Toy Dealer

karenmcc · Post by **karenmcc** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:59 am

Hi All,

My GGGGgrandmother Janet MURDOCH (maiden name Hope), is listed in the 1851,61,71, censii(?) for Muirkirk as a Toy Dealer or Merchant and in the 1881as a toy shop keeper.

Muirkirk seems to be a very small mining village, and I was surprised there would be a toy shop in such a place. I have tried googling to find out what sort of toys were around for kids then, but I'm not having much luck.

She was also listed as being a hand sewer. Is it likely that the toys she was selling were things she was sewing. She died in 1889 and is a Pauper, so there was obviously not much money to be made selling toys in Muirkirk.

Has anyone come across any interesting sites about toys from back then?

Karen

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:05 pm

Hello Karen,

The Museum of Childhood looks interesting
http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/

There might be something in this interesting looking book “A Tour of Tartan-Land”, 1863, but don’t count on it as I mainly included it for the tale at the top of page 294.
http://www.google.com.au/books?id=M0sDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA294

On second thoughts, search for toy in the box on the right. Perhaps she was making things for the owner of a City shop as well as her own.

Alan

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:45 am

Hi Karen

A toy dealer/merchant in the 19th century would mainly have dealt in simple hand made toys such as cloth/wood etc dolls and other wooden type of toys, the more expensive type could have been the lead soldiers but they would probably not be found in a mining village. Remember also back then children were not seen in the same way we see them now. They were often seen as "mini" adults and as part of the working household when they reached a certain age or physical maturity. So it is possible she made the toys or some of them to sell. But as she died a pauper you are right there wasnt much money around for toys in a mining village. the more expensive/sophisticated toys would be in the richer towns where the wealthy folk could get them.

karenmcc · Post by **karenmcc** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:15 am

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the info. The Museum of Childhood does look very interesting. Pity they don't have a more informative website.

karen

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:19 pm

Karen,

Just something I came across that will give you a bit of background.

It’s a somewhat difficult to read article on doll making in the 1860s - Chambers's Encyclopædia, 1862.

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=8gT ... =RA2-PA619

Alan

karenmcc · Post by **karenmcc** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:55 am

Thanks for this info also Alan. I wonder if she was getting cheap wooden dollies from somewhere and making dresses for them.