Popeye was born on this day, spinach and all.
By the early twentieth century, the Canadian toy market relied heavily on distributors to bridge the gap between foreign manufacturers and domestic retailers. Canada’s geography and population made it impractical for many U.S. and overseas toy companies to establish a direct presence, while domestic firms faced similar constraints when operating at scale. Irwin grew within this environment as a distributor, expanding steadily in the postwar period. The company went public in 1969 under the name Irwin Toy.
This 1968–1969 Irwin Toy catalogue documents the company’s North American product range immediately prior to its transition to public ownership. Across its 32 pages, it features pedal vehicles, a selection of tabletop games, an extensive line of tea sets, a limited assortment of G.I. Joe toys, and additional products in the company’s broader toy lines.
