Miller's American insider's guide to toys & games - Tim Luke

This guide covers toys and games that were made specifically for the American market. It has introductory sections which provide an overview of the market, a guide to buying and selling toys and games, tips on care and repair and a primer on the history of toys and games and how they have been made over the years. The main "Fact File" section is organized by types of toy and game, from early wooden toys to pressed steel and cast iron, looking at the first battery-operated items, right up to the plastic character toys of the 21st century. Trains, wind-ups, soldiers and board games are included. Information on the principal toy makers and the identifying features of their products helps the reader to recognize and assess items they encounter when hunting for toy treasures. Colour features look at the highlights and turning points of toy production, decade by decade, from the 1880s to the 1990s - including the major toys that were introduced during each decade, as well as those that broke sales records or make a major contribution to the industry. There is a list of shops,dealers, auction houses and Internet resouces.