Birmingham toy industry facts for kids
The toy industry in Birmingham was a big part of its economy a long time ago. It made many small items from different materials. In 1777, a famous speaker named Edmund Burke even called Birmingham "the great Toy Shop of Europe."
Back then, the word "toy" didn't mean playthings like it does today. It referred to small, useful items. Things like hinges, buttons, belt buckles, and hooks were all called "toys." They could be made from metal, leather, or glass.
The meaning of "toy" changed over time. In the 18th century, it described the workshops in the English Midlands that made these small goods. Later, it started to mean playthings, like the toys we know today. Birmingham still has a strong metalworking history, especially in its famous Jewellery Quarter.
At first, these "toy" items were made in small home workshops, known as cottage manufactories. But as more people became part of the middle class in London, they wanted more of these goods. This led to the industry growing very quickly in the mid-1700s.
Soon, bigger workshops were needed. This is when the idea of "factories" started to become common. These early factories were a big step towards the assembly line and played a key role in the start of the Industrial Revolution. They had different areas for making different parts and many designers working together.
A very important person in this early "toy industry" was Matthew Boulton. In 1760, he talked about the buckle trade in Birmingham. He said that about 8,000 people worked making buckles. This business was worth a huge £300,000, and most of the buckles were sold to other countries in Europe.
In 1766, Matthew Boulton finished his own large factory called Soho Manufactory. It was near Birmingham and used a waterwheel for power. About one thousand workers made high-quality items there. These included buckles, buttons, boxes, and other small decorative items made from steel, gold, sterling silver, and other fancy materials.
What Were These "Toys"?
In 1767, a guide called Sketchley's Directory listed the many kinds of products that were called "toys." It showed how different artists focused on different materials.
For example, there were gold and silver toy makers. They created small, fancy items like:
- Trinkets
- Seals
- Tweezers
- Toothpick cases
- Small perfume bottles
- Snuff boxes
- And delicate filigree work like tea chests and inkstands.
There were also makers who used Tortoiseshell to create beautiful versions of these items. Steel toy makers made things like:
- Corkscrews
- Buckles
- Different kinds of boxes
- Snuffers (for candles)
- Watch chains
- And sugar nippers (for breaking up sugar cones).
Many of these items were also made from other metals.
In 1833, another writer named John Holland explained more about Birmingham's "toys." He talked about "heavy steel toys" and "light steel toys."
Heavy Steel Toys
"Heavy steel toys" were items that looked a bit like tools but were often made more simply. They were usually polished and shiny, not black like some tools from other places. These included many useful items for everyday life.
For example, a carpenter's hammer or a shoemaker's tack could be considered "heavy steel toys." Pincers and nippers (used for breaking sugar) were also good examples. These items were made to be useful and affordable.
Light Steel Toys
"Light steel toys" were different. Birmingham was famous for making many small, detailed steel trinkets. Before, these types of items often came from places like Milan or Berlin.
These "light steel toys" were special because the material itself wasn't very expensive. Most of their value came from the clever ideas and skilled work put into making them. It was important for the country to support the making of these items at home. This helped both the government and the skilled workers.
