Item Reference: 002023
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Red plastic kaleidoscope with wheel action, marketed as ‘The Amazing Wonder Wheel’. Red plastic casing with Simex branding and clear plastic wheel attachment with small multi-coloured plastic pieces within. Tube of the kaleidoscope has a printed sticker with branding on it, as well as illustration and Berwick branding. Made in England with parts from West Germany.
Date: 1975-1986
Further Information: Simex was a West German company that specialised in the manufacture of plastic toys, and by 1975 was able to produce moulds. As their logo is on the plastic body of the kaleidoscope, this is where the ‘parts West German’ mentioned on the label would be. Berwick on the other hand was a popular manufacturer of toys in Britain and has registered trademarks with the British Intellectual Property Office. Simex still operates, primarily creating packaging for cosmetics brands and Berwick is now a dead trademark with regards to the manufacture of toys and to Berwick Toys Company Ltd. has been in liquidation since 1986.
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