‘End of an era’ for toymakers

Press, 8 March 1988, Page 1

‘End of an era’ for toymakers

DIANA HALES

Almost 30 years of work jon wooden 1 nursery furniture and toys will come to an end after Easter for a Christchurch couple. Mr Melville Philpott and Mrs Dianne [Philpott, ; the owners of Tuff Toys, Ltd, have been making items including cots, cradles, play-peris and rocking-horses since 1959. But when someone offered to buy their thriving business recently as a going concern “we grabbed! the chance," said Mrs Philpott] Tuff Toys’ buildings and three sections [ in Coleridge Street, Sydenham were sold to a Christchurch [developer but the furniture and toy i making will continue under the new owner, Graeme Fox Joinery, Ltd. ! Some of the plant and stock

has already been transferred to the company’s Eaton Place headquarters. Forj the Philpotts it is the end of an i era.

“It is with regrets and sadness that we get out,” said Mr Philpott. "We started it off as a backyard business bought from a couple of university students working from a tin shed in Abberley Crescent,” Mrs Philpott said.

Within the year Tuff Toys had taken over Pamco nursery furniture and the business expanded to new premises in Coleridge Street.

In its heyday in the 1970 s it employed 24 staff, produced 22 different lines of toys, and competed! on the international market with exports to Australia.