Play set:Walco Tile-craft

For most of the twentieth century, the Walco Bead Company of New York was one of the largest bead companies, operating out of "bead alley" on West 37th Street. The firm specialized in bead craft kits, especially bead looms marketed to scouting groups and other children. In 1942 Walco began making Tile-craft bead mat making sets in which beads were sewn together in groups to form flat panels. These could then be sewn together to make baskets and all kinds of useful materials. Another firm purchased Walco in the 1970s.