Item Reference: 002030
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Pink kaleidoscope with whell action. Clear plastic wheel attachment with small multi-coloured plastic pieces within and pink plastic attachment to tube. Tube of kaleidoscope has a peeling printed sticker with the word ‘kaleidoscope’ and colourful patterns, though is largely pink. The peeling reveals a cardboard tube.
Date: c. late 1970s-1980s
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Item Reference: 002029
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Set of three plastic two-inch kaleidoscopes (red, blue, green) and one similar-sized black plastic short-distance monocular. The kaleidoscope each displays a different pattern, not making use of multi-coloured plastic pieces, instead different shaped lenses distort the field of vision. They do not feature twistable end caps. Made in Taiwan.
Date: c. 1980s
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Item Reference: 002026
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Plastic rocket shaped kaleidoscope still sealed in orginal packaging. A Hendrandt Toys product. Made in China
Date: 1981-1991
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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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Item Reference: 002018
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Piano pencil case with battery operation allowing sound from the buttons on the front of the case, which are labelled ‘do-re-mi’ etc in the style of the seven-note diatonic musical scale, with corresponding numbers. It is branded as ‘Minipiano’. The battery is no longer functional. The is pink plastic and features paper stick-ons with cartoon characters.
Date: 1980s
Further Information: This design/line was relatively common during the 1980s and usually was accompanied by simplistic music sheets, though this does not survive with this artefact.
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Item Reference: 002011
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Superview adjustable binoculars sealed in their original packaging. Binoculars are black plastic with a vinyl strap. Produced by Quality Toys and made in Hong Kong . Still has price tag attached for 95p
Date: c. 1982-1990s
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Item Reference: 002010
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Sports binoculars with adjustable focus in original cardboard box packaging. Binoculars are black plastic with a stipple texturing. The viewing lenses have a cover that is attached to the carrying strap. The carrying strap in fabric with a brown imitation leather strip along one side. The packaging is in colour and has remained intact, with a few scuffs. Produced by European Toy Company Limited and made in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany)
Date: 1985-1990
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Item Reference: 002009
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Binoculars with adjustable focus still sealed in their original packaging. The binoculars are plastic, with a black body and orange panel around the middle Marketed by Henbrandt as part of their “Hentoy” range, the lower packaging displays two logos. The price tag is still attached, costing 60p. Made in Hong Kong
Date: 1980s
Further Information: Other Henbrandt/ Hentoy items do not share the logos on the lower left of the packaging.
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Item Reference: 002008
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Scuba diver bath toy with original packaging. The packaging markets the toy as Sea Hunter Wind Up. The toy’s body is yellow plastic, with black plastic legs and soft plastic for flippers and features a wind-up mechanism which would propel limbs. Imported by Salco Toys, based in Harlow, Essex. Made in China.
Date: 1980s
Further Information: The Sea Hunter line was very popular and ran for many years with cosmetic variations. Some were also produced in Hong Kong. Salco manufactured a wide variety of toys from 1947 to 2015, when it was legally dissolved as a company after entering administration.
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Item Reference: 001598
Category: Toys and Games
Format: Artefact
Description: Four sets of toy teacups with saucers, including the following: yellow set with six teacups and one cream jug; white set with two teacups; blue set with one teacup, a cream jug and a sugar bowl; and four teacups, a teapot, and four spoons.
Date: c. 1980s
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