Company History
In 1919, the Frantz Manufacturing Company of
Sterling, Illinois began making toys starting with the baseball game. They licensed
production of this game from Evan Reed Manufacturing who had
The chief designer for the wooden toys was Clare A. Wetzel. His name appears on almost all Frantz and Hustler patents. His themes were primarily animal figures and doll-like figures at play. Hustler designed and produced over 100
unique toys. (see my list) The company reached
its peak production level in about 1929,
shipping toys all over the world. Poplar wood from Arkansas was the material
used for most toys. Hustler Toy Company made wooden toys until 1934. After that, the Hustler name appears only on metal strap-on roller skates which were made until about 1970. Frantz Manufacturing is still in business making
steel balls, ball bearings, conveyor bearings, and various other ball and
bearing Thanks to Brian Verdick and Bob Marsh, employees of
Frantz Manufacturing, for helping me with this history. |