightful images of this renowned artist. Each card has a complimentary accent colour on the back, as well as a smaller depiction of the card’s image. Complete with colour-matched envelope.

For further information, please visit our web site >

About TJ Whitneys...

T.J. Whitneys’ Traditional Toys began with a dream in 1999 to reproduce much loved family toys from the 1920’s.

Our name comes from the owner’s maternal grandmother, Theos Juliet Whitney, who lived to the ripe old age of 97 and passed away in 1987. She purchased some of these toys for her children in the late 1920’s while living in the Yukon and years later in the 1950’s brought them out of the cupboard every Sunday afternoon for her grandchildren to play with. They were then passed down to the next generation who continued the tradition. We thought it a shame that they had disappeared from the market place.

Our first product, Wooden Marbles and Blocks was introduced at Toy Fair 2000 where it caught the attention of the annual Best Toys Awards programs from both Child and Parents magazines. Since that time it has gone on to receive multiple awards including: Best Classic Toy 2003, The 2003 Outstanding Manufacturer of Excellence Award, Best Vacation Toy, Top Toy from Today’s Parent and the Most Value Added Wood Product from Forest Renewal BC.

We incorporate graphic details of early ad illustrations, such as the work of artist Norman Mills Price, better known for his logo work for RCA Victor and Cracker Jacks. We use only renewable hardwoods and child-safe, non- toxic inks. Our toys meet the safety guidelines of both ASTM F963-96a and the strict European EN-71 standards.

We are proud to introduce three “new” vintage toys to our product line: Original ABC Nursery Blocks, our version of alphabet blocks, Kolor Dot Dominoes and Toy Memories Match. Both our ABC Blocks and Dominoes come complete with their toy’s history, making them a fascinating find for museum retailers.

Please visit our web site at tjwhitneys.com