I have a Noddy Builder toy which is essentially a Tinker Toy copy with wooden pieces. The tube container is metal and missing it’s lid. The contents is incomplete, but consists of the typical Tinker Toy wheel and rod components.
The tube shows “Registered” near the bottom of the metal container. However, I think this just refers to the name “Noddy Builder” as there is no information regarding the maker.
In researching this, I headed for Trove and the first article I found was an advertisement in The Argus, Melbourne, newspaper dated Saturday 19th December 1931.
In the Gift Stationery listings at the bottom of the page is an offer for the Noddy Builder.
“Noddy Builder. A fascinating toy of wooden spools and rods. Hundreds of interesting models can be made.” The price is shown as 4/11 being 4 shilliings and 11pence. There is then a (9d.) which I am not understanding. In any case, it shows that my Noddy Builder, could date from as early as 1931.
From the same advertisement, I was surprised to note the offer of the Ezy-Bilt construction toy as well. This is earlier than the registration of the Ezy-Bilt business I had previously researched. I will need to update that information as well.
Another interesting association is the Modlo construction which has very similar packaging characteristics.
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