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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