Merry Christmas from All the Little People

Christmas is coming, so I couldn't resist adding this little video to my blog.  This is my busiest time of the year.  Everyone seems to want these great old toys for their children or grandchildren.  I'm beginning to understand how Santa Claus must feel...nothing much to do for most of the year until November.  And then the work never stops.  But I've got to say that it feels soooo good to be passing these wonderful toys on to the next generation. 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

http://judysvintagefptoys.com/ 

Vintage Fisher Price Pop-Up Kritters..And Me

In case anyone is wondering why I love vintage Fisher Price toys more than any other brand, perhaps this picture will clarify it. I found the picture in a box of old stuff when we cleaned out my mother’s house. That’s me in the highchair in 1943 (OK so now you know how OLD I am). On the tray in front of me is a #440 Pop-Up Pluto made from 1936 through 1942 by Fisher Price. I wish I still had it.

Fisher Price made several of these Pop-Up Kritters in the 1930s. Some of them are so incredibly rare that I’ve never even seen them in person. However, I have managed to snag a few of them.

Here are some of my Favorites

#400 Tailspin Tabby made in 1931

Tailspin Tabby Came with a Poem:
Tailspin Tabby is my name
Action is my Claim to Fame
Who Can resist my tail to twist
To pass me up would be a shame
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#405 Lofty Lizzy made in 1931

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#407 Stoopy Storky made in 1931

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#410 Dizzy Dino made in 1931
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#415 Lop-Ear Looie made in 1934

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#433 Dizzy Donkey made in 1939

Most of these toys were assembled on a "guitar" shaped paddle as shown in my pictures.  A very few were also mounted on a round "banjo" shaped paddle.  These are worth a small fortune.  I managed to get my hands on a banjo paddle once....just the paddle...no Kritter was attached to it.  Someone offered me $300 for just the paddle.  Like a fool, I accepted his offer.  All of these Kritters were constructed of beads connected by a kind of fishing string.  The strings were secured by two metal rings.  You put your fingers through the rings to loosen or tighten the strings.  This made the Kritters "dance". 

 
 

Adam and the Fisher Price Toys

I first discovered Fisher Price toys when my second son, Adam, was a toddler. I think the first one we got was the #987 Creative Coaster. This is a ride-on wagon with a steering wheel and a collection of blocks inside. The steering column also tilted forward so that the toy could be pulled like a wagon. Adam called it the “beep-beep car” because his favorite feature was the horn he could press in the center of the steering wheel which made a beep-beep noise.

As he got a little older, we began acquiring the playsets. Some of the toys we had were the #930 Garage, the #997 Airport, the #994 Camper, and so many more that his room was filled with them.   

 
 Adam wanted the #982 Houseboat set too, but our home was overflowing with toys, so I said, “No, you have enough toys”.  He nagged me about it for months.
When I went to the hospital to deliver my next child, 3 year old Adam stayed with my parents. As soon as baby Matthew was born, I called Adam and said, “I have something for you .. a beautiful new baby brother”. There was a pause, and then he replied, “Oh, okay”...then excitedly... “but Grandma got me the Houseboat”. 

Note: Adam is now 41 years old, a professional pilot, and the father of two absolutely wonderful children. I think he still has the Houseboat :)

Two Different Vintage Fisher Price Castles

Not everyone knows this, but Fisher Price made two slightly different Castle sets. Both were designated #993, but there were small differences between them.
The first version was called the “Play Family Castle”. It was produced from 1974-1977. It contained Little People which were made with wood bodies and plastic heads, except for the silver Knight which was all plastic. The Castle had a blue or yellow flag on a spring flagpole atop one of the towers.   In 1988 they came out with the “Little People Castle”, subtitled “Classic Collectors Edition”. This was essentially the same toy, but the flag was omitted from the top and the Little People were all made of plastic.
  There were other subtle differences between the two sets. Both Castles had a green plastic base, but it was a lighter shade of green on the later version. The first version had a picture of a banner on the front which said “Play Family Castle”. This banner was changed on the Classic Collectors Edition. The writing was omitted and a picture of a sleeping dragon was in its place.
   
More information on the Castle set, and this applies to both versions:

The furniture for this set consisted of one double bed, two twin beds, two tall thrones and two short thrones. All these pieces had a small crown on the top edge. There was also a round table with a litho (decal) on it depicting a steak dinner. The furniture could be either red or yellow plastic. To the best of my knowledge, the colors were never mixed. You got either all red or all yellow furniture in your set. For whatever reason, most collectors seem to prefer the red furniture.

Two items that were always mixed were the armored horse saddle and scalloped harness. These came in both white and yellow, but were never both the same color in one set. Another variable was the royal coach. It could have either a yellow base with white top..or a white base with yellow top. Also included in both sets was one black horse, one brown horse and finally, everyone’s favorite piece....the friendly pink Dragon.  

 

Welcome to my world of Vintage Fisher Price Toys. Didn't we...or our children...all have these toys many years ago?  And the memories keep flooding back.  These toys were fun to use and sparked the imagination of millions of children.  They were solidly built, and many families passed them down from generation to generation.  What a joy they were for parents too.  No flashing lights, no batteries, and best of all NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.   Who knew back then that Little People sets would become collectors' items?  Certainly not I.  I gave all my toys to the local nursery school when my boys outgrew them.  Many years later, I went on a hunt to replace them for my grandchildren.   In 1990 Fisher Price decided that the Little People were a "choking hazard" to small children.  They started a whole line of "newer" Little People.  Sorry folks...in my opinion they're just not the same.  Even the large pieces have changed, and I fear, not for the better.  Modern Fisher Price toys are now big chunks of molded plastic.  So I'll keep collecting and restoring the old stuff.  Here are some of my favorites: #993 Play Family Castle - 1974

                     

#937 Play Family Sesame Street - 1975                   

#938 Play Family Sesame Street Clubhouse - 1975