HOME-MADE TOYS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2303, 10 November 1914, Page 8

HOME-MADE TOYS

DOLLS AND GAMES OF BRITISH ORIGIN A BOARD OF TRADE SUCCESS The British Board of Trade have selected the toy. industry for their first essay in holding sample exchanges, » series of efforts to bring together in one room manufacturers and wholesalers in each of the various trades of tho country, with the object of organising practical work to-regain the home market from our enemies. At the outset they were faced with considerable difficulty. They were told that British sources of supply of many of the essential parts did not exist. In particular it was urged that 110 cheap clockwork goods could be made in Britain, and that no firms could supply dolls' heads, eyes, hair, and feet, for the general reader may learn with surprise that of these items is a speciality produced by a different maker, while tho fittings of' an ordinary doll's house represent the output of perhaps a dozen important trades. In these circumstances it was clearly useless for the Board of' Trade to collect samples from wholesalers and invito British manufacturers to come and , examine them. So the sample exchanges were temporarily postponed, and the Board of Trade set to work -.to find British sources of supply ' ■ _ They have' met with extraordinary success. In Staffordshire they found firms willing' to undertake the manufacture of dolls' heads; in Dewsbury and Bradford firms are willing to make the wigs which had hitherto ■ been produced in Nuremberg and Sonneberg; and a London firm is willing to undertake the production of cheap clockwork. In a week, in fact, British firms have been found ready and willing to undertake every and any thing required. This preliminary accomplished, there was no longer any obstacle to the opening of the first Sample Exchange of Toys and Games, and on'-tho opening Day 1500 separate pieces, collected from wholesalers, each ticketed with the price at which it had been obtainable from Germany, were arranged at the new premises taken by the Board of Trade in Cheapside. Admission was by ticket only, for the Board undertook to do nothing to interfere with the recognised channels of trade, and only manufacturers and wholesalers were asked to attend. . For their convenience several small cubicles, each fitted with a telephone, had. been put up, to which manufacturer and wholesaler- could retiro for the purpose of getting to., actual business," while a larger room was set apart for'meetings of sections of the trade, whore points were discussed and plans laid. Throughout tho day thee rooms were constantly occupied. Sir Sotnern Holland, the organiser of the Sample Exchange, in conversation with a representative of "The Times," recently, said the fear which many manufacturers entertain that after the war trade will revert to former channels is based on a misapprehension of the conditions likely to be prevalent in , Germany and m this country. While ■our manufacturers will have, established connections German manufacturers will once again have to fight tneir way into tho market. Then, too, the British- manufacturer entering upon a now industry is under no necessity to instal any but the most modern and efficient plant. Ho has nothing to scrap and can take advantage' of tho pioneer work done by his competitors. Sir Sothern Holland expressed himself as deliglite dwith tho success of this first effort, and added that' tho Board of Trade intended to deal in tho same way with all the leoding industries except those where tho weight ( and bulk of ; the samples . would make it impossible; Already arrangements are on foot for similar exhibitions of crockery and £la3s and fancy goods. - A wholesale exhibition for trade buyers devoted to toys and games of British manufacture will be held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, in March next. The exhibition is designed to enable British manufacturers -to introduce their goods, to oversea buyers and to the Home, trade. Inquiries should be addressed to the organisers, the International- Trade- Exhibitions! (Limited), Broad Steet House, New Broad Street, London, E.C .