Fuzzy Felt
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Fuzzy Felt was a popular toy for very young children in the 1950's created by British house wife Lois Allan. Fuzzy Felt was launched on 30 August 1950 and has gone on to become one of Britain's all time favourite toys. Its simplicity and creativity has inspired generations of children, bringing back happy memories to many parents and grandparents today.
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[edit] Product
The toys consist of a flocked backing board onto which a number of felt shapes are placed to create different pictures. Felt pieces can be simple silhouettes or more detailed printed shapes. For a farmyard scene, for example, auxiliary pieces would typically be cows, sheep, chickens, horses, cats, dogs, a farmer, and a tractor. Other scenes might include hospital, pets, vehicles. Fuzzy felt is for children over the age of 3 years as the pieces may present a choking hazard.
[edit] Development and History
Lois Allan studied design in Paris in the 1920s, and after returning to the UK married Royal Air Force pilot Peter Allan. During the Second World War, Allen approached the Ministry of Production, and agreed to set up a small factory in the outbuildings in grounds of the family cottage in Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire. She enlisted the help of local women whose husbands were away fighting for their country to cut felt gaskets for tanks and other vehicles. Whilst working in the factory, the women also took turns to care for the young children. Allan soon discovered the entertainment value in the small felt off-cuts from the gaskets. Using the baize back of a table mat, she encouraged the children to create pictures using different shapes - Fuzzy-Felt was born.
Lois' son Richard went on the manage the company taking over a large premises in High Wycombe for its manufacture. During the 1990's production moved overseas.
[edit] See also
- Flannelgraph - for use as a storytelling method
