This engineer and artist had a talent for breaking convention. His zany cartoons showcased elaborately engineered devices designed to perform simple tasks.

Charles S. Raizen invented a new way to transfer patterns through friction, creating a new niche and earning his place in toy-industry history.

Louis Marx was once referred to as “the Henry Ford of the toy industry.” He was a toy tycoon from the 1920s into the 1970s whose toys elevated playtime and inspired creativity in children around the world.

Frank Hornby grew his idea for a toy system with interchangeable parts into the company that would become Meccano Ltd., makers of the Hornby Trains and Dinky Toys brands.

Beatrice Alexander elevated the craft of doll making in the United States and around the world. Crowned the “First Lady of Dolls” by FAO Schwarz, her dolls are highly valued by collectors and museums alike.

W.H. Schaper Mfg. Co. Inc. was quick to embrace innovations in plastics manufacturing to create some of the century’s most recognizable games.

From croquet sets to wicker prams, dollhouses, and electronic toys, South Bend Toy Manufacturing Company was known for its ability to pivot to meet the changing world.

Bernard Loomis made legendary contributions to the toy industry and world of play.

A group of friends joined forces to create a toy company and ended up entertaining generations of children and families.

Ernő Rubik evolved his idea for a simple teaching tool into an international bestselling exercise in frustration and triumph.

Pressman Toy Corporation of Texas evolved from modest beginnings to become the third-largest manufacturer of games and toys in the United States.

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