1759 Roller-skates are invented by Joseph Merlin.
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1928 Mickey Mouse is created by Walt Disney. The licensed toy is born.
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1929 Duncan Yo Yo's are first launched
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1936 The Parker Brothers invent Monopoly.
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1949 Ole Christiansen, invents Lego bricks. Just six bricks will fit together in 102,981,500 ways!
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1952 Mr Potato Head is launched. Jack O'dell creates the first Matchbox car.
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1957 The Frisbee is invented at 'The Frisbee Pie Factory'
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1958 The Hula Hoop arrives, the first toy craze.
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1959 Play Doh goes on sale, firstly as a wallpaper cleaner! Barbie is born.
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1973 Magnavox introduce the first home video game, featuring a paddle and ball game.
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1976 Atari, a video tennis game is sold to Warner Bros. The redesign it as a home video machine that can play different cartridge based games that will never catch on !
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1977 Star Wars is launched, the toys change the face of the toy industry forever. Star wars causes the first toy shortages and retailers sell 'promise certificates' for Star Wars toys.
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1980 Rubiks Cube is launched.
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1981 The release of the Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back sees many children clamouring for an ATAT walker, the biggest and most expensive toy produced at the time, a whopping £29.95!
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1983 'He Man & The Masters of the Universe' becomes the toy craze of the year, following on from a hugely successful TV cartoon. Two Japanese inventions appear in this year, Transforming robots called Robo Machines and a small electronics company called Nintendo launches a home video games machine, the NES.
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1984 The 3rd Star Wars movie, Return of the Jedi is released. The films now had the largest range of toys ever produced, a record that continues to this day. In 1984 there were a total of 95 Star wars figures alone!
«
1988 Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello and Leonardo become household names. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are launched.
«
1993 Ty Warner begins to market Beanie Babies in the USA. They are not an instant success.
«
1997 Eh Oh! The Teletubbies are unleashed on an unsuspecting public.
«
1999 The Star Wars Prequel, The Phantom Menace is released. Barbie is 40 years old! WWF is relaunched. Classics, Hula Hoops, Frisbees and Slinky Springs all receive a fresh image. Teck Decks arrive from the USA.
«
Read the full list here
«
1928 Mickey Mouse is created by Walt Disney. The licensed toy is born.
«
1929 Duncan Yo Yo's are first launched
«
1936 The Parker Brothers invent Monopoly.
«
1949 Ole Christiansen, invents Lego bricks. Just six bricks will fit together in 102,981,500 ways!
«
1952 Mr Potato Head is launched. Jack O'dell creates the first Matchbox car.
«
1957 The Frisbee is invented at 'The Frisbee Pie Factory'
«
1958 The Hula Hoop arrives, the first toy craze.
«
1959 Play Doh goes on sale, firstly as a wallpaper cleaner! Barbie is born.
«
1973 Magnavox introduce the first home video game, featuring a paddle and ball game.
«
1976 Atari, a video tennis game is sold to Warner Bros. The redesign it as a home video machine that can play different cartridge based games that will never catch on !
«
1977 Star Wars is launched, the toys change the face of the toy industry forever. Star wars causes the first toy shortages and retailers sell 'promise certificates' for Star Wars toys.
«
1980 Rubiks Cube is launched.
«
1981 The release of the Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back sees many children clamouring for an ATAT walker, the biggest and most expensive toy produced at the time, a whopping £29.95!
«
1983 'He Man & The Masters of the Universe' becomes the toy craze of the year, following on from a hugely successful TV cartoon. Two Japanese inventions appear in this year, Transforming robots called Robo Machines and a small electronics company called Nintendo launches a home video games machine, the NES.
«
1984 The 3rd Star Wars movie, Return of the Jedi is released. The films now had the largest range of toys ever produced, a record that continues to this day. In 1984 there were a total of 95 Star wars figures alone!
«
1988 Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello and Leonardo become household names. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are launched.
«
1993 Ty Warner begins to market Beanie Babies in the USA. They are not an instant success.
«
1997 Eh Oh! The Teletubbies are unleashed on an unsuspecting public.
«
1999 The Star Wars Prequel, The Phantom Menace is released. Barbie is 40 years old! WWF is relaunched. Classics, Hula Hoops, Frisbees and Slinky Springs all receive a fresh image. Teck Decks arrive from the USA.
«
Read the full list here
)
