Here are some secret tips the collectors and appraisers use when researching old toys. There are several methods available when researching or investigating the treasure you were lucky enough to have picked up at the local flea market. Here are some tips to take with you when you need to find out the history of a toy or toy company.
If there is a city name on the toy, contact the city's library to see if they have a file on the company or if they have old business registries. Libraries can be quite helpful. Of course, you should provide them with any information you are able to compile. Most likely you will have to visit the library to conduct the research yourself.
If you can find a patent number on the toy, this will help a great deal. You can then visit a patent repository to find out the inventor or designer's name, the company the patent is assigned to, and the unique feature patented. If you are in the US, you cand find a list of repositories in your state by visiting www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/ptdl/ptdlib_1.html. The US Patents and Trademark office is presently putting their patent database on line, but they don't have a searchable database for patents older than 1976. However, they do have images of older patents on line. www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html.
Many, if not most of the patent numbers you will find on toys are Design patents. Design patents show the form or artwork of the toy rather than the unique functionality of the toy. A regular or Utility patent shows the unique functionality of the toy, usually the operating mechanism. Toys may have a Design or a Utility patent number or both. The patent number will also help date the earliest possible production date of the toy, kkeping in mind that most toys were produced a year or so before the patent was issued.
You can find a list of patents with their issue dates here: www.biddingtons.com/content/patentchart.html
Once you have a company name, you could go through the microfilm repository of magazines at the Library of Congress. The best magazines are toy trade magazines. Some of the earliest publications "Playthings" This magazine was started in 1902, and is the toy trade magazine of the industry. Almost all of the significant toy manufacturers advertised within the pages of Playthings. You can visit their website at www.playthings.com.
Toys and Novelties - published since 1914, this is another great valuable tool for toy research.