Millions of Christmas Top.

Otago Witness, Issue 2285, 16 December 1897, Page 15

Millions of Christmas Top.

* e^o<3 * ■ ">• HEIST MAS toys not only give delight to millions of I children at this season," said a weJI-known London toy merchant to an interviewer last Christmas, " but on the making and packing of these articles many poor and hungry little ones depend for their Christmas dinner. Most farthing toys are made in England ; a few of the tawdry ones are imported from abroad; but tor strength and durability no toys can compete against ours. No home, however humble, need be without its Christmas-tree, since many hundreds of kinds of toys can be bought at a farthing each. " You think this is a large stock, eh ? " said the toy merchant, waving his arm at the vast stacks of brown cardboard boxes which filled the lower floor of his warehouse. " Why, we shall get rid of ten times this amount before Christmas comes. They are ALL FARTHING GOODS in this building. I make a speciality of this price of toy, and I may say that I supply most of the little articles sold at four a penny throughout the country. This is the ' flag ' room. "All colours and all nations, you see. Coloured paper flags are very popular for decorative purposes. You will see them stuck in Christmas puddings and on Christmas trees; they also look very pretty when arranged around pictures, and are used for many other purposes. They are made in Nottingham, and form one of the chief supports of that town. Tons of iron wire are used daily in the manufacture of toy flagstaffs for these paper

flags. They are sold wholesale at the rate of eight a penny, and are retailed at a farthing each in every little sweetstuff shop in the kingdom. Toy flag makers are pretty sure of regular work for the three months preceding Christmas.

" Toy cardboard drums also come from Nottingham. They are made of thin cardboard, being covered with gold and silver paper, and fitted with a moveable lid tor the purpose of being filled with sweets. A few practised hands will turn out E.UNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE LITTLE DRUMS in a week, many tons of paper and cardboard being used in the manufacturing. Toy drums are mostly used for hanging on

Christmas trees or for decorating brackets

and chandeliers at Christmas festivals : the} 1 " are retailed empty at a farthing each. Come and seethe bonbons.

" Here they are ! " And there they were. Millions and millions I should think, forming miniature mountains around the room, and crowding out of huge bins as well. They glistened in every colour under the sun, and every one with nicely-fringed edges. "Look Christmassy, don't ihey?" beamed the propiietor. '•They'll cause a heap of fun and laughter before the whole of them are consumed. Coloured paper they are made of; each one containing a printed motto, a cracker, and a prize — such as a whistle, squeaker, ring, pencil, or something valued at a mere fraction. Every one is made on the premises — in fact, nearly all bonbons are made in London, the majority of them coming from Whitechapel. They are more popular than any other Christmas toy, and are gaining more favour every year. No, we don't get much out of them, but the output trebles any other article that I make. One-third of their number are shipped to Australia. Yes, all one price —a farthing. Just before Christmas there is a big demand for COLOURED PAPER LANTERNS. " These we also supply to be retailed at a farthing each. They are made of crinkled coloured paper and matchwood, with a bit of curved tin inserted to hold the candle. A little more skill is required in turning out these articles, and the lowest price I can do them at is six a penny wholesale. Small shops around London sell a tremendous quantity of these lanterns, one man alone ordering twenty-five gross last week. Perhaps there is nothing more sought after by London street boys than a paper lantern. Another toy that is popular in London is the little plaster figures of policemen, clowns, and Old Father Christmas. A small piece of elastic is attached to the head of these figures, and very funny they look, too. dangling from the boughs of a Christmas-tree. The smallest sizes are sold at four a penny. " Glass toys are really the prettiest of Christmas playthings. Here's a monster tree that I have decorated especially to show off these articles, and this represents only one quarter of the different kinds that are made. Very pretty, isn't it ? Farthing goods only, of course. You'll be surprised to hear, now, that a tree as large as a three-storey house could be well loaded with these toys at the cost of a few pounds. Glass birds, frosted and silvered glass bails, glass bells that will ring, vases and miniature lamps are about the most popular. Tiny wineglasses, blown Avith different coloured liquids inside, and sealed so that the liquid cannot escape, are in great demand for decorating. These are known in the trade as ' wines,' and are manufactured in Germany. This is THE ' DOLL ' BOOM.

" A good, serviceable doll at one farthing cannot be considered exhorbitant, especially with a variety to choose from. Here is one that is made entirely of wood, with a few dabs of colour, and having arms and legs that move. This doll commands the largest sale, on account of being the most durable. This other one is made of china, and has a good head of hair. Many people prefer this on account of its being washable. A small ' rag' doll is also sold for a farthing. " Yes, this is just the busiest time ; we are packing goods up to eleven o'clock every night. The retail trade ptarts in November, but manufacturers commence making toys in the summer, in order to be able to cope with the great rush.ofi orders that <pour inj-wjien Christmas . i_s._near'. Small shopkeepers welcome the

APPROACH Or THE CHRISTMAS-TREE SEASON,

as even in the poorest districts people are generally able to spare a few coppers for the purchase of a few toys for the children. Yes, we supply some of the little shops, but the great majoiity buy their toys from hawkers, who make a good living by purchasing large quantities of toys from wholesale dealers, and carrying them round to the small shops."