Guide to the Wolverine Toy Company Collection 1908-1984

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Wolverine Toy Company Collection
Creator
Wolverine Toy Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Collection Number
MSS 716
Extent
0.5 linear feet (1 box)
Date
1908-1984
Abstract
The Wolverine Toy Company was founded in Pittsburgh in 1903 and manufactured sand-operated and string-motor toys. The Wolverine Toy Company Collection contains mainly competitors' toy catalogs and press kits and photographs of toys and employees c1920s-1984.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Sarah Ecklund.
Sponsor
This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

The Wolverine Toy Company (originally the Wolverine Supply & Mfg. Co.) was founded in 1903 in Pittsburgh, Pa. by Benjamin F. Bain, a die maker from Michigan. Named for the University of Michigan football team, the company began as a tool-and-die company, making the most profit manufacturing parts for kitchens. In 1910, Bain created dies for the Sandy Andy toy until the inventor of Sandy Andy died and Bain decided to manufacture the toy in his own factory. The first toys to be manufactured by Wolverine were sand-operated and made out of mechanical tin or pressed steel, such as Sandy Andy. Later, the company produced toy vehicles powered by a string motor as well as toy appliances. Wolverine became a major toy manufacturer by 1920. After Bain died, James Lehren took over as president who, throughout the Depression and World War II, steered the company to manufacture military equipment. In 1962, the company changed its name to the Wolverine Toy Company before being bought out by Spang Industries of Butler, Pennsylvania. All manufacturing operations were moved to Booneville, Arkansas in 1971 and the name was changed again in 1986 to Today's Kids, and at which point the company changed its focus to the production of plastic toys. The company ceased operations in the 1990s.

Scope and Content Notes

The Wolverine Toy Company Collection contains primarily toy and trade catalogs and press kits from other toy manufacturing companies announcing the introduction of new toys. The catalogs are those of Wolverine's competitors which included Hasbro and Fisher-Price in 1984. An oversized photograph (c1918) depicts employees outside an office building which may be the Bain mansion. Other oversized materials include a "Kiddie-Kar" catalog by competitor H.C. White Co. of Vermont, as well as a c1920s photograph of the New York headquarters and photos of toy showrooms c1925.

Conditions Governing Access

None

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Spang & Company in 2002.

Archives accession # 2002.0041

Preferred Citation

Wolverine Toy Company Collection, 1908-1984, MSS 716, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Sarah Ecklund on 02/01/2012. Inventory included in donor file

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Related Materials

Collection of Wolverine Toys, Acc. #98.17, Museum Division, Senator John Heinz History Center Approximately 576 toys, including original Sandy Andy and appliance toys

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Wolverine Toy Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Geographic Names

    • Pittsburgh (Pa.)

    Other Subjects

    • Industry -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Commercial catalogs
    • Press releases

Container List