Board game:Old Fashioned Jack Straws

The McLoughlin Brothers publishing company made its mark in producing books and printed children's toys from the middle of the nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century. The firm pioneered the use of color printing in children's books and became best known for its pictures and illustrations of chromolithography. John McLoughlin founded the company and brought his young brother Edmund in in 1855. By the mid 1890s, the company produced a wide range of items including picture books, puzzles, games, blocks, paper dolls, and other paper-based playthings. The company was sold to Milton Bradley in 1920, and its game division ceased production. The McLoughlin imprint, however, continued to appear on books and toys until the 1940s.This popular McLoughlin Brothers game "Old Fashioned Jack Straws" dates back to the late 19th century and features a group of wooden tool-shapes, instead of plain sticks. These tools include saw shapes, ladder shapes, and hammers with elongated handles. The box cover design features the bright chromolithography typical of McLoughlin Brothers games.