construction set | play set: Crandall's New Acrobats

Charles M. Crandall, a 19th-century toy maker and inventor, started as a youngster in his father����_��s woodworking and furniture business. When his father died in 1849, he took over the factory. He was just 16 years old. Eventually, Crandall transformed the operation to making toys exclusively. Crandall applied fastening techniques he learned in carpentry to the wooden toys he invented. The tongue-and-groove joint, for example, replaced nails in the first building blocks he made. Other tongue-and-groove toys soon followed. Crandall combined the novelty in woodworking technology with the whimsy of a kid at play, which led to some pretty fanciful toys. Take, for instance, The Acrobats playet. Promotional copy on the wooden box used humor to sell the set: ����_�Performances Day and Night. Children Free. Fathers & Mothers Half Price. No Extra Charge for Private Boxes. Season Tickets Given to Each Purchaser."