Ideal Toy Company

Ideal Toy Company was founded as Ideal Novelty and Toy Company in New York in 1907 by Morris and Rose Michtom after they had invented the Teddy bear in 1903. The company changed its name to Ideal Toy Company in 1938. In 1982, the company was sold to CBS Toy Company, which in turn sold Ideal to Viewmaster International in 1987, which renamed itself to View-Master Ideal in the process. View-Master Ideal was later bought by Tyco Toys, Inc. of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, upon its purchase of View-Master Ideal. The Ideal line remained part of Tyco until Tyco’s merger with Mattel, Inc., in 1997.

Certain brands and toys that originated with Ideal continued to be manufactured by Mattel, most notably the Magic 8-ball and Rubik's Cube.

Ideal began making dolls in 1907. Their first doll was “Yellow Kid” from the “The Yellow Kid” comic strip by Richard Felton Outcault. After that they began making a line of baby and character dolls such as Naughty Marietta from the Victor Herbert operetta and Admiral Dot. Ideal advertised their dolls as unbreakable since they were made of composition, a material made of sawdust and glue. Ideal produced over 200 variations of dolls throughout the composition era.[1]

During the Baby Boom era, Ideal became the largest doll making company in the United States and began selling dolls under license in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Their most popular dolls included Betsy Wetsy, Toni, Saucy Walker, Shirley Temple, Miss Revlon, Patti Playpal, Tammy, Thumbelina, and Crissy.[2]

Contents

Novelties and toys manufactured by Ideal

Toys and Games

Board games

Dolls

DeFilippo Dolls

Master Sculptor Vincent J. DeFilippo spent 27 years creating dolls for the Ideal Toy Corporation from 1963 - 1980. Some of his creations included:

Other Ideal dolls

Playpal dolls

References

  1. ^ Izen, Judith. Collector's Guide to Ideal Dolls: Identification and Value Guide, 3rd Edition. Collector's Books, 2005
  2. ^ Izen, Judith. Collector's Guide to Ideal Dolls: Identification and Value Guide, 3rd Edition. Collector's Books, 2005
  3. ^ Now manufactured by Poof-Slinky, Inc
  4. ^ Now manufactured by Poof-Slinky, Inc
  5. ^ Now manufactured by Poof-Slinky, Inc
  6. ^ Amazon.com: Ideal Toys Gaylord The Pup: Toys & Games
  7. ^ Top Vintage Toy Favorites - 1950s 1960s 1970s
  8. ^ http://www.timewarptoys.com/gaylord2.jpg
  9. ^ Large 1970s Ideal Inflatable Walt Disney Toy Donald Duck Blow-Up Toy - In Original, Unopened Packaging - 01243
Bear manufacturers
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Teddy bear museums
Famous teddies
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