By Nancy A. Meadows-Galloway 

When most people, who were children in the fifties, are asked what toys they remember as being their favorites, more than often their reply is “my first B-B Gun or my View-master”. These were timeless toys that are still popular today.

View-Masters were a favorite among many children. This popular toy allowed children to travel to far away places without leaving home. Some reels showed movies and cartoons while others showed historical monuments and landmarks. There were hundreds of reels to choose from, that children could purchase, if he or she earned enough allowance.

Most boys remember shooting tin cans with their B-B Gun. It was a sign that you were becoming a young man when your father entrusted you with your first B-B gun. Many young men played Roy Rogers until dusk with these wonderful toys.

Another popular toy during the fifties era was the “Robbie the Robot” remote control toy. Manufactured by Nomura, the robot could walk, and move his arms. The robot also sported moving lighted pistols. He was made of tin and stood approximately 9 inches tall.

Sandbox Jeeps were another must have for the fifties era youngster. Made of aluminum and modeled after popular jeeps of the time, these were made by the Al-Toy Company and also Toledo Brass. Some models that were manufactured were the CJ-2A, the Jeepster, a fire truck, a utility wagon and also a pickup truck. These toys were originally manufactured for jeep Executives to give as gifts to their children. As their popularity increased, they were eventually mass produced.

Fisher-Price toys such as the “Jack ‘N Jill TV-Radio” and the “Huffy Puffy Train” were popular among young children of the fifties. Not only were they entertaining but they were also very colorful.

The Ohio Arts Company produced many toys that were a delight to children of all ages. These toys were made of tin and also had lithographed pictures on them. Some of the most popular ones were the sand pails and shovels, the Little Chefs Stove, dish and tea sets of all shapes and sizes, sailboats, and also trucks. Ohio Arts tin tops were a favorite among toddlers because of the vivid colors and ornate pictures that graced the sides.

Many of us wish that we still owned the toys that we had when were children. Most of them are worth hundreds even thousands of dollars today. But the sentimental value far exceeds the monetary value, because they will always have a special place in our hearts.