GERMAN TOY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16925, 10 August 1918, Page 2 (Supplement)

GERMAN TOY INDUSTRY.

WOOD FOR METAL.

Thb German toy industry; is showing the effects of over - three ; years; of '■. war, says the \ Board of Trade ; Journal, in. quoting the Berliner Tageblatt, Simplicity : is the rule '~ in. [ toy shops'; at '■- present. i: t ' ; Wood, which was.formerly . used only /for.; the cheaper sorts of toys, is now the chief material ■] employed. - The manufacture of new dolls is becoming; impossible through lack of ; flour ;. (used, with cement, in making the bodies). Wax, which is employed for the heads of the better class dolls, is almost unobtainable; the same is true of the stuffs and % lace <; used for making dolls' shoes, hats, dresses, stockings, etc. These are only J obtainable at prices four times .higher, than before the war,' consequently - the prices of toys are higher. The I' simple) /cheap % toys that', I formerly could be bought in' the stores or from street S vendors for 10 pfennigs now cost 20 • pfennigs '.at' more. '; Jumping jacks of paper ' and - cheap picture books can no longer be had' except where old supplies are still in stock. Metal toys are few in number. The pretty toy trains, m?™ lanterns, etc., which u-.ed to be so common, have been turned out only by those manufacturers who were also engaged in munition work and bo commanded supplies of the necessary materials. Toys which were intended 'for export, but which could not be shipped owing to the war, make a welcome addition to the supply for home consumption, large quantities of (ho better class of toys being thus put at the service of the home healer. Great difficulties stand in the way of conveyance of all theso lines of of toys from the maker to tho large towns, and only after long delay do toys reach the retailer.