TOY-MAKING

AT HOME
HOW TO MAKE A HUNDRED TOYS
FROM ODDS AND END5

BY MORLEY ADAMS
NEW YORK FREDERICK
:

A.

STOKES COMPANY

:
.

--

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

TOY-MAKING
AT HOME
HOW TO MAKE A HUNDRED
TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

BY

MORLEY ADAMS

NEW YORK
FREDERICK

A.

STOKES COMPANY

PUBLISHERS

Printed in Great Britain.

t*

A;.

PREFACE
THIS work has been compiled with the assistance of Mr.
Walter Higgins, the well-known instructor in woodwork.
The volume fulfils a long-felt want in that it supplies

amusement for evenings at home. The making

an
toys,
engrossing pastime, and the home-made toy
is invariably more novel than the shop -bought article and of
superior quality, besides which there is always a satisfaction
fascinating

of

in

is

"

made

it

myself."
of the book

is to give simple and easily understood instructions and plain diagrams and sketches for making
toys from the odds and ends that are usually discarded as useless.
Matches, Match Boxes, Cotton Reels, -Cocoa Tins. Cigar

The purpose

Boxes, and even Egg Shells comprise the materials from which
Working Models, Dolls' Furniture, Boats.

are evolved Shops,

Steam Engines, Windmills, and scores of other toys dear to

the hearts of boys and girls.
Perhaps the chief charm of the occupation is that literally
dozens of toys can be

made

at a cost of less than a penny.

Every toy described in this book

easily

is

practicable,

and can be

made by "anyone

handicraft

skill.

possessing the smallest amount of

At the same time the instructions are such

as will prove of the utmost value to instructors of handicraft

classes.

MORLEY ADAMS.

2065921

TOY- MAKING AT

HOME

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

IN every household there are countless things which are thrown
away immediately they have served one purpose. Cottonas an instance.

may be taken

reels

It does

not occur to the

majority of people that these little wooden articles, strongly

made and well finished, may he put to some use, even when the
cotton has been wound from them. Yet from them quite useful

so

furniture can be
it is

with

many

pegs, cocoa tins,

match boxes, broken clothes

mustard

tins,

egg

shells, cigar

corks, incandescent- mantle cases, old

is

no end to the

And

made and playthings innumerable.

other things

boxes, nut shells,

broom handles

there

list.

In the following pages we have set out to explain, largely

and girls, just how these odds and ends may be used

to boys

games, and interesting models.

not by any means complete
such examples as are

for the construction of toys,

The

list is

given are merely suggestive examples.

in a position

to

The

made some

.boy or girl

them
devise and construct many more on

has patiently and thoughtfully

of

who

will

be

similar

lines.

Most. boys and girls are familiar with those little jxiper
windmills, which turn round gaily in the gentlest breeze the
ones which the rag-and-bonc man gives in exchange for an
old bottle.
They make a capital toy for baby brothers and

2
sisters,

TOY-MAKING AT HOME
and they are very easy

six-inch square of

stiff

to make.

All

you need is a
and two

coloured for preference

paper

FIG.

1.

First, you draw out

pieces of cardboard, each an inch square.
your square as in Fig. 1, and then cut down the diagonals nearly

<

to the centre square.

over to the centre.

Now

Secure

*-->

take hold of a corner, and fold

it

it

there with a small dub of glue.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

Serve each of the other corners in turn in similar fashion.

Now

glue on your two cardboard squares one at the centre of the

back and the other in the front, covering the folded corners
All you need now is a stout pin to push through the
(Fig. 2).
centre of the cards into the end of a stick.

FIG.

Now

:.

you nail two strips of wood in the form of a cross,

and pin on four or five differently coloured wheels, you will
have a jolly little toy for which baby will thank you (Fig. 3).
"
"
in
N.B. We shall frequently mention the word
glue
the course of this little volume
therefore we had better exwhat
we
mean.
Unless
we state definitely otherplain just
to
we
the
sold
in tubes under various
refer
wise,
prepared glue
if

TOY-MAKING AT HOME
"

Lc Page's Liquid Glue"' and so on.

These adhesives are admirable for all light work. They act best
when put on thinly, and allowed partially to dty before the

names

''Seccotine/'

parts are pressed together.

very interesting
minutes, is the
Colour

from

it

Wheel.

little

Take a

cut a circle about

toy,

which you can make

piece of white
3 inches across.

Fir,

in a

few

cardboard, and

Now

from the

4.

middle of this cut another circle about ^ in. across. This can
be done quite easily by putting a sharp-pointed knife blade
into the compass in place of a pencil.
Divide the circle into seven equal parts, and paint or

crayon the sections with the colours of the rainbow

red,

orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

When this is dry, make a large loop of string and put it
and hold the ends of the
through the round hole of the card
;

Now if you turn the string at one end

loop one in each hand.
as if you were turning a skipping rope, and then suddenly

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

pull

it

tight,

your card

will

revolve very rapidly, and you will

find that instead of a coloured card

to be a light grey one.

for

it

This

shows that the white

is

light

you have what appears

really a little piece of science,

about us

the different colours of the rainbow (Fig.

is

really

made up

of

4).

Take a piece of cardboard, and

draw two hexagons having 1-inch sides. To draw a
hexagon, first draw a circle with its radius equal" to the length

on

simple Counting Top.

it

of the side of the

hexagon.

10. 5.

Then without

altering the

com-

pass measure off the radius six times round the circumference,
and join the neighbouring points. Now cut out each of these

and from each one cut out one triangular section (Fig. 5).
Scratch lightly along the other lines with the back of the
Now bend these so as to form two five-sided
knife-point.
pyramids. Close up the open space by binding the edges
together with a strip of gummed paper (Fig. 6). When you

have done

this,

place the two pyramids base to base, and secure

of small strips of gummed paper fixed along

them by means
the edges.

Bind

all

the edges in similar fashion for the sake

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

r,

of uniformity.

All that

is

necessary

now

is

to

make

a hole at

Ihe apex of each pyramid, and push an ordinary safety match

through

and

(Fig. 7).

release

it

Now

if

you

twirl the

in

your

fingers,

suddenly, the top will spin for quite a long time.

Fio.

7.

"
"
"
dice top
or
as a " counting top
paint the numbers
the
of
surfaces
to 5 on the five triangular
upper pyramid

To
1

match

use

it

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

Then when the top
is

ceases spinning, the uppermost

the one which counts.

number

Boys who play with lead soldiers

making up a game, they require some tents

Tents for Toy Soldiers.

often find that, in

Fio.

S.

camp. These are quite easily made either from paper

or from calico. Their size will depend, of course, upon the
and it will be quite easy to construct
size of the soldiers
for the

them

measure two or three times the measurements given

Here is a picture of one (Fig. 8).

to

here.

First cut out a

say

in.

cardboard

Now

radius.

conical part, that

is

circle for the

for the

sloping

draw out another

base of the tents,

the

canvas sides

circle, this

time with

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

a radius of 4
to

know

just

in.

Only a part

how much,

roll

revolutions (see Fig.

9).

this will

be used

and

has completed one of its

In cutting this out, one or two

ference of the larger circle until

own

of

the base circle round the circumit

tongues should be left jutting out from the circumference

these fold over the edge of the base circle and secure the sloping
:

sides

in

position.

All

4 in. long, to act as a

we need now
centre pole.

to the centre of the base,

glued around it. A

the little structure.

little

is

a thin stick, about

This should bo glued

and should have the sloping

paper

flag at the

top

will

sides

complete

"

Most boys, and not a few girls, love to play at soldiers^"

and there is no reason why each boy should not make himself
a complete suit of armour, so that the game may be more real.

The Helmet. With care this is not at all difficult to make:

what difficulty there is lies in the adjustment and the size.
First

it is

necessary to find out the distance round the head.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

'.)

This can be done with a piece of string

or, better still, with
a linen inch-tape. Suppose the distance round is 21 in.:
;

then the helmet can be

wide at the base.

made

When

in

seven sections, each 3

in.

these are brought together, they

a typical Norman headpiece

converge at the top to form

(Fig. 10).

Fio. 10.

Using stiff paper, cut the seven sections as in Fig. 11.

These should be glued together, so that the connecting flanges
are inside.
(N.B. In doing this, it is very necessary to let
the glue get nearly dry before pressing the pieces together
Then
if it is quite fresh, the strain will pull the pieces apart.)
:

at the

apex

of the sections glue

on a circular piece of cardboard,

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

10

about

For the ring at the base, cut a strip,

long, and having ornamented it in any

1| in. across.

just about 22

in.

fashion you please,

glue the two ends

together so as to
form a circlet which

go round
Fix
the sections.
will just

this

to the

-sections

seven

with dabs

Fio. 11.

of glue.

All that

is

necessary

now

is

a coating of aluminium paint

to give just that real dull metallic appearance.

If this paint

Flo. 12.

is

is

not available, you can cover with silver paper, but this
not nearly as effective.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

While there

The Breastplate.

is

really less to do.

11

and fewer

much difficulty as the

two sections. The exact shape

sections to adjust, this presents quite as

helmet.

It is best

made

in

trial
roughly, it is that shown in
of
method
procedure is to cut out two of
Fig.
in
and
fix
them together with doll-pins, and
these
newspaper,
then try them on in much the same way as a tailor fits a waistcoat altering pins and cutting out shapes until the requisite
When this is done the two final sections can be
fit is obtained.

can only be decided by

12.

The

best

cut out in cardboard (not omitting flanges), glued together

and painted. If you are good at painting, you can ornament

the two sides with a heraldic device in crimson or gold.
To fix it, when wearing, strings are used. Small holes are
bored at the four ends (and eyelets fixed in, if you can do
so) and knotted strings passed
Tie the bottom pair
through.
across the back with a knot (not
"

Now take one of

grannie '")
the ends of this, and tie it with

a string
pieces.

from one
It

of the shoulder

other

the

shoulder

piece be tied in similar fashion

to the other back string, then

the breastplate will be held correct ly in position

The strings and

the back gear will be covered

by the cloak and mantle, similar
to that which knights in olden

all

days wore over their armour.

Before you put
plate on you can

tie

the breastFio.

a towel or

apron to come just to the knees

the

"

surcoat

"

this will take the place of

(and serve to hide your knickers).

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

1-J

For "greaves" or log -armour you can cut out and paint
cardboard shapes, like those shewn in Fig. l.T These, when
iixed with string, look quite well.

While we are talking

of

soldiers,

we may

as well give

details of

A War
as

"

Most boys are familiar with the game known

Tiddley-winks,"' in which the object is to make small bone
Game.

Fio.

14.

counters hop into a cup by pressing their edges with a large

bone counter.

These materials can be used for a very interesting war

of the siege of a fort.
similar
to that shown
front elevation,

game, consisting

The
in

fort is

Fig.

14.

simply a
This is

drawn out in pencil on a piece of stout cardboard (or fret wood)

and coloured in with paints or crayons. The windows are then
and the whole thing made to stand upright by the
cut out
addition of two or three triangular supports (Fig. 15). These
;

TOYS FltCm ODDS AND ENDS

'13

are hinged on to the back by means of strong tape or canvas,

so that the whole thing can pack up flat.

Each player in turn place's his small counters (generally

anywhere in front of the fortress. He is now the attacking party, and his object is to shoot his counters through
six)

the different windows.

through a window, then

If

he succeeds in sending a counter

"
kills
that number of the enemv.

"
lie

Fin.

The winner may be

number of kills
''

'''

IS.

who secures the greatest

number of attempts twenty-

either the person

in a certain

or the person who first succeeds in scoring

50
"kills."
say
Any shot missing the fort entirely- i.e. going
is a wasted shot, and
right over or missing at the sides
counts one off the player's score.

four, for instance

We propose

to describe

how

to construct a simple

Toy Cannon one quite easily made at a negligible cost

and yet quite effective. The only extra cost will be that of a

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

14

the remainder being made of such

piece of strong elastic
as
or
chocolate-box
wood. Fig. 16 shows the
cigarthings
:

finished
will

article

make

clear

and a

much

careful

study of this illustration

of manufacture.

method

of the

Km.

10.

We commence

with the stand. This is quite simple, being

of
five
composed
pieces of cigar-box wood, a rectangular base,
two sides cut as shown, and two small end-pieces to give the

The measurements you can decide for yourwe suggest a base 5 in. long and 2 in. wide, and side

sides stability.
self

about 2
able

to

or 3

the

in. high, as being suitthickness of cigar-box

wood.

The cannon itself is not very diffiif made square instead of cylindrical.
The barrel is composed of four
pieces of thin wood glued together
as shown in Fig. 17. The pieces are
cult,

y
Fio.

about 6

17.

in. long,

will leave

and are cut and

fitted to

a square hole in which the rod can

such a width as

move

easily.

On

the under side of this barrel are fixed two pieces of wood

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

one about 1|

in.

long and f

in.

15

wide at the end near the mouth

The

to this the elastic will be fixed.

other, a piece about l\

long and square in section, is fixed about midway along

the barrel, and will act as an axle on which the cannon can

in.

swing.

The rod by which the shot is ejected should be square in

section, and about o in. long.
At the rear end of it should bo
h'xcd two side-pieces to act as stops to prevent the elasticforcing the rod too far into the barrel.

these

two pieces

clastic

slipping

cannon

is fired

will

out

prevent
each time

nail driven

the

now

'

~7~"~~7JI

\.

is

-=~

(Fig. 18).

All that remains

through

the
s

^-~

the fixing

should be slipped
the
slot
at
the end of the rod. and the two ends fixed
through
as shown in the first illustration.
of

the elastic.

It

cannon can be used in connection with the

skittles as described on page 30, and in fact the pegs can be
quite easily carved into the similitude of soldiers and used for
If desired, this

the game.
It can also find a place in the
described on page 31.

"

cokernut shy"

Have; you ever tried

Making

Pictures with

Matches?

occupation, and one which

This

is

a very interest-

will fully test

your ingenuity
Instead of using lines drawn with a crayon
to suggest a certain object, you. replace these lines with match
sticks, bent and straight, and so obtain nearly the same effect.
ing

and your patience.

You can

the plain outline of some simple object

such as a sailing boat or a truck or a house, and you can
then proceed to more difficult shapes, learning how to
start with

suggest masses of shadow

together.

by placing match

sticks

closely

TOY-MAKIXC! AT

1(5

HOME

In actual practice, you got a large sheet of brown paper,

and move the matches about until the right position is ob-

Fio.

then you

tained

means

of a

dab

fix

19.

the matches to the paper one by one by

In time you will astonish everybody

of glue.

FIG. 20.

(yourself included)
really

intricate

by the ease with which you can

pictures.

Specimens accurately

build up

clone

and

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

tastefully
(Fig.

mounted

make very acceptable

little

17

presents

19).

Deft fingers and a big fund of patience render

it

quite

possible to construct

Models from Match

Sticks,

accessories such as paper

and

with the aid of just one or two

Placed side by side, and
glue.
_

3"

2*'

Via. 21.

glued to each other, and to a cardboard or paper foundation,

matches (particularly the larger sort) give quite an impression
of solidity

which you

will notice

the cupboard given in Fig. 20.

tion

is

made according

if

to Fig. 21,

and glued

you

refer to the picture of

In this a cardboard founda-

and the matches cut

to tho

In making the founas

draw
cut
out
dation,
shown,
carefully
through the plain
and
scratch along the dotted lines.
Then bend into
lines,
correct lengths

into position.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

18

shape, and secure

by means

of strips of

gummed

tape or

paper.

To

suggest the panel in the door, glue matches round the

outside edges as shown, and leave the cardboard showing in

you want the door to open outwards, you will

bevel the edges of the two matches where the cup-

the centre.

have to

If

board bends, because, by the nature of the model, the hinge

(that is, the cardboard itself) is on the inside.
In similar fashion you can

make

countless

little

objects

and fittings, money boxes,

If
the matches are stained with bright
trinket cases, &c.
colours, and tastefully arranged, and the whole varnished,
varieties

all

of dolls'

some splendid

effects

furniture

can be obtained.

Talking thus of matches leads us to the description of

another model in connection with the same articles. This
is

Xovel Match Striker.

Any

article

which

is

useful

makes

a desirable present, especially if it has about it a certain amount

of novelty.
For instance, a match holder makes a nice little

and

If, however, it is of a
generally appreciated.
has
never
seen, it will be doubly
type which the recipient

gift,

is

welcome.

One

rather novel

match holder and

striker

can be made

Obtain a funny picture for preferway.

ence, one that has a large figure in the foreground.
Fig. 22
shows the type of picture we mean. Glue this on to a piece

in the following

Suppose the picture shows a man's head.

beard act as the striker. To secure this, cut out

of stout cardboard.

Then

let his

a piece of fine sandpaper, exactly the shape of the man's

beard (or whatever it may be), and glue it into position on the
picture.
Tliis

Then at the side glue on a little holder for the matches.

made of cardboard specially, or an ordinary match-

can be

TOYS FRO-M ODDS AND ENDS

box cover can have the bottom stopped, and be glued

li

As

on.

far as possible this should be a part of the picture.

All sorts of pictures can be

with strikers on the

tail

done in

this fashion

dogs,

pigs, with strikers on the back

elephants
grotesque men, &c.
If you like you can glue the picture on to fretwood. and cut
;

out the figure or a part of it, and arrange it, so that it

This will tax your
stand upright on a wooden base.

will

own

ingenuity.

There

house one thing out of which the entermake any number of models and toys
prising boy
that is the empty match box.
Its shape and formation lend
is

in every

or girl can

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

20

themselves to the construction of

all sorts of

things

houses,

the only other requisites

dolls' furniture, &c. &c.
or
two pieces of cardboard
a
a
one
ruler,
knife,
being
sharp
of large matches
a
thin
number
(or better still,
pine veneer),
1
(or better still, match stales).
trams,

You can

start with the simplest

form

of

the inner part, or

merely
tray of a match box, with two match-stick axles glued across
the bottom, and four cardboard wheels secured in position by

Railway

means

Truck,

of "doll

of

consisting

pins"

(Fig. 23)

J-'lU.

to the

most elaborate

and then you can proceed

I'.'J.

vehicles, bridges,

buildings, furniture,

machines, &c.

To give an idea of the method,

a small overhead
Tram

Car.

In the

first

we show how

place

to put together

you want two pieces

of

veneer or cardboard, measuring 11| by 4| in. and 11 by 5 in.

to act respectively as the lower and upper decks.
The
actual method of construction can best be understood by a

The lower deck rests on four cardThese are fixed by means of doll pins to two
wooden axles (match stales) glued right across the under side

careful study of Fig. 24.

board wheels.

1
These match " stales," which urc very useful in toy-making, can be purchased from JByrant it May, Fairliclil Work.s, Bow, London, E. at 1*. per bundle
The piue vuiieer costs Is. ij/. per dozen pieces, each 3 ft. (5 in. lonir.
of 1500.
,

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

of the lower deck.

On

this the structure is built

:M

up with

match boxes. Three covers are placed lengthways along each

and glued into position. Then above these come five
match trays, which, when standing up. take up just the same

side

These are glued into position, facing outwards, and

projecting about 1 in. beyond the under covers.
space.

Jb'ic.

24.

Across the top of the two sides so formed is glued the

second sheet of yeneer or cardboard, 11 J by 5 in., to form the
upper deck. Five covers placed end to end exactly make up
a side for this, and one at each end completes the superstructure.

Two

and front
by 4]

in.,

The

end to end, make a suitable back

the lower deck, while two pieces of veneer,
3|

covers, placed
for

effectively close

up the

inside of the car.

provided by a wooden skewer, glued

to the lower deck, and passing through a hole in the centre
trolley pole

is

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

22

That completes the tram for all practical puryou desire to make your model more elaborate,
poses.
a cardboard or wooden stairway at each end,
can
construct
you
and you can replace
connecting the upper and lower decks
the sheets of veneer at each end of the inside by properly conand so on.
structed doorways
of the upper.
If

Another excellent toy, constructed with match boxes

and one very much appreciated by little brothers and sisters
is

the

Model

Stores.

Once again

this will

be best understood

by reference to the illustration (Fig. 25). The stores consist of a counter and a back fitment
the two mounted on a

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

23

complete match boxes

should be glued side by side and then mounted on six empty
covers.
The trays of the five complete boxes should then be
base

For the counter,

board.

five

given handles to make them into drawers. For these handles

nothing can beat a boot button. The small metal loop is
pushed through a hole in the end of the tray, and then secured
in position

by means

of a tiny

wooden wedge pushed through

the loop on the inside.

The back fitment consists of a block of twenty covers, five
a
in
row, and four rows deep. These are glued into position.

The two lower rows

are deprived of their trays to

make

storage

partitions, and the two upper are fitted with handles as above.
Surmounting this block is an upper fitment consisting of five

trays glued together so as to stand upright at the back of the

block, leaving a free shelf in front (as in most grocers' shops)
Finally there

a row of three trays placed endways -on the

mentioned.

is

top of the five just

For

"

playing at shops

"

little

model

like this is invalu-

able.

For this a large empty match tray is

Across the under side a short length of match stale
required.
These can be
is glued, to act as an axle for the two wheels.
Red-Cross Cart.

cut from either veneer or cardboard.

out a

circle in fairly stiff

veneer on each side

and makes

it stiffer.

good plan

is

to cut

cardboard, and glue a covering of

adds to the appearance of the wheel

veneer alone is used, two circles must

this
If

be cut out for each wheel, and glued together with the grain
The wheels should be fixed in position with
at right angles.
doll pins.

For the

tilt

a piece of veneer bent over

inner sides of the

may be

match box

will

do quite

and glued

well.

The

to the

red cross

painted on. but will look considerably better

if

cut

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

24

from some
is

light red

paper and stuck on. All that remains

For this two pieces of stale of the

to supply the shafts.

requisite length should be glued to the under side of the bod}*

of the cart.

Fig.

26 shows the completed model.

Another military model, slightly more difficult to adjust,

A Maxim Gun. For this two wheels, each about '21
across, must be constructed in the manner described above.

The body

of the

machine

is

Fig. 27 shows the under side.

FIG.

and along one long edge

easier to

small

make than
match box

is

in.

describe.
is

take/i

i'u.

of the top a piece of stale

is

glued,
This stale is the axle.
Two
projecting \ in. at each end.
stales
are
then
so
that
meet
at
the
end
glued
full-length
they

furthest

more

from the

axle.

To

render these projecting pieces

stable, a triangular piece of veneer

is

glued across them

at the place of meeting.

The two wheels are then fixed in position by means of doll
For the front of the machine a screen is required, and
pins.
a piece of veneer or card is cut as shown in Fig. 28, and glued

to the front edge of the match box. Through the hole in this
For this a piece of
screen will project the actual gun itself.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

wooden skewer or slender dowel

will

do.

25

This can be at-

tached to the top of the box by means of glue, and can be

match
Stales

Fia. 27.

wedged up
much.

into a horizontal

position

if

found to slant too

coat of dull grey paint will add greatly to the realistic

appearance of this interesting

little toy.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

26

Many

other things can be made, too, for use

when playing

One such model is

shown in Fig. 29.

a very pretty

with toy soldiers.

Step Bridge, as

This

is

model, and one quite

For it we redelightful to make.

quire four If in. or 2J in. match boxes, a piece of cardboard
or veneer, and some match stales.
little

The cardboard should be cut

box

that

is,

either If or 2

Fio.

in.,

to the width of the

and to a length

in.

L'O.

At each end

of this should be glued the side of a

In this

the actual bridge

way

match

of 41

itself is

formed.

match box.
The step is

provided at each end by a match box, lying down, and glued

to the standing box.
the cutting and fitting of the match
and this is the part requiring
Reference to the sketch will give a much better

The remaining task

is

stales to provide the railings

great care.
idea of the design than any amount of explanation. The
stales will be cut to the following lengths: two at 4| in., eight
You can finish oil votir model bv
at 2 i in., and four at 2 in.
*

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

27

but this is not at all necessary

pointing some of the stales
If in
if you have used a sharp knife and made clean cuts.
;

fitting

up the

stales

you

find the glue is not sufficient,

you can

strengthen the important joints by use of doll pins.

One other splendid use

be put

is

to which

match boxes and

stales

can

the provision of the lighter sorts of furniture for the

Vm.

30.

We

give two examples typical of the extent to

which these simple materials may be applied.

dolls' house.

Doll's

Umbrella Stand

very simple but extremely

is

a very happy little idea

At the two ends of a

effective.

small match-box tray, long stales are glued, projecting underneath to act as short legs to keep the tray from the ground.
Near the top of these upright stales, four others are fixed to
act as a strengthening frame.

These

last

should be secured in

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

28

place with doll pins in addition to the ordinary dab of tube

Then across the frame so made should be fixed one or
glue.

two short lengths

of stale in order to divide the

or three compartments.

Doll's

Fender

is

Fig. 30

stand into two

shows the completed stand.

For

another article of similar type.

this

we require a cardboard or veneer base and a number of stales.

The base is cut out so as to measure at the most 5 in. in length

a very suitable size. Now on three sides

by 1^
this will have a rail, constructed with stales alone.
A pillar
5

in.

is

required about

bo about

in.

5 in.

is

high.

in.

from each corner

Stretching from

this pillar should

and glued

pillar to pillar

Fie. ai.

one a long one, approximately

4| in. long, and the other two short ones, about f in. in
Above these, and not far below the tops of the pillars,
length.
will be fixed a parallel series of long and short rails, fixed into
to the base will be three pieces

Very short pieces glued into

position with doll pins and glue.
an upright position between the two long parallel rails add to
the stability of the structure and improve the appearance
If you can stain the different pieces with black and
(Fig. 31).

brown to represent iron and copper, then a very

effective

representation of a fender will be obtained.

With a little ingenuity a set of fireirons poker, tongs,
and shovel can be devised and constructed from match stales.

In similar fashion countless other objects can be copied in

We have not space here

miniature with most pleasing resulU.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

to detail the construction of

any more

i>!)

but we would suggest

that some of the following might be attempted

bedstead,
deck chair (folding), camp bed (folding).
:

table, chair,

The construction of one or two of these will doubtless suggest many more, and reveal to the reader the boundless
possibilities of this peculiarly fascinating pastime.

There

is

another broken household article on which the

young toy-maker may not

Flu.

is

the

capable of

re-

3:.'.

In skilful hands, this

broken clothes peg.

and that

cast eye? of scorn,

is

construction to very useful ends.

In the

first

place,

if

you can use a pocket-knife with some

be able to chip out of a few broken

you
set
of
a
respectable
pegs quite
Chess Men. The pegs must be sawn across cleanly just
they will then stand
through the centre of the knob end

degree of skill,

will

upright.

few clean cuts with a pocket-knife

easily suggest a king or a castle or a bishop.

will

The knight

quite
will.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

30

of course, provide

most

shown with a

in the

way

of difficulty

as he

is

gener-

few painstaking attempts,

ally
however, should result in the obtaining of a credible likeness.
"
Fig. 32 shows the construction of a
pawn."
Skittle
is

expert

horse's head.

Men. Another piece of work for the pocket-knife

the provision of a set of funny skittle men for
use in the game of catapult skittles (see below).
These can be cut out to any quaint shape, and
may be caricatures of well-known people, or of

Much amusement can be got out of

the cutting and painting of these grotesque little
trades, &c.

Hats can be provided

figures.

ing on

rUi.

little

rings of

cardboard

for

them by

ujlue-

(Fig. 33).

.1 Catapult Game.
Probably every boy knows
what a catapult is and what fun there is in the
Happy young fingers pull back the
using of it.

'$3.

powerful

clastic,

There

and bright

ej'es

watch the stone

a fluttering of white wings

go whizzing away.
and there, lying in the road, is a motionsomething falls
is

less

lump

of

flesh

was a beautiful

Boys who

and feathers

that

remains of what

pouring out its heart in joyful song.

think for a minute will not want to use the cata-

pult in that cruel fashion

no harm

-all

little bird,

is done, in

they

will prefer

which no innocent creature

which provides just as much fun.

"

game
is

in

which

harmed, but
"
is such

Catapult skittles

a game.
It consists

a set of

simply of a board with a catapult at one end, and

The broken peg skittles dealt

skittles at the other.

with above will do admirably for this (Fig. 34).

The catapult itself can also be made with two pegs. These
should be cut off cleanly at the forks. Two holes, about 3 in.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

apart, should then be bored in the base board (for this, a piece

plank about 3 ft. or 4 ft. long will do quite

pegs screwed on (see Fig. 39 on page 34).

of

well),

and the

Via. 34.

For ammunition
little

you need

all

an unlimited number

is

pieces of cardboard, folded in two.

These carry

ot

well,

are quite heavy enough to upset the skittles,

and. above all, are not likely to hurt, even

they do strike a player.

If you wish to vary the game slightly,
"
"
you can rig up a cokernut shy in place
of the skittles.
This you will find very
if

popular at Christmas time, particularly

you play for the nuts.

For

this

you want some wire hoops on

which to stand the nuts.

take a piece of

Stiff

and bend one end

circle,

if

about \

To make

wire about 5

in the

in. across.

shape

Now

these,

in.

long

of a small

bend

this

loop so that it is at right angles to

the wire
then when the wire is upright the circle will be
horizontal (Fig. 35).
Sharpen the other end with a file. Make
;

three or four like this,

and then some more an inch

shorter.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

32

and a third

lot

into the other

two inches shorter. These must then be driven

end of the catapult board so that they are not

too close together

Now

all

otherwise the

game

is

too easy.

you need is a cardboard shelter. This can be

but the shape
and triangular at the sides

oblong at the ends

"
"
shy
quite immaterial so long as the
Fig. 30 shows a suitable arrangement.

is

is

properly shut

in.

Flu. 30.

Another tip-top game,

use broken clothes pegs,

for the
is

the

making

of

which you can

"

"

ring-board

or " indoor

This consists simply of a board with a number of

pegs projecting from it. The object of the game is to throw a
number of rings in such a fashion that they will lodge on the
quoits."

pegs, scoring points according to the numbers marked at

each peg. The board may be hung on the wall, or else placed
flat on the floor.
In the former case, the pegs must have a
slightly

easily

upward

slant, so

that the rings will not tumble off

in the latter the rings

To make

either

must be

upright.

game, obtain a piece of wood about 18

in.

33
square.
If

you

You

will

probably need to join up boards for

get three pieces of 6-in. board, each 18

v

in.

long,

this.

and

FIG. 37.

secure these side

side

by

by means

of a couple of battens,

nailed right across the back, the result will be a square of the
right size (Fig. 37).

6'--

3''->

(^

i.

Fio. 38.

Now mark out the board as in Fig.

the dotted lines cross you will

fix

At the points where

38.
the projecting pegs.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

34

For these
off

cleanly,

be

last

just

ground

take some broken pegs, and saw them

the board is to
If
above the fork.

board,

cut

them

level

if

an

upboard, then slightly slanting (Fig. 39). These must

be secured in place by long thin screws driven in
from the back the correct holes having been bored in
quite

right

Now give each peg a number assignnumbers

to the more difficult pegs
higher
ing
on
the back board close to the
and paint the number
peg
For rings various things can be used. Old brass curtain
rings jure suitable in some respects, especially for the ground
base

the

board.

the

FIG. 30.

Thick india-rubber rings

game, but they are very noisy.
are frequently used, and can be purchased quite cheaply at
"

"

any

games

shop.

rope, are frequently

Rings made of stout cord, or thin

played with, especially on board ship,

Should there be
of these, then it
any difficulty in obtaining or making any
a sheet of thick
from
is a very simple matter to cut rings

where the ground game

is

very popular.

cardboard.

The

great objection to the upright

game

is

the nuisance of

the falling rings. This may be avoided partly by constructing

"
"
This is simply a
to fit underneath.
catcher
a cardboard

cardboard

triangle,

joined together

by

or

rather

two

right-angled

tape so as to bend easily

triangles

and be strong

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

these

are

nailed

to

the

two under edges

of

35

board

the

(Fig. 40).

Another splendid shooting toy is the Dart Box. For this

you need a wooden box of some sort. Size and shape do not
matter very much, but a box with ends roughly square would
do best one 15 in. long, 6 in. wide, and 6 in. deep would be
:

admirable for the purpose.

On the inside of one end paint a target, and number each

Fio. 40.

numbers to the spots more difficult

to hit (Fig. 41). Now in the centre of the opposite end bore
a circular hole with a diameter of about f in.
and across this,

division, assigning higher

on the outside

of the box, fasten

down each end with a

nailing

a strong piece of ribbon

piece of

wood

elastic

(Fig. 42).

For

the dart, take a butcher's wooden skewer, and into the pointed
end introduce a piece of a stout needle.

When
lid, fit

elastic.

and

shooting with this toy, hold the box firmly, open the
the dart in the hole from the inside, and draw back the

When you

let go.

have taken careful aim,

close

down

the lid

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

36
This
Also

a capital toy, and provides endless amusement.

is

it is

a very desirable one as far as shooting

for the closing

down

While talking

of

is

concerned,

of the lid ensures perfect safety.

making things from clothes

pegs,

we may

FIG. 41.

as well give particulars of one or

rather more to our girl readers.

A Key
article as

simplicity

two things which

will

appeal

Rack such as that shown in Fig. 43 is just such an

girl would take a delight in making, because of its

and

The only

its prettiness.

materials required are two pegs,

some hooks, and

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

37

a length of ribbon.
Take the two pegs which should be
nicely turned ones and wedge the prongs one within the other
so that the pegs remain fixed at right angles.
In doing this,
in
but
take
care
not
to
the
push
pegs
tightly,
split the pegs in
so doing.
Using a bradawl, make a hole through the junction

Fiu. 42.

the common sort as used

and screw in a hook
do
well.
Now bore holes midway
on dressers, &c., will
quite
between the junction and the knobs, and screw in two more
of the prongs,

hooks.
If

now a

in colour

shown

coat of enamel be given to the pegs say green

and if ribbons (pale blue) be tastily arranged as

in the sketch, then a very pretty

will result.

and useful

little article

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

38

Yet another splendid

little article

from pegs

is

Picture Postcard Stand, for which the only necessities will

be two pegs and a piece of wood for a base (Fig. 44).

This base should be about 4$ in. long and about 2J in.

wide.
It can be cut from wood of any thickness, but a piece

about

| in. thick is the

most

suitable.

Find the centre

of each

end edge of the base, and draw a line right across the wood.
now you measure in one inch from each end you will get the
two spots to which to affix the pegs.

If

These

last

must

first

of all

have one prong removed, or

rather enough of a prong to leave a quarter-inch

stump

pro-

This stump should be rounded with a sharp knife,

and then the whole peg should be finished off with glass-paper.

jecting.

These pegs must then be fixed knob downwards on to the

base.
Fig. 39 on page 34 shows a suitable method for this.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

If

you are at

with your
round the edge

all skilful

to cut a nice moulding

tools

you

39
will

of the base,

be able

and

so im-

prove the artistic effect of your model.

Two thin coats of varnish, or of good enamel, will complete this attractive little article.

One little wooden toy, quite interesting

"
useful when playing with
soldiers," is
The Windlass. Some odd pieces of lath

in itself,

and very

or cigar-box wood,

Fio. 44.

a cotton

reel,

a length of

glue and

all

string,

some stout

the necessaries.

pins, provide
should be the largest obtainable.
Fig. 45 shows the completed work.

wire, and some

The cotton reel

First of

all,

make a

square base for the windlass. If the reel is 3 in. long, cut off
four lengths of lath (or four inch-strips of cigar- wood box) each
4 in. long, and glue these into a hollow square, two under and

two

over.

Now

cut

off

two more

lengths, 3 in. long, for the

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

40

making the top ends pointed to hold the

upright supports
slanting covers.

Before these side-pieces are glued and pinned into position,

be necessary to insert the reel. Get a piece of skewer,

it will

or lead pencil, 4 in. long, and glue it into the hole in the
reel.
At one end of the axle so formed will be placed the
handle.

This can be

made

in several ways, either with

wood

Fio. 45.

or wire, or a mixture of the

varieties,

which

may

also

two

(Figs. 46, 47,

48 show some

be useful in making other

toys).

Holes just large enough to allow the axle to turn freely must
then be cut in the side supports.

The two

slanting covers should be about 4 in. long, so

as to allow a trifle to project at each end, and should be

from | in. to
form the apex
form a clean

in.

wide.

The two edges which meet

to

of the cover should be bevelled off so as to

join.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

In making this model

it

would perhaps be as well to use

carpenter's glue in place of the

From
boxes,

prepared

the material supplied

many

stuff.

by one or two empty

interesting things can be made, especially

for use with dolls

cradles, carts, furniture, &c.

are of no use to you, they

little sisters

41

and

come

cigar

articles

If these articles

handy for presents to

when well made and care-

in very

friends, especially

fully finished.

I,

FID.

A
with.

Fro. 47.

4C,.

Doll's Cradle is

FIG. 48.

perhaps one of the simplest to commence

the lid has been removed, it is

To a box from which

only necessary to add two rockers. These can be cut out from
the lid by means of a fret saw, and then smoothed down with
Fig. 49 shows the best shape for the rockers,
which should be" glued on about an inch from each end of the
box (Fig. 50). Great care should be taken that the two rockers

glass-paper.

are as nearly alike as possible, otherwise the cradle will not swing
to and fro freely.

comparatively easy to make, the only

really trying part being the cutting of the four wheels.
Doll's Cart is also

42

TOY-MAKING AT HOME
For the body

a cigar box which has been

and planed down level round the edges.
To the under side of this body, and about one inch from each
end, glue two pieces of wood to which to fix the wheels. Strengthen these joins by means of short pins driven through. Fix
of the cart use

deprived of its lid,

Fio. 49.

the wheels to these pieces by means of pins (Fig. 51). In order

to support these two wheel-holders, stretch another piece
across the space between them, at right angles to each, gluing
firmly to the two centres.

it

The wheels should be cut with a fret saw,

if

you possess one.

FIG. 00.

If you do not possess one, then draw out the circle on the wood,
and cut the square containing the circle. Then saw off the
corners to form an eight-sided figure, and go on cutting off

corners until you get

off

down

with glass-paper (Fig.

to the circle, which

52).

you can

finish

43

little

hook or ring should be attached at the bottom of

may be tied on, and the vehicle

one end, in order that a string

drawn

along.

Fio. 51.

therefore 6

One of the most old-fashioned of toys,

The box required for it is practically
four-inch squares of cigar-box wood must

Two

need to be cut down to

Jack-in-the-Box.

this never loses its interest.

cubical

be cut out.

of these will

width, so that the four-inch bottom and lid will

two squares cut a

strip

in.

wide.

fit

3 f in. in

so from

Glue and pin together the

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

44

two 3$

pieces and*two of the four-inch pieces to form a hollow

square. To this will be fixed one of the other four-inch pieces
to

and at the other end the remaining fourbe hinged (or wired on like the lid of a chocolate

form a bottom

inch piece will

box).

Before the bottom

is finally

put on,

it will

be necessary to

Fiu. 53.

attach the mechanism.

For

this

you

will

require a strong

long when released, and a doll's head.

One end of the spring must be fixed to the centre of the base.
You can do this by means of tiny wire staples (bent pins with
piece of spring

about 6

the heads nipped

off)

in.

hammered over

the wire into the base,

and then bent back on the opposite side of the wood (Fig. 53).
At the other end of the spring a piece of cardboard must be
When
fixed, and to it the doll's head must be firmly glued.
the mechanism is complete, nail on the bottom, and fix
the

lid.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

45

Into the centre of the front edge of the lid drive a small
or stout pin, and on the box just below fix a revolving

nail,

This you can quite easily cut from an old piece

of fairly thick tin (Fig. 54).
In this way an effective means is
"
"
of
lid
the
and enabling the
to
Jack
provided
releasing
shoot out suddenly.
catch hook.

The Jig-saw Puzzle was at one time a very popular toy, and
there are signs that

its

popularity

is

being revived.

If it

does

FIG. 55.

not interest you particularly, it will provide a

sister with endless amusement.

In reality

little

brother or

puzzle consists merely of a picture (generally

an interesting coloured one) glued very firmly to .a piece of
fretwood or cigar-box wood. This is then by means of a fret
the.

saw cut into a great many

wardly as possible

shaped as quaintly and awkThese pieces are then jumbled

pieces,

(see Fig. 55).

and passed on to the little one in order that

the shapes may be fitted into place and the original picture

up into

disorder,

reconstructed.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

46

Somewhat
scribed

is

after the style of the

"

"

jig-saw

puzzle just de-

the

Geometrical

Puzzle

shown

in

consists of a capital letter divided

lines into right-angled triangles

Fig.

56.

Each

of

these

up by one or two straight

and other geometrical shapes.

While very simple to look at when completed, these little puzzles

are by no means easy to solve when the odd pieces are given

FIG. 56.

in a

jumbled

state.

The

capital letters should be

drawn on a

wood, and then carefully cut out with a fret

saw, or, better still, with a tenon saw if you have one. If you
cannot manage wood, then the puzzle can be done in stout

piece of cigar-box

cardboard and cut out with a sharp thin knife.

Of other cheaply made puzzles

The Reels and String Puzzle is highly entertaining.
only materials required for

it

are the lid of a cigar box,

The
two

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

47

two beads, and a length of smooth string or thin

The making is simplicity itself. All you need do
cut the lid in halves and bore three holes in a line in one of

cotton

reels,

silk cord.
is

the halves.
as

you

like,

Of course you can ornament your wood as much

but that will in no way increase or decrease the

effectiveness of the puzzle.

When you

have cut

it

out and finished

glass-paper, thread the beads

and

reels as

it off

nicely with

shown

in Fig. 57.

FIG. 57.

Take

special care that

you do not make any mistake

in the

arrangement, or your solution will result in a hopeless tangle.

The object of the puzzle is to get the two cotton reels, which,
as

you

To

see,

solve

it

are

now on

quite separate loops, on to one loop.

Take hold of the centre loop,

proceed as follows

Now pass the right-hand

the
care
not
to twist the cord, pass
through
Taking
loop.
this loop through the hole on the right-hand side, over the bead,
and

pull it down, to its full extent.

reel

and then draw

Now
reel

you

back again.
follow
the same procedure with the left-hand
you
will find that the centre loop is released and can be
it

if

pulled through the centre hole.

down

side

by

side.

Then

will the

two

reels slide

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

48

One thoroughly

entertaining and, to a certain extent, be-

is

wildering puzzle
The Three-hole Puzzle.
piece of thin

wood with

Really the puzzle consists of a

three holes cut in it. These three

holes are respectively circular, square,

and triangular

(Fig. 58).

FIG. 58.

The problem is to cut one block of wood which will pass through
each hole and at the same time fit the hole exactly.
Can it be done ? At first it looks to be quite impossible
;

but there

is

a very neat solution to the

difficulty.

FlQ.

First cut out your holes.

To do

this get a cigar-box lid

and draw out the three figures, taking care that the length of
the side of the square and the length of the side of the triangle
and the length of the diameter of the circle are equal. Now,
using your fret saw, cut out these holes very neatly and precisely.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

49

For the block you need a small cylinder of wood

an odd
of
broken
broom
handle
do
will
This
must
piece
admirably.
:

be cut and finished with glass-paper so that it will fit the circular hole exactly.
Now saw a piece just as long as the cylinder
is

This looked at in one

wide.

will

fit

the second hole.

way

Thus two

gives an exact square which

holes are catered for.

Finally, for the third hole the cylinder

two

sides.

To do

this

draw

must be tapered on
and then

a diameter at one end

gradually pare away a flat surface till the triangular section is

obtained.
Fig. 59

shows how the block,

when turned
fits

in different ways,

the three holes.

Another toy which can be

made quite easily from cigar-box

wood

is

Model Signal. First cut

two strips of wood, half an inch
wide and as long as you can get
them, which will be 8 or 9 in.
These will stand upright on a
base board, and form the sides
of the standard.

Now

between
Fio. 60.

these two you must glue shorter

pieces of half-inch strip, so as to

make

FIG. 61.

the standard solid at

the top and bottom, and leave a hollow slot, 1 in. long, in
which the signal arm will fit and work up and down (Fig. 60).

Now cut out and paint a signal arm, about 2| in. long.
Fix this by means of a pin passing through the two sides of
the standard, and through the arm about
in. from the square
end.

If it

does not

move

easily in the slot, take off the top

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

50

surface with glass-paper.

Before fixing the signal arm in posia
small
hole
bore
tion,
J in. from the square end, and knot
in a piece of twine or thin wire to act as a connection between

the movable

arm and the

At the base

controlling lever (Fig. 61).

of the standard fix the controlling lever.

consists of a small strip, with a pin passing through

into the standard.

This

one end

Adjust the length of the twine or wire, so

Fio. 62.

and
that when the signal arm is down, the lever is horizontal
when the lever is pressed down, the arm rises. You can make
a little contrivance for fixing the lever by erecting a small
;

post close to the standard, and gluing on two stops, under

which to rest the free end of the lever in its two positions
(Fig. 62).
If you prefer it, you can have the controlling lever at a
distance from the signal post. You will then need a longer

and a little pulley wheel at the base of the standard.

You must exercise your own ingenuity for this.

wire,

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

51

Another interesting little scientific toy, which has the

additional advantage of being useful, is the Weather House,
or the Man and Woman Barometer. This consists of a little
house with two doorways, at which appear two
in fine

weather, and the other

figures,

one

in Hull (Fig. 63).

Fm.

03.

With patience and care this is not very difficult to make.

For the house itself you can use an old cigar box, or, if you
prefer it, you can make the entire house in cardboard.
This is, of course, easier, but not very durable. If you
are going to use the cigar box, you will need first to cut
the lid and bottom into something like the shape of a house
end.
You will then have to nail the lid down, and add two
and that will comslanting pieces for the sides of the roof
:

plete the house.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

f>2

However, before you nail down the lid and put on the roof,
you will need to understand the mechanism. First you will
bore a round hole in the top of the roof, just behind the front
This hole is for a round peg to which the revolving
gable.
base

is

The

attached.

actual

mechanism

a piece of catThis
or a tennis-racket string).

of the toy consists of

gut (an old violin string,

Fio. 64,

passes through the centre of a small flat piece of wood on

which the two figures are balanced. Just in front of the string

a piece of wire (a bent hairpin will do admirably) is fixed, so as

to form a loop through which the catgut can pass (see Fig. 64).
The other end of the catgut is fixed to the peg which fits in
the hole in the roof.

For the

man and woman you can

figures cut from clothes pegs.

use two of the grotesque

Screws passed through the

re-

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

53

volving base will secure the figures firmly and at the same
time add a little weight, and so improve the balance.

When

moisture in the air the catgut will twist.

together the different parts and then, by turning
the peg to right or left, adjust the position of the figures so that
the lady appears in fine weather and the gentleman in wet.

You must

there

is

fit

Fio. 65.

toy of unfailing attraction for boys and girls as well is

This may be quite a simple affair
such as a boy can carry in his pocket for use in the playground

The Marble Board.

just a piece of wood, such as

of holes cut along

a cigar-box

lid,

with a number

one edge, and a handle added

(Fig. 65)

or

Flu. H6.

it

may

be a

much more

elaborate form intended for use as a

table game.

In this latter case there

is

a front board, similar to that

in the simple form

but behind each hole there is a
of the marbles (Fig. 66).
for
the
collection
compartment
;

make

this

you need two pieces of wood, about 2

in.

little

wide,

To
and

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

54

as long as the table is broad

any s6rt of wood will do. These
are for the front and back of the contrivance. The front must
:

next be marked out for the marble holes, allowing about 1 in.
for the hole and 1 in. for the space between.
Of course, the
wider the spaces between the more difficult it becomes to score.
These holes must then be cut out by means of a fret saw, or, if

you do not possess one, by means of saw and chisel. The back
and front must then be secured in position by means of endpieces nailed or screwed on. These should be about 3 in. long.
The next piece of work is the adjustment of the partitions.

For these cigar-box wood

is best.

You can

either cut these

partitions to the exact distance between the front and the

or else you can make them
back, and glue them into position
a little larger, and fit them into grooves cut into the front and
;

back

but that

When you

is

a nice

have done

little

piece of carpentry for you.

that is necessary is to give the

this, all

whole thing a coat of paint, and place numbers over the various
holes taking care that you do not put all the high numbers
together.

Boards similar to

known

as

"

Bobs."

this are

Larger

used in the Colonies for a game

balls are used,

and propelled by

means

of a cue as in billiards.

this is

a delightful game, and one well worth making.

If

you can obtain the

balls,

A Wooden Wind Wheel for the garden is a splendid little

model to make interesting in itself, but doubly desirable because so much can be done with it. Of course, it can be made
quite small and very simple, and still provide unending amusement to smaller brothers and sisters but for our own pur;

pose it is just as well to make a larger and stronger specimen,

one which can be employed as a power station for the working
of smaller toys.

The main

parts are

(1)

a circular hub. about 2 J to 3

in. in

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

diameter,
varieties

and

to

a cotton

each about 6 or 7
end, tapering

1J

reel will

down

in.

in

thickness

do admirably)

(for

55
the

smaller

(2) six or eight sails,

long and 3 in. wide at the extreme

to a little more than the width of the

in.

Fio. 67.

hub at the other (3) a hardwood axle and (4) a driving

wheel. For this last a cotton reel will do splendidly, especi;

ally

one of those with wide flanges and a slender centre.

general arrangement

is

shown

in Fig. 67.

The

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

50

The
have a

cutting of the
fret saw.

hub

is

not a very

difficult

matter

It should be cut across the grain

if

you
you can
if

get a suitable piece of wood. The sails also are quite easy to
make. For these you cannot beat cigar-box wood. The cutting of the grooves in the hub for the insertion of the sails is

the most trying piece of work.

These grooves should be just

PJC.

large

enough to allow the

at an angle of 45

sails to fit tightly,

across the hub.

The

and should be cut

sails

should then be

glued in with carpenter's glue.

For the axle secure a piece

length of half-inch dowel-rod.
of

about

to 5 in.

On

round wood, such as an odd

This should be cut to a length

of

this should be fixed the wheel itself,

and, at a sufficient distance to prevent the sails catching the

A French nail in each end of the
string, the bearing wheel.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

axle will then secure

it

in position

and secure an easy running.

If you have a play shed

57

between the side supports

in the garden, this apparatus

can

be erected at the top of a high post projecting through or at

the side of the roof. The driving strings can then pass through
a hole in the roof or the wall, and the power can be transmitted
by a double pulley wheel and another driving string. If you

have no play shed,

it is

not at

all difficult

to rig

it

up outside a

FIG. 69.

window.

You can

try that,

and prove your own inventive

abilities.

How
this

to

use the

mechanism

Wind Power Machine.

will drive in

good fashion

is

One

thing which

an overhead tram-

toy when in working order.

For this all that is required is a number of cotton reels,
a length of stout cord, and one or two of the model trams de-

a very pretty

way system

scribed
"

on page

standards

"

21.

If

little

you care

for the cotton reels.

you can make proper

Fig. 68 shows such an

to,

TOY-MAKING AT HOME
is for heavy weights when the
a
table or other place where nails
rigged up on
system
cannot be used. These reels must turn freely to allow the easy

arrangement.

The

flat

base

is

passage of the cable. In one place there must be a double

reel (Fig. 69) for the transmission of the power.
The lower
reel will act as the ordinary cable wheel, while the other, glued
firmly to

will carry the driving belt

it,

from the wind machine

described above.

The model trams must be

by means

of

two

fixed to the cable.

to the pole of the

fixed

wires,

This

done

tram and

When

twined round the cable.

is

this is

connected up and the cable drawn tightly

round the standard reels, the vehicles

bead

circulate

rapidly

on what

is

really

complete model tramway system.

Another interesting contrivance to

which the wind power can be harnessed
is

toy can be
or

This attractive

Roundabout.

two

made

reels,

little

quite readily from one

and four ordinary wooden

skewers.

The
for

first

thing required

is

a base board,

which any tolerably smooth and heavy

piece of wood will suffice. Now in the

centre of this fix an upright piece of thick
wire (a knitting needle will do)
and

Fio. 70.

glue on a cotton

reel at

the base of

this.

In order to secure the absolutely smooth running of the

roundabout it will be necessary to improvise some sort of
"

bearings."
glass beads.

For
If

this there is nothing better than two hard

one of these beads be sunk into the top of the

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

reel

just mentioned,

another loose

reel,

and the other

59

bottom of
on the lower

fixed in the

the upper one will revolve freely

This loose reel will be the driving wheel of the contrivance and will hold the power band from the wind wheel.
(Fig. 70).

Fixed to this running wheel, and immediately above, will be

another reel for the actual merry-go-round. Into the sides
bore four holes, and insert the pointed
ends of the four skewers, arranging them so that all four are
of this

reel

uppermost

The running will be facilitated

sunk in the top of this

at right angles.
glass

bead

is

if

another

reel.

that remains

All

the roundabout

is

now

to

to complete
fix four figures

horses, boats, or similar

of

each skewer.

These

at one end

figures

can be

drawn on cardboard and cut out

they can be sawn from fretwood.
Another interesting variation
toy

is

or

of this

the

Fairy Light Wheel. For this, instead of fixing figures at the ends of
the skewers, obtain four egg shells, and

suspend them by means of wires from

the ends of the arms (Fig. 71). Now if

odd ends

little

night-lights or

be placed in the egg shells and lighted, a

effect
is
obtained when the whole is made to
very pretty
of candle

revolve.

A toy which is always welcome to boys and girls is

A Pair of Scales. Moreover this is a toy which can be made
quite accurately with the aid of a few quite ordinary materials.
pair of scales or a balance, as it is sometimes called

To a

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

60

there are generally these parts (1) a balancing arm, generally

called the beam
(2) an upright standard on which the beam
:

two

and chains (or strings) to

(4) a base bdard to which the upright standard
suspend them
is fixed.
shows the sort of thing we mean.
72
Fig.
is

supported

(3)

scale pins,

Now

one presents any real difficulty.

For the base board any piece of wood about a foot long,
of these things not

Fia. 72,

5 in. wide, and

in.

thick will do quite

well.

For the up-

right standard you require a piece of wood about 9 in. long and
1 in. square
one end of which must be fixed to the base board.

The method

of doing this will

depend very

how
most

to

make a

suitable.

If

you can make a

largely

on your

carpentry.
you know
mortise and tenon joint, that will be the

degree of proficiency in the art of

you cannot attain to

If

that, then perhaps

hole just as large as the standard, and sink

the standard in the base. If you are not at all an expert,

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

61

then you must just nail or screw your standard to the centre
of the base.

however, there is something to be done

You must cut a slot | iri. wide and 1 in.

Before you do
to the other end.

deep

73a)

(Fig.

this,

then you must cut away small triangular

and

two

little

pieces from the centres of the tongues left (Fig. 736)

1C)

(b)

Fio. 73.

finally

you must

nail to the sides of the

strips of tin (Fig. 73c).

The next thing

you
9

will

or

10

to be constructed

need a piece of fretwood

1
in. long and about

is

(or

so formed

"

For this
other thin wood) about
the

beam."

in.

To

support this on the metal

pieces you will need a thin piece
of steel
such as a piece of an old

wide.

pocket-knife blade.
driven through the

beam, and
either

must

make

side
fit

it

will

project

(Fig. 74).

tightly

This
centre

so

will

of

equally

be
the

on

Remember, it
when you cut the

Fio. 74.

slot for

it,

do not

too wide.

For the scale pans two canister lids will do quite well.
Bore three holes in each of the rims measuring off the distances

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

62

with a compass, so that the holes are equally far apart, and
suspend the pans by means of three strings passing into holes
in the ends of the

beam.

If,

when you have completed the

beam does not hang

perfectly horizontal, then you

must add weight or subtract weight from one side or the other.
You can do this by paring off tiny pieces from the end of the

work, the

Flo. 75.

beam, or you can

balance
If

is

stick

on dabs

of sealing

wax

till

the correct

obtained.

you cannot get any proper

weights,

then

not a very
that you need is
it is

matter to make some. To do this, all

some cardboard and a supply of sand, and to borrow a
complete set of weights. First of all make a number of little
difficult

to get

cardboard cubes, having sides varying from

Draw each one out on cardboard (Fig. 75) cut
-|-

in.
it

to 3 in.

out

and

bind up with gummed tape leaving one side ungummed.

On one pan of the balance put this thing, and on thp other pan

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

63

put a proper weight (say | oz). Now pour in sand into the
When
little cube until it exactly balances the correct weight.

wet the binding, and

down

the remaining side.

Finally print the correct weight on one face of the cube.
In similar fashion you can proceed to make all the differit

does,

stick

ent weights that you are likely to require, from | oz. upwards.
While not very substantial, these little weights will last quite
a long time, if they are handled with care.

boys and
some
excellent
ones.
At
girls,
this point we wish to describe what is possibly one of the
simplest forms of engine known, and certainly one of the
earliest.
It is the engine driven by a flanged wheel, which itself
is made to turn by the weight of something falling on the
The commonest form of this wheel is the water wheel,
flanges.
where the weight of the water falling on the wheel causes the
Engines of

and

later

all

sorts are always fascinating to

on we

shall describe

revolution.

As water
especially

something

is

generally a

"

"

messy

on such a contrivance as

thing to operate with,

this, we have substituted

else.

For the working of very light toys, sand provides an alternative motive power. If a flanged wheel be made after the
fashion of a water wheel, and a steady stream of sand allowed
to descend on to the flanges, then the wheel will rotate as long

and the power may be transmitted by pulley wheels for the working of some simple

as the supply of sand lasts,

mechanism.

Fig.

76 shows

of

Sand-power Engine. The large driving wheel consists

two circles of thick cardboard, each about 6 in. across,

firmly glued together.

These two

circles

are bevelled,

and

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

64

fixed facing inwards, so that a groove

band can

Through the centre

of the driving

piece of dowelling or old lead pencil

on one

is left

in

which the power

run.

side,

and about

in.

wheel thus fashioned a

is

fixed, projecting

on the other.

in.

Nails are driven

PIG. 76.

in the

two ends

of this axle,

and the wheel

is

suspended be-

tween supports, glued and screwed firmly to a base board.

The flanged sand wheel is next constructed. For this, four
oblong pieces of cardboard, 1J in. wide and about 2 in. long,
are cut out.
A line is scratched along each of these about
in.
from
the
end, and the cardboard bent so as to form a
\

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

65

scoop to hold the sand for an instant. These four flanges are
then glued to the axle, and the side of the driving wheel. If
the sand wheel so made is not sufficiently firm, then another
small cardboard circle can be glued to the flanges, on the side
remote from the driving wheel
this will strengthen the wheel
and in no way interfere with the running.
:

All that

is

necessary

now

is

supply
be punched in the bottom of the
:

tin,

and

some

sort of

sand

tiny hole

must

a revolving trap

made

to erect

for this a large canister wjll do.

Fio. 77.

all you
with another piece of tin. This is simple enough
need to do is cut a piece of tin about f in. long and | in. wide,
and punch a hole in one end. This pierced tin should then be
:

placed so that the unbroken end of the slip covers the supply
hole.
A forked rivet should then be passed through the hole
in the slip

and through the bottom

of the canister

and

fixed

the trap can then be made to revolve, and

the sand supply started or stopped at will. The canister
should be placed above the wheel so that a thin stream falls

in place (Fig. 77)

on the flanges and turns the wheel.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

C(i

If a string

be

now passed round

the outside edge of the

driving wueel, the mechanism can be harnessed to any toy and

the motive power supplied. For instance, the contrivance

can be erected on a

flat hull

similar to that

shown

in Fig. 83,

and the power band, passing through a hole in the

page 70
centre of the hull, can be connected with the propeller by means
;

of a rod (in place of the elastic).

though not highly

efficient, is

The

resultant machine,

yet quite attractive.

FIG. 78.

Another material from which some delightful toys can be

"

"

more correctly called, tinned

iron." This is the stuff cocoa tins and mustard tins and many
other articles are made of.
Perhaps the simplest toy we can
contrived

is

tin," or, as

commence with

A
tin

it

is

is

For this secure a clean flat piece of thin

Rotating Snake.
the
wliich
little patent cutter removes from the
the piece

top of a round cigarette tin will do admirably and, using a soft

lead pencil, draw on it a spiral snake, such as is shown in Fig.

Now

cut along the lines with a stout pair of scissors, or

Pull out the resultant spiral
else with a sharp-pointed knife.
78.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

is

till it

and mount

07

by means uf the
pointed stout wire. The serpent

stretched as in Fig. 79,

it

on an upright piece of
on this for a considerable time.

tail

will rotate

you are good at bent -wire work, you will be able

to make a wire stand by which to fix it on a lamp chimney
If

Fio. 79.

or gas globe
it will
considerable speed.
:

then

Tin-can Steam Roller.

and, when

revolve continuously, and with

This

is

a nice piece of metal work,

To con-

finished well, provides a proper little toy.

you need several tins a round tin, such as a cocoa

in. across and 4 in. long
an oblong tin, about
3 1 in. by 3 in. by 2 in., such as the larger-sized mustard tins
a round cigarette tin. about 2 J in. across and 3| in. deep
two

struct
tin,

it

about 2

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

08

equal-sized tin lids from canisters, each about 4 in. across

and

reel.
These, the main items, when put together,
similar
to that shown in Fig. 80.
a
model
yield
The fixing is quite a simple affair. With a pair of metal
shears (or strong scissors) you cut away a portion of the top

a cotton

Then on the

of the cocoa tin, so as to leave three tongues.

side of the oblong

mustard

tin

you mark three

lines to corre-

spond with the three tongues, and cut them through so as to

Fio. 80.

form three

which the tongues may fit. Now, if the

tongues be bent outwards or inwards, then the two tins will
hold firmly together, and give the boiler and cab of the machine
slots into

(Fig. 81).

Before bending these, however, it is necessary to bore a hole

under side of the boiler for the fixing of the front roller.

in the

attached to the boiler by means of a narrow strip of tin

bent twice at right angles, and kept in place by means of a
forked brass rivet or a strong brass paper fastener so that it

This

is

will revolve freely.

This narrow strip of tin just

fits

over the

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

f>9

a piece of knitting needle being used as axle,

passing through holes bored in the centre of the bottom and
lid of the tin, and through the ends of the slip.
cigarette

tin

two canisters can be

required giving a more definite im-

For the larger rear wheels the

used, or,

if

lids of

somethng is
two flat boot-polish

pression of solidity,

Another

tins

piece of knitting needle passes

can be substituted.

through the centre of

Fiu. 82.

Fiu. 81.

these,
axle.

and through holes

This

is

in the sides of the cab,

kept in place

by means

of

and

so acts as

dabs of sealing wax.

For the stack you can use a long thin cotton reel, or, better
still, you can fix on another small tin by the method shown in
Fig. 81.

The turning of the front wheel can be regulated by means of

two strings passing from the two right- angle strips through a
hole into the cab.
If you can fix the strings to a piece of wood
as shown in Fig. 82, you will be able to steer properly.
A hole
in the bottom of the cab. and a piece of wood stretched tightly

i V7 -.UrVlVJ
n
AT HOME
IIV/^l.tj
TOY-MAKING

ro

A>V.T>

across the top. should enable

.1

you to

set

up the steering ap

pa rat us.

Working Motor Boat.

.1

will travel

All that

To

a considerable distance

is

is

necessary

construct a motor boat tha

is

not really a

a piece of board for a

metal propeller, and a yard or two of strong

carefully adjusted, will

For the

do

all

hull, a piece of

that
in.

is

or

difficult

hull, a

elastic

matter

wood o
:

these

necessary.
| in.

board, about 18 in

This can be cut to the boat shape by means o

long will do.

a pocket knife or a spokeshave, and finished off with glassIt should be sharp-pointed at the bows, about 3 in.
paper.
to 4 in. at the centre, tapering down to a width of 2 in. at the
In the centre of the hull nail a block of wood, and to

stern.

it

glue two funnels

For these, the odd lengths cut off

(Fig. 83).
from bamboo curtain poles will do admirably or, if these be not
;

obtainable, a couple of incandescent-mantle cases will suffice.

The adjustment of the motive power is the difficult task.
First,
elastic
a

you
:

will

need to purchase a couple of yards of suitable

most large toy shops, and costs usually

this is sold at

penny a yard.

To

fix this into

place beneath the hull you

need to construct two metal supports. If you can get an

old tin box made from metal sufficientlv stout, that will do
will

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

if

not, then

gauge

6 in.

you had better buy a piece

by

4 in. will

be ample.

in Figs.

No. 20

these supports as

Km.

Fio. 84.

shown

of sheet brass,

Draw out

84 and 85. and bend them into shape as in Figs.

bow and one for the stern. Screw on

80 and 87- one for the

Fio.

the

bow one about

one

in

Fio. 87.

]\ in. or 2 in,

the middle of the

from the point, and the stern

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

72

Now

into the

bow support

the rubber strands,

fix

a loop of stout wire to hold

making
sufficiently large to rest against
the sides and so prevent turning. At the stern
support adjust
the propeller bearings.
On the care with which these are adit

justed depends largely the success of the model. Take a piece

of wire ( TVinch brass is best) and bend
as in Fig. 88, introducing a hard
smooth glass bead. This " bead " runs
more freely against the metal, and so

it

facilitates the

elastic

working.

Now stretch

the

between the two loops, arranging

so that there are six or eight strands.

it

Fio. 88.

To work

the model, turn the propeller

round and round till the strands of elastic are very tightly
twisted, place on the surface of the water, and then release the
propeller.

Fig. 83

shows the completed model.

All boys love a toy that

"

"

goes

and so a short account

showing how to make

Steamboat that

will actually travel

on the water

will

"

be
"

Our boat, which in reality is not a steam

boat, inasmuch as no steam is generated, is very simple in its
construction and possesses neither wheels nor pistons nor
very welcome.

cranks, nor

any

of the things that

one associates with a steamer.

The whole motive power is supplied by one or two candle

and a bent piece of strong metal tubing. This last can
"
"
"
"
odds
or
ends
and you will
scarcely be called* either
ends,

probably have to purchase it at a shop selling model-engine

You must get an
fittings, but a few pence will cover the cost.
eight-inch piece of solid drawn copper or brass tubing, with an
inside diameter of

soldered tubing, for

in.
it will

The next operation

is

(N.B.

Do

not

let

the

man

sell

you

certainly crack when you bend it.)

the most difficult
it is bending the
:

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

73

tube to the shape shown in Fig. 89. This must be done very
The loop shown
gently, otherwise you will crack or dent it.
should have a diameter of about

to

to f of an inch.

The actual boat itself can be of any shape. If you happen

have an old wooden hull suitable to the purpose, use that
;

on page 70
Fix the bent tubing at the stern of the boat,
so that the two open ends project over the edge and dip be-

if

not, then a flat hull similar to that described

will

do quite

well.

neath the surface of the water (Fig.

90).

Two

pieces of wire

bent as in Fig. 90o will hold the tubing in place.

All that you need do now is place the candles under the
loop of the tube and heat

it.

(If

you have a tiny

spirit

lamp,

FIG. 90.

that will act more effectively, of course.) The heat from the
candles makes the air in the tube very hot. This hot air is
expelled from one arm of the tube
rushes up one arm of the tube and
siderable fofce.

It is this

and a current

down

of water

the other with con-

current that causes the boat to move.

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

74

Another Workiny Steamboat. This time our boat will merit its
name for we shall have a boiler, and generate a supply of steam.
If you look at Fig. 91 you will get a good idea of the construction of this model,

The

boiler

is

and

how

realise

provided by a medium-sized

the lid soldered

down

so that

it is

steam

simple
flat

it

really

oblong

tight.

tin,

is.

with

For the pur-

pose of putting water into the boiler when necessary, a hole

bored in the lid. and a cork fitted tightly.

is

In one end of the boiler, and towards the top. you must
make a pin hole. When the water boils well, the steam is ex-

pelled through this tiny hole with considerable force

this is

due the motion

The remainder

and to

of the craft.

of the fitting

similar to that described

up

on page 70

is
is

soon done.

flat

hull

prepared, and four

flat-

headed nails driven in, so that the four corners of the boiler
can each stand on a nail head. The rudder is cut from an old
piece of tin, and pressed into a knife-cut
the stern of the hull.

The

boiler

the stern,
the boiler

is

made

in the centre of

placed into position with the steam hole facing

and lighted candle ends are then placed underneath

for the more the candles
as many as possible
:

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

75

the greater the heat, and consequently the greater the force of
steam. It will help matters along considerably if the boiler
but be
is first of all filled with hot water, instead of cold
;

careful not to scald yourself in doing this.

When

steam

is

up. the boat should travel along at quite a

comfortable pace.

Apart from the materials dealt with there are numerous

fragments. A pane of glass is
broken, for instance, and in most cases

little

all

Now

the pieces are thrown away.

this

is

quite

unnecessary,

for

from

them can be made some

Japanese Wind Bells. Probably
most boys and girls have heard or seen
"
"
wind bells which the
the jolly little
Japanese people make, and which

many

now hang in their

As they are made simply of

English folk

houses.

glass and pieces of wool or

there
is not much difficulty in
string,
their construction and they are worth
of

slips

the trouble you take, for their merry

little tinkle is a pleasing sound.
all

The slips of glass

little

in.

they are generally

rectangles, varying

in width,

and

from

in.

to 2

2 in. to 4 in. in length

when a gentle
them the corners strike

are suspended so that

breeze disturbs

To

secure a proper suspension

can either take a board, 6 in. square,

gently.

and hang the strings

you
from it, or you can make a conical wire frame, about Gin. across
and hang the pieces of wool (or string) from the two rings (Fig. 92)

TOY-MAKING AT HOME
The

pieces of glass, which can be- of any shape and size, should
be fixed by means of sealing wax. It is usual to give the glass
slips a few dabs of colour, so as to give a brighter effect at
night.
glass,

you can introduce one or two pieces

the same effect will result.
If

of coloured

Other broken things, too, can be turned to account.

One such toy, made up of things otherwise quite useless,

is

This entertaining musical toy, capable

of producing the most beautiful sound effects, can quite easily
be made with a few broken wine glasses. So long as the bowl

Musical Box.

part of the glass

is

intact,

it

does not matter to what extent the

stem or foot part has been damaged,

provided there is enough of the stem
remaining to insert in a wooden block.
The sound effects are produced by
rubbing the ball of the finger gently
round the rim of the glass. For this
the finger-tip must be absolutely clean,
particularly of

any

grease,

and must

be thoroughly wet.
Probably for the
first time or two of rubbing nothing
will

occur.

If

wetting the

that

finger,

is

continue

so.

and rub

on an

it

india-rubber sponge or a piece of soft

india-rubber.

when the
FIG. 93.

condition,
"
"

drag

You

will

finger-tip

for

it

is

will

on the rim.

know
in

at once

the

right

commence
Eventually

to

most beautiful pealing note will be emitted, which note will

alter slightly in tone if water be poured into the glass.

way you can secure eight glasses tuned exactly

then
to an octave,
you have the wherewithal to produce tunes.
If in this

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

When you

have obtained the

glasses,

then

it is

77

quite easy to

them into a box quite close together, leaving just enough

room for the fingers to move round. Blocks of wood must
be nailed to the bottom of the box, and holes bored in these
fit

blocks just exactly large enough to admit the stem (see Fig. 93).

Fleet of Nutshell Booty floating

a very pretty

little

picture

on a bowl

nor are these

of water

little

makes

crafts at all

Flo. 94.

difficult to

make.

shell is required

For the hull a nice evenly-shaped walnut

should be cleaned out, trimmed with a

this

sharp knife, and scrubbed with a

match
match

stick will suffice.

stiff

To keep

brush.

For the mast a

two

this in position glue

sticks right across the widest part of the hull

one on
each side of the mast and then put a daub of glue at the

bottom

of the hull

and others where the cross-bars touch the

mast.

The

consists merely of a piece of paper with two holes

which
the mast passes. A glance at Fig. 94 will rethrough
sail

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

78
veal the

method

of fitting up,

can result from such a simple

and show what a trim

little craft

origin.

One other toy which has always been deservedly popular is

The Jumping Frog.li you are skilful with your pocket
knife you can cut out a representation of the animal from a

lump
ever,

wood, and paint it <to make it more realistic. If, howyou have not the requisite skill, you can still construct
of

the toy by using a walnut shell in place of the carved model.,

Fu;.

In either case the actual mechanism for

Uti.

"

"

jumping

is

the

same.

You want

a good-sized shell, or rather half-shell, some very

strong thin twine, and a match. First you must bore two holes
in the sides of the shell, not too near the edge, then tie a loop

round the holes and the edge (Fig. 95). Now if you
put a piece of match stick between the strings, and twist the
of twine

by turning the match round, you will complete the

jumping mechanism (Fig. 96). Keep your finger on the match
to prevent it flying back, and carefully turn the shell upside
down on the table, holding it all the time. Now if you press
one finger on the side of the shell so that it slips suddenly from
under, then your frog will perform an astounding leap in the
air.
But, in your eagerness to get a big jump, do not twist
string

the string too tightly, otherwise the holes will break out.
If, as mentioned above, you are skilful enough to cut out

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

79

the frog, you will need to hollow out the body so that there
will be room for the turning of the match.

You can
bone

also

"
if

you

tie

"

wishdo very much the same with a fowl's

a loop of string round the two prongs and use

the match as shown above.

The shell of an ordinary hen's egg does not seem to give

much scope for construction. Yet much can be done with it.
One of the best things you can make is
'An Egg-shell Yacht. Next time mother is making cakes,
or anything which needs eggs,

F IG.
tact,

and ask her

tell

her you want the shell in-

97.

you blow out the contents. To do this,

Of course, if you have
eggs, and are an adept at egg-blowing,

to let

bore a small hole at each end, and blow.

ever collected birds'

only need one hole.

Stop up the holes with sealing wax or plasticene. This
it will be
complete shell is to form the hull of the yacht

you

will

necessary to add a keeL mainmast, bowsprit, &c., to finish the

craft

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

80

For the mainmast get a very thin piece of wood a very

bamboo or a piece of split cane will do and
it
pass
carefully through two holes which have previously been
bored in the opposite sides of the shell. Let it project an inch
thin piece of

FIG

or

Fix in position by means of sealing

fashion
In similar
arrange a bowsprit.
the hull is very light, it will be necessary to have a good

two below

wax.

As

98.

(Fig. 97a).

piece of sheet lead about 2 in. long and 1 in.

wide will do admirably. Secure it to the shell and the project-

steadying keel.
ing piece of

Now

if

mainmast by means
this

floats

of sealing

wax

(Fig. 976).

properly you can proceed with the

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

rigging,

which

may

81

be as simple or as elaborate as you please.

Fasten the spars to the mainmast by means of very thin wire.

For
(Sealing wax will do, but is not at all reliable for this.)
the

use tough tissue paper, gluing the main and top sails
and fixing the jib and foresails by means of

sails

in position,

threads.

The

addition of a cardboard rudder

complete a trim little craft

fashion,

if it

which

fixed

will sail in

has been properly adjusted (Fig.

by wax

will

approved regatta
98).

Nor must broken egg shells be despised. These can be

decorated with paints, and some very amusing little articles
provided. Legs and arms can be added, fixed into 'place with
and grotesque
clothes can be devised
dabs of sealing wax
;

toys improvised toys suitable for the decoration of the

Christmas tree or sale at bazaars, &c.
little

toys can be made from

those cylindrical cardboard cases in which incandescent mantles
For the most part the only things needed for
are usually sold.

Quite a number of amusing

little

the construction are a sharp knife (one with a very thin blade
preferred), a tube of glue, one or two odd pieces of cardboard,

and some

paints.

A Money

is always useful, and, by the

be made very attractive.
the two end covers, and glue one end of the case

Box, for instance,

aid of the paint box, can

Take

off

to a circle of thick cardboard, about | in. larger in radius

the case.

do

this,

Now

than
end construct a conical top. To
with a radius of about 1 in. and cut
The two ends can then be
p. 8).

for the other

draw out a

circle

out a sector (see Fig.

brought together and

9,

fixed with a piece of glued tape,

and the

whole thing can be glued to the other end of the case.

F

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

82

Before this
in the side.

by a

is

done, however, the

Much can be done

money slot should be cut

make the article attractive
The money slot, for instance,

to

judicious use of the paints.

can be regarded as the mouth, and a grotesque face drawn

round it.
If

you care to cover the conical top with

felt or

flannel you

FIG. 99.

can make the model very funny indeed. Jn the spring you can
damp the felt or flannel, and spread on grass seeds these will
grow and give your grotesque figure a fine crop of bright green
:

Of course, if you are going to damp the upper

the model, you must obtain and use some sort of water-

hair (Fig. 99).

parts of

proof glue.

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

A

Camera

83

another extremely simple yet extraordinarily interesting contrivance (Fig. 100).

For this you require two mantle cases, one just large enough
Pin-hole

is

to slide easily into the other.

Take the smaller

one,

and cover

one end with tissue paper. This must be done neatly and
strongly, otherwise, as the case slides up and down in the outer

Fio

one, the tissue will tear.

circle just as large as

draw and cut

down

little

(Fig. 101).

You

101.

should draw out on the tissue

the end of the case, and then

pointed tags to lap over the edges

round
and stick
all

TOY-MAKING AT HOME

84

One end of the outer case should be covered with thick

brown paper in just the same way, and a tiny pin hole pricked
exactly in the centre of the brown-paper end.
Now if a lighted candle be placed near to the pin hole, and
if the inner case be moved to and fro till the right spot is found,

an exact picture

of the candle flame will be seen

on the

tissue

paper.

Doll's

cutting there

Easy Chair.
is

not very

Apart from accurate and careful

much

Fio.

difficulty

in this.

Take

102.

mantle case and remove the covers. Now draw a line from
end to end and use this as a base line, measuring the distances
this will ensure accuto right and left to the different points
:

racy.

you

Fig. 102

shows one design suitable for the purpose but

make up your own. The fitting of the

will possibly like to

TOYS FROM ODDS AND ENDS

seat

is

On a piece
done as follows
the
same
radius
as the
having
:

circle

with a radius

Now

If

case,

and another circle

shown in Fig. 103.

little

the front, at a level

seat.

cardboard mark out

Cut this out as

more than half-way across the case from
suitable for the seat, and into this slide the

in. larger.

cut a slot a

of

85

the slot has not been cut far enough across, go on

Fio. 103.

cutting

till

the seat

fits

correctly in the case.

Then

glue

it

position.

All that

is

mentation you

now

required is a coat of paint, and any orna

may care to add.

In conclusion we would point out onco

stated

at

the

beginning

more what we

namely, that the examples given

are intended merely to suggest

ways and means

countless other articles.

Printed by

The Edinburgh Art

Edinburgh

Printing Co. Ltd,

of

making

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