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'Digit Al' soft toy, 2008

Television

2008

'Digit Al' doll, designed by Abbot Mead Vickers BDDO, unknown maker, 2008. Produced to promote the digital television switchover.

Cup and ball toy

Public Health & Hygiene

1750-1800

Toy, cup and attached ball, wood, British, 1750-1800

Magnetic toy by George Adams

King George III

1765

Magnetic toy demonstration device made by George Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1765. Consisting of two mahogany boxes. One contains 4 dials with the numbers: 1, 5, 6 and 7 in each - situated beneath sliding lid with square window revealing one number per dial. The second box contains 4 ebony blocks numbered 1, 7, 6, 5, each slightly trapezoid in shape. Both boxes have hinged lids with 2 metal catches at the front.

Box containing miniature toy cat

Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry

1937-1949

Box containing three boxes without cover and a metal toy cat. Part of Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (Form M): An intelligence test for Children; devised by Lewis M. Terman and Maud A. Merrill in 1937

Electronic talking 'Lovable Bear' child's toy

Domestic Appliances

1999

Electronic talking 'Lovable Bear' child's toy, with speech synthesiser, in packaging, 1999

Box containing metal toy egg whisker

Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry

1937-1949

Box containing metal toy egg whisker. Part of Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (Form M): An intelligence test for Children; devised by Lewis M. Terman and Maud A. Merrill in 1937

Inflatable toy aeroplane toy

Aeronautics

Inflatable toy aeroplane representing the Guinot-branded PT17 Stearman Kaydets operated by the Aerosuperbatics flying circus. Sold as a promotional item.

‘Toy-Town Telephone Exchange’ toy, c.1955

Telecommunications

1955

‘Toy-Town Telephone Exchange’, child’s toy, British registered design 879566, play-used fair condition, with original packaging (less one end flap), made by Codeg (Cowan de Groot Ltd), British, c. 1955. Decorative children's toy with original packaging consisting of: a red metal (tin plate) toy manual telephone exchange with yellow plugs, sockets switch covers and rotary dial (with and a red plastic side-mounted hanging handset), and a separate free-standing red plastic desk telephone with yellow plastic rotary dial, made in the 1950s.

Celluloid toy

Plastics and Modern Materials

1910-1930

Celluloid toy, blow-moulded, in form of red devil. Jointed, moveable arms (attached by pins to upper body). Facial features and hair applied in black paint.

Educational toy

Science Teaching

1851-1900

Educational toy, object lesson box or 'Cabinet of Natural History', containing several trays, each compartmentalised with bottles and boxes of samples, both natural and manufactured, unsigned, British, 1851-1900

Toy car used in experiments on the gender behaviour of children

Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry

1990-2000

Model toy car, Dodge Viper GTS Coupe, 1:24 scale, by Bburago, Italy, 1990-2000. Used in experiments on the gender behaviour of children.

Toy bricks

Hand and Machine Tools

1791-3

Toy bricks cut by machinery invented by Sir Samuel Bentham

Toy fire truck used in experiments on the gender behaviour of children

Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry

1997-2000

Motorised toy fire truck used in experiments on the gender behaviour of children, made by Funrise Inc., China, 1997-2000.

Toy microscopes

Microscopy (Wellcome)

1831-1870

Toy microscopes, with body tube guided by two rods, German, mid 19th century

Alien Toy

Space Technology

1960-1969

Toy robot made by Bull Mark, Japan, c.1960s

Toy microscope

Microscopy (Wellcome)

1801-1880

Toy microscope, lens missing, spring stage, mirror missing, on square base with drawer missing, crudely made, 1801-1880

Electronic toy

Computing & Data Processing

1996

Electronic toy, intensly interactive and known as Tamagochi Cyber Pet. Bandai Co. Ltd. Japan. 1996

Toy polariscope

King George III

1828-1830

Toy polariscope, representation of a stained glass window made of mica, to show effects of polarisation, passepartout mounted with mahogany frame, made by J. Newman, London, England, 1828-1830.

GBN toy magic lantern

Cinematography

1905

GBN toy magic lantern. Made in Germany. Toy lantern in olive green enamelled tinplate. Single condensor lens, single objective lens. Oil lamp with glass chimney. In original cardboard, with instruction sheet. Box of original GBN slides, 12; 17x44cm, four circular pictures to each slide. Box of 12 GBN slides; 17x44cm, series 6, 4 circular pictures to each slide. Box of 12 GBN slides 17x44cm Series 4 slides, four panoramic, eight with four pictures each.

Peep Egg Optical Toy

Cinematography

1875-1899

'Peep egg' optical toy. Approximately cylindrical body, on base with lens in the other end. Alabaster, painted with flowers and 'forget-me-nots'.

'Digit Al' Promotional Soft Toy

Television

2008

'Digit Al' soft toy, the mascot of Digital UK, an organisation set up to assist consumers during the switchover to digital TV services.

Toy 'Rocket' locomotive

Liverpool & Manchester Railway

1980

Toy 'Rocket' locomotive, made by Rovex Ltd, Ramsgate, 1980.

Star Trek Tricorder Toy

Space Technology

1995

Star Trek tricorder toy; Original Series design, in box.

'Attacking Martian' Toy

Space Technology

1970

'Attacking Martian' toy, made by S.H., Japan, c.1970.

'Stanhope viewer' optical toy

Water Transport

'Stanhope viewer' optical toy, a souvenir of the Manchester Ship Canal.

Air 2000 Soft Toy

Aeronautics

1987-2004

Soft toy in the shape of an Air 2000 plane; inflight souvenir.

'Rainbow Cup' scientific toy

Optics

1911-1930

'Rainbow Cup' scientific toy, invented by Charles Vernon Boys, FRS, and patented in 1911, with instruction booklet.

Clay Toy Pistol

Local History

A glazed clay toy revolver, painted yellow, made by John Pollock & Co.

Clay Toy Soldier

Local History

An unglazed clay toy soldier figure; made by John Pollock & Co.

NASA Space Station Toy

Space Technology

1965

Battery operated toy NASA space station made by Horikawa, Japan, late 1960s.

Toy gyroscopen top

Science Teaching

1930-1940

Small 'Progress' toy gyroscope with string in cardboard box with lid.

Nuremburg toy microscope

Scientific Instruments & Research

1830-1840

Nuremburg Culpeper-type toy microscope.

Toy space station

Space Technology

1960-1969

Toy space trip station.

Toy entitled 'Weaving Loom'

Domestic Appliances

A toy entitled 'Weaving Loom', made by Spears, undated.

Clay Toy Pistol

Local History

An unglazed clay toy revolver, made by John Pollock & Co.

Toy Magic Lantern

Cinematography

circa 1905

GBN toy magic lantern and 12 litho transfer slides. Dark green and black toy magic lantern, pressed metal. With GBN trademark. This miniature enamelled tinplate magic lantern is intended for use in the home. It has a single condenser and a single objective lens. Illumination has been provided in the past by a candle.

Electronic toy, game

Computing & Data Processing

1996

Electronic toy, intensely interactive and known as Tamagotchi Cyber Pet. Bandai Co. Ltd. Japan. 1996

Electronic toy, game

Computing & Data Processing

1996

Electronic toy, intensly interactive and known as Tamagochi Cyber Pet. Bandai Co. Ltd. Japan. 1996

Native Brazilian rubber toy

Plastics and Modern Materials

1850-1900

Native Brazilian rubber toy, probably latter half of nineteenth century

Dinky die cast toy

Domestic Appliances

circa 1978

Dinky die cast toy, No. 106 'Thunderbird 2', from Gerry Anderson's TV Series Thunderbirds. Thunderbird 4 wanting. In original packaging. Made in England by Meccano Ltd., Binns Road, Liverpool. c. 1978.