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 Toy Tinker
Identification Guide

by Richard Mueller Jr.

The Toy Tinkers, Incorporated
A.K.A.Tinker Toys
Tinkertoys®
Evanston, Illinois
1910 - 1985
1985 - Present: Hasbro/Playskool own Tinker Toys


Charles Pajeau, a monument salesman, designed the first Tinkertoy® set in his garage after watching children play with pencils, sticks and empty spools of thread. The new toy design was introduced at the 1914 American Toy Fair, but unfortunately there was limited interest. With the help of great marketing, the following Christmas was a different story. A year later, over a million sets were sold. At the beginning of the 1920’s, Toy Tinkers started branching out into other toy designs, including pull toys. In 1985, Playskool acquired the Tinkertoy® line. Currently Odds On Toys is distributing Tinkertoys, they are a division of Hasbro.

Flying Tinker
The outdoor toy for girl or boy. (Has written on box 20 cents)

Flying Tinker
The outdoor toy for girl or boy. (Has written on box 20 cents)

Flying Tinker
The outdoor toy for girl or boy. (Has written on box 20 cents)

Flying Tinker
The outdoor toy for girl or boy. (Has written on box 20 cents)

Tinker Toys Trade
Card-Sd 1
c. 1920
2.75" x 2"

Derby Tinker Button

Derby Tinker
1931
11.75”L x 6.75”H x 5.25”W
$120 - $160

Jockey Tinker
1930
12”L x 5.5”H x 3.25”W
$120 - $160

Miss Tilly Tinker
16.75"L x 12"H x 7.5"W

Whirly Tinker
1920
8.5”L x 7”H x 7”W
$75 - $100; Box $75 - $100

Whirly Tinker Bowler
Style
1920
8.5”L x 7”H x 7”W
$105 - $140

Whirly Tinkers Version 2
8”L x 7”H x 7”W
$90 - $120


Clown Tinker
1926
2.5”L x 5.75”H x 3.25”W
$45 - $60

Follow Me Tinker
1920 & 1923
1920 - Large: 14.25”L $60 - $80 1923 - Small: 10.5”L x 2.25”H x 2.25”W - $45 - $60

Tumble Tinker
1921
9.5”L x 8.75”H x 4.5”W
$180 - $240
whirly tradecard.jpg (14410 bytes)
Tinker Toys Trade
Card-Sd 2
c. 1920
2.75" x 2"

Turtle Tinker
1921
8”L x 3”H x 4.5”W
$75 - $100

Choo Choo Tinker
1920
13.5”L x 3.75”H x 3”W
$90 - $120

Choo Choo Tinker
1924
13.5”L x 3.75”H x 3”W
$75 - $100

Tinker Beads
12"L x 3.8"H x 2.3"W
$180 - $225

Block Truck
c. 1925
$180 - $225

Pony Tinker
1924
7.5”L x 6.5”H x 3.5”W
$120 - $160

Rowly Boat Tinker
1924
11”L x 3.75”H x 7”W
$180 - $240

7 in 1 Tinker
1926
10.5”L x 4.25”H x 3.25”W
$120 - $160

Tinkertown Train #220
1956
17.5”L x 2.5”H x 2”W
$45 - $60

Tom Tinker
c. 1917
7.75"H x 3"W
$150 - $200 w/box

Roly Maid
1941
4.25”L x 9.25”H x 1.75”W
$120 - $160

Roly Tinker Girl
Estimated 1940
4"L x 9"H x 1.75"W
$120 - $160

Bead Girl
4.5"L x 6.5"H x 1.75"W
$60 - $80

Bunny Tinker
1931
8.1”L x 2.75”H x 3.4”W
$150 - $200

Bunny Tinker
1927
$120 - $160

Tumble Bead Tinker
1936
$120 - $160

Steam Roller Tinker
1927
7”L x 6.5”H x 5”W
$150 - $200

Tinker Dogs
1927
$90 - $120

Billy Goat Tinker
1930
11”L x 6.5”H x 4.5”W
$105 - $140

Dachsund
1934
$100 - $150

Tinker Puppy
1930
6.3"L x 3"H x 2.3"W
$120 - $160

Tinker Mule
1930
10”L x 7.5”H x 5”W
$240 - $320

Marathon Tinker
c. 1934
16"L x 3.75"H x 3"W
$150 - $200

Surf Boat Tinker
10.8"L x 8.8"W
$300 - $400 with sail

Life Guard Tinker
1930
8”L x 5”H x 5”W
$150 - $200

Life Guard Tinker Box-
Side a

Life Guard Tinker Box-
Side b

Life Guard Tinker Box-
Side c

Auto Racer #2
1931
7.5”L x 2”H x 2”W
$120 - $160

Drag-on Tinker
1926
13.7"L x 3.7"H x 1.8"W
$240 - $320

Rattle Box Tinker
1923
4.75”L x 3”H x 3”W
$150 - $200; Box $75 - $100

3 Penguins
1934
$100 - $150

Tie Rack
1929
9.75"L x 9.5"H x 5.5"W
$60 - $80

1921 Advertisement

Tinkersand Pictures

Toy Tinkers Tinker Town

Tinkersand Pictures
#202

Tinker Toys Toy Shop
1938
10.75"L x 8.75"H

Tinkercraft Kit No. 1
14.25"L x 3"H x 5.25"W

Tinkerprints Shop
10.25"L x 1"H x 7.5"W

Tinkersand Pictures Set
12.25"L x 1.5"H x 6.75"W

Tinker Town Circus
Train Box #300
19"L x 2.5"H x 7.5"W
$15 - $20

Jumpy Tinker Game

Jumpy Tinker with box
c. 1938
11"L x 1"H x 5.25"W
$75 - $100

Toy Tinkers Tinkerblox
c. 1938
$75 - $100

Larger Auto Racer
c. 1930
10"L x 2.6"H x 2.4"W
$120 - $160

Tip-Toe Tinker
photo by Richard Babcock
 
 

 

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1921 Advertisement
Also available in cardboard

1924 Advertisement

1926 Advertisement
Drag-on Tinker:
 $120 - $160

1926 Advertisement
Drag-On Tinker
$120 - $160

1926 Advertisement

1932 Flyer
Tinker Chicks: $120 - $160

1933 Advertisement
Tumble-Bead Tinker$90 - $120

1934 Advertisement
Value of ad: $10

1936 Catalog Cover

1944 War Notice

1957 Flyer