1940s Vintage Children's Toys with Prices, Descriptions and Images

Finding toys from the 40's was both interesting and frustrating, if you have looked at those from the 30's you will notice a very high percentage were steel based, but with the onset of World War II steel was an important part of the war effort to produce planes, tanks, and ships so those available during that period were limited. That combined with World War II meant many less to choose from. A few are worth noting though, check out the pedal car from 1949 which reminds of you of early 1950s cars. The Crystal Radio was also interesting as I can remember building one in my childhood with my dad in the early 50's. One other comment before I continue is whatever made the Kewpie Doll so well loved was not how pretty it was that is for sure (Mind you I am a man so what would I know -- Steve).

Popular Vintage Toys from the Forties

Vintage 1940s 98 Cents Toys Price: 98 cents Description A selection costing 98 cents including Anti-Aircraft Gun on back of Army Truck, Tractor and Trailer, Dump Truck and Car Transporter Wagon, they are all between 12 and 18 inches long and made of steel.

1940s Blackbird Crystal Set Price: $2.98 Description Blackbird Crystal Set, picks up stations up to 75 miles away, use an earphone to listen to, comes with a 75ft aerial and 25ft ground wire.

Vintage Gilbert Electric Train Set Price: $29.95 + $5.98 for 150 Watt Transformer Description 3/16 inch scale model Gilbert American Flyer Electric AC Train Set, the train and all the carriages are over 5ft long. Gilbert Company was an American toy company was best known for Erector Construction sets. Gilbert expanded from the 1930s to the late 1950s to become one of the largest toy companies in the world but following the death of it's founder A.C. Gilbert in the early 60's the company lost it's way with the American Flyer products sold to Lionel.

Gilbert Erector Sets Price: From $2.98 to $11.98 Description Shown models made using the Gilbert Model 9 Erector Set which included wheels, AC Motor, Gearbox, base plates, girders etc.

Portable Electric Phonograph Price: $5.75 Description Portable Electric Phonograph with 6 records of nursery rhymes included.

Walnut Finished Piano in Spinet Style Toy Price: $8.85 Description Child's Walnut Finished Piano in Spinet Style 22 inches high, 19 inches wide and 13 inches deep.

Brightly Enameled Steel Truck Price: $1.59 Description Nearly 2 ft long brightly enameled rugged steel truck from 1941.

Selection of Steel Cars, Trucks and Bus for 98 cents Price: 98 cents Description Selection of steel cars, trucks and bus for 98 cents.

Table Style Zellophone - Old Toy Xylophone Price: $1.98 cents Description Table Style Zellophone (Xylophone) includes Song Book, each note is numbered 1 to 12 and the song book instructs the child on the number note to strike with small mallet.

Army Doctor/Nurses Kit Price: $1.98 Description Army Doctor/Nurses Kit, These type of doctors nurses kits have been sold for decades what struck me about this was this quote "Every Little Boy Can Play a Doctor and every little girl can play a Nurse"

World War II Model Plane Kits Price: $1.00 for all five Description Five World War II model plane kits, cut them out and put them together, models include Curtiss Warhawk P-40, North American Mustang P-51 and the Bell Airacobra P-39 from the U.S. Air Force and the Hawker Typhoon and the Supermarine Spitfire from the British Airforce.

Pull Along Walking Dog Price: $1.29 Description Pull along Walking Dog who waggles along behind you like a real puppy with fascinating leg action.

Farm Yard Set Price: $2.98 Description 56 piece Farm Yard Set From 1945 during World War II includes barn, animals, tractor, fences, farm house and much more.

World War II Rose O'Neill Kewpie Doll Price: $2.59 Description Kewpie dolls were based on illustrations by Rose O'Neill that appeared in Ladies' Home Journal in 1909, they were extremely popular from 1912 to the mid 1930's. They are still sold today based on her original illustrations.

Parcheesi Board Game Price: 89 cents Description Parcheesi Board Game from World War II, I had never heard of this game so I did some research, the game was an American adaptation of the Indian Cross and Circle game Pachisi and other adaptations included Ludo sold in the United Kingdom and the game of Uckers played by Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal Australian Navy. Other versions include Parchís (Spain) and Parqués (Colombia).

World War II Plane Models Price: From 23 cents Description World War II Aircraft Models including P-38, Mustang, Thunderbolt, Typhoon, Corsair, Flying Fortress, Wildcat, Tiger Shark, Hellcat, Spitfire.

Tiddledy Winks/Tiddlywinks Price: 62 cents Description Tiddledy Winks/Tiddlywinks

Sidewalk Pedal Plane Price: $17.81 Description Sidewalk Pedal Plane, This was sold in Christmas 1946 following the end of World War II, as soon as the war was finished steel became available again.

Wind Up Plastic Speedboat Price: $1.98 Description Spring Motor Wind Up Plastic Speedboat over 14 inches long.

Steel Jeep (1946) Price: $1.98 Description Steel Jeep based on the Willys Jeep used during the war.

Chain Driven Tricycle Price: $23.79 Description Chain Driven Tricycle from 1949, In todays money this would be about $200.00, so quite expensive for a small child's present.

1949 Pedal Car Price: $18.95 Description 1949 Pedal Car, what I love about this car is how it reflects changing car design, when you look at this you realize that the car design we associate with the 50's started in 1949 and children's play reflect the change quickly.

Steel Radio Flyer Wagon Price: $8.98 Description This is from 1949, what is interesting is that many of those popular before the war are quickly back in production and this is a great example.

Velocipede 3 Wheel Bike Price: $15.65 Description Velocipede 3 wheel bike. The Words Velocipede and Phonograph which were both still in use in the late forties but have all but disappeared from use today with Velocipede being replaced by the word trike and Phonograph replaced by record player before it's demise all together as traditional records replaced by CD and digital media.