A world of toys - made in Harborne; HERITAGE: Brummie Phil so proud of his Chad Valley collection built up over a lifetime.Byline: By Poppy Brady IT WAS a name synonymous with synonymous with adjective equivalent to, the same as, identical to, similar to, identified with, equal to, tantamount to, interchangeable with, one and the same as Christmas for more than a century as generations of delighted children unwrapped presents beneath the tree. Toys and games were exported across the globe under the Chad Valley Chad Valley is a long-established brand of toys in the United Kingdom. The company has its roots in a printing business established by Anthony Bunn Johnson in Birmingham in the early 19th century. name, with their labels proudly stating "Made at Harborne, England." Nothing is now left to mark the fact that the world-famous toy company was based in Birmingham, but one avid collector is keeping the tradition alive. Phil Stokes has turned his Harborne home into an Aladdin's Cave of delights, from traditional board games to wooden jisgaws and Sooty glove puppets. The former honorary secretary of the Harborne Society has trawled through toy fairs and now uses eBay as one of his main sources. "It has to be something very special now because I'm simply running out of space," said Harborne-born Phil. "But it still fills me with pride to see the words 'Manufactured at Harborne, England by the Chad Valley Co Ltd'." The company was founded as a stationery printing firm in 1860 by brothers Joseph and Alfred Johnson at George Street, Hockley. In 1897 they moved to a new factory beside Chad Brook, in Rose Road, in 1897, The company's golden era was between the wars, when importing toys and games was banned. Bosses built a second six-storey factory in Rose Road, which became a landmark and every Christmas displayed a tree on its roof. By the 1920s, the factory's famous jigsaw puzzles had really taken off. "I can remember when it was possible to go the factory and ask for a replacement piece of a jigsaw for sixpence or threepence," said Phil. "Another best seller was the famous horse racing horse racing, trials of speed involving two or more horses. It includes races among harnessed horses with one of two particular gaits, among saddled Thoroughbreds (or, less frequently, quarterhorses) on a flat track, or among saddled horses over a turf course with game Escalado and the superb tin plate cars the company produced in the 1940s and 50s." The firm was among the first British firms to secure the rights to use Disney characters This is a currently incomplete list of Disney characters:
The Second World War virtually halted all toy production, But the era of television saw the company make a comeback with Hank the cowboy, and Sooty and Sweep. Chad Valley celebrated its centenary in 1960 with seven factories and 1,000 staff, but within 12 years a complete reorganisation Noun 1. reorganisation - the imposition of a new organization; organizing differently (often involving extensive and drastic changes); "a committee was appointed to oversee the reorganization of the curriculum"; "top officials were forced out in the cabinet resulted in the closure of all the Harborne factories, ending a 75-year link with the area. After being sold many times, the brand was bought by Woolworth in 1989. It has used the name to market its own toys ever since. Phil Stokes is keen for any information on Chad Valley toys and particularly early toy catalogues. He can be contacted on 0121 428 4924. CAPTION(S): ALADDIN'S CAVE.. Phil Stokes is surrounded by Chad Valley toys, books and games at home in Harborne. Pictures: John Reavenall Photosales No: JR061207Chad-07 |
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