CHRISTMAS TOYS ARE ALLURING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18936, 5 December 1929, Page 11

CHRISTMAS TOYS ARE ALLURING.

TRADE LIKELY TO BE BRISK THIS MONTH. With the approach of Christmas the trade in toys and novelties is beginning to boom. The toys this year do not show a great deal of change; it is mostly a case of improvements in the toys of last year. “It is essentially a mechanical age,” said the manager of one toy department,” and both boys and girls are keen on having motor-cars, or aeroplanes.” Trade is already brisk, and as Christmas draws nearer there is certain to be a rush. The manager of one large toy department admitted that there were not many new ideas in toys this year, but one “big seller” was a model of Sir Henry Segrave’s Golden Arrow. This is a long, streamlined model of a brilliant golden colour that should appeal to most children. There are many varieties of aeroplanes, and most of them have electric guiding lights on the wings, the power being supplied by a battery in the body of the machines. “Motor-cars, driven by batteries and fitted with electric lights, are very popular,” he said, “and as they are fitted with a long Bowden cable, which controls the supply of electricity, they can be operated by the child at a distance.” There are the ordinary aeroplanes that run along the ground, but also there are other types which ascend on a string fastene dvertically, and run along a horizontal length of string. Another new line is a jazz-band outfit, with drum, cymbals and the other requirements of a band. Many of the old lines are still very popular. Soldiers and tool-sets are selling as well as ever. For the children, of a constructive turn of mind there are the meccano set, and a new type of building set which has all the parts required for an aeroplane, an engine or a motorcar. For girls there are the ever-popular tea-sets, while a laundry set has made its appearance. Miniature cycles are also to be seen, at prices which will appeal to purchasers. Picturesque representatives of Father Christmas have been holding their courts for a week. The popularity of the venerable gentleman seems to increase every year, the attendances of children this year being almost double those of last year. “Business even now is very brisk,” said another manager. “People are looking round early, and with the decrease in unemployment they seem to be spending freely. Trade this season is likely to be a record.” The manager of still another large toy department was also very optimistic about trade this Christmas. “It is essentially a mechanical age,” he said, ‘ and the girls as well as the boys are very keen on the models of aeroplanes and motor-cars.” Here too the Golden Arrow was the most populai of the new arrivals, though the aeroplane, with its many varieties, was a close second. With girls the doll is apparently just as popular as ever. The old breakable doll has given way again to the unbreakable, and the latest additions to the stock are dressed in the latest “flapper” fashion. With the smaller children the storybooks and small toys, pistols, rubber dolls and weird-looking animals are every bit as popular as ever before. Business generally is likely to be brisk in toys, while in the novelty section hand-painted parchment and beautiful scenes made of butterfly wings are likely to be popular.