COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 339932

Games, Toys, and Children's Vehicle Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

68companies1876–1998founding years64still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedStrombecker Corporation
1876
FoundedMärklin Holding GmbH
1888
FoundedRavensburger AG
1893
FoundedTA Triumph-Adler AG
1896
FoundedNewell Rubbermaid Inc.
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedSmoby International SA
1924
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedFisher-Price Inc.FoundedThe Ohio Art Company
1930
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedPoof-Slinky, Inc.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedMattel, Inc.
1948
FoundedTomy Company Ltd.
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedMega Bloks, Inc.
1967
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedZindart Ltd.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedInfogrames Entertainment S.A.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedK'Nex Industries, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedCenturi CorporationFoundedSpin Master, Ltd.
1994
FoundedLeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2009
EconomyGM and Chrysler bankruptcies reshape the auto industry.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Racing Champions Corporation →
Active
Racing Champions Corporation is one of the largest die-cast collectible companies in North America, a position it…
Racing Champions Corporation →
Active
Racing Champions Corporation is one of the largest die-cast collectible companies in North America, a position it…
Strombecker Corporation →
Active · founded 1876 · www.tootsietoy.com
1930s:Dowst toys are used as tokens in the newly created Monopoly game.
Strombecker Corporation →
Active · founded 1876 · www.tootsietoy.com
1930s:Dowst toys are used as tokens in the newly created Monopoly game.
Märklin Holding GmbH →
Active · founded 1888 · Germany
Märklin Holding GmbH is the management company of Germany's number one model train manufacturer.
Märklin Holding GmbH →
Active · founded 1888 · Germany
Märklin Holding GmbH is the management company of Germany's number one model train manufacturer.
Nintendo Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1889 · Japan
Nintendo Company, Ltd.
Nintendo Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1889 · Japan
Nintendo Company, Ltd.
Ravensburger AG →
Active · founded 1893 · Germany
Ravensburger AG is a publisher based in Ravensburg, Germany, that educates and entertains the whole family with its…
Ravensburger AG →
Active · founded 1893 · Germany
Ravensburger AG is a publisher based in Ravensburg, Germany, that educates and entertains the whole family with its…
United States Playing Card Company →
Active · founded 1894
The United States Playing Card Company (USPC) is the largest manufacturer of playing cards in the world and sells more…
United States Playing Card Company →
Active · founded 1894
The United States Playing Card Company (USPC) is the largest manufacturer of playing cards in the world and sells more…
TA Triumph-Adler AG →
Active · founded 1896 · Germany
TA Triumph-Adler AG is Germany's leading supplier of distribution services for printing, copying and presentation…
TA Triumph-Adler AG →
Active · founded 1896 · Germany
TA Triumph-Adler AG is Germany's leading supplier of distribution services for printing, copying and presentation…
EXX Inc. →
Active · founded 1899
EXX Inc.
EXX Inc. →
Active · founded 1899
EXX Inc.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
c.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. →
Active · founded 1902
c.
Radio Flyer Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
Radio Flyer Inc.
Radio Flyer Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
Radio Flyer Inc.
Smoby International SA →
Active · founded 1924 · France
Smoby International SA is France's leading toy manufacturer and number three in Europe.
Smoby International SA →
Active · founded 1924 · France
Smoby International SA is France's leading toy manufacturer and number three in Europe.
Duncan Toys Company →
Active · founded 1929
1930s:Duncan becomes the dominant yo-yo maker through the use of contests and demonstrators.
Duncan Toys Company →
Active · founded 1929
1930s:Duncan becomes the dominant yo-yo maker through the use of contests and demonstrators.
Fisher-Price Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Fisher-Price Inc.
Fisher-Price Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Fisher-Price Inc.
The Ohio Art Company →
Active · founded 1930
Headquartered in a small northwest Ohio town, The Ohio Art Company is best known for its classic drawing toy, the Etch…
The Ohio Art Company →
Active · founded 1930
Headquartered in a small northwest Ohio town, The Ohio Art Company is best known for its classic drawing toy, the Etch…
Aristocrat Leisure Limited →
Active · founded 1933 · Australia
Aristocrat Leisure Limited, based in Australia, is the world's second largest manufacturer of casino gaming systems,…
Aristocrat Leisure Limited →
Active · founded 1933 · Australia
Aristocrat Leisure Limited, based in Australia, is the world's second largest manufacturer of casino gaming systems,…
Poof-Slinky, Inc. →
Active · founded 1945
1950s:Slinky Train, Dog, and other variations are introduced.
Poof-Slinky, Inc. →
Active · founded 1945
1950s:Slinky Train, Dog, and other variations are introduced.
Pressman Toy Corporation →
Active · founded 1947
Family owned and operated, Pressman Toy Corporation is America's third largest games manufacturer.
Pressman Toy Corporation →
Active · founded 1947
Family owned and operated, Pressman Toy Corporation is America's third largest games manufacturer.
Mattel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
The world's largest toy company, Mattel, Inc.
Mattel, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
The world's largest toy company, Mattel, Inc.
Bandai Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1950 · Japan
1950s:Bandai introduces its own toys and begins exporting cheap ones abroad.
Bandai Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1950 · Japan
1950s:Bandai introduces its own toys and begins exporting cheap ones abroad.
Tomy Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1953 · Japan
Tomy Company Ltd.
Tomy Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1953 · Japan
Tomy Company Ltd.
Sanrio Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1960 · Japan
Japan's Sanrio Company, Ltd.
Sanrio Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1960 · Japan
Japan's Sanrio Company, Ltd.
Mega Bloks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
Mega Bloks, Inc.
Mega Bloks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967 · Canada
Mega Bloks, Inc.
Little Tikes Company →
Active · founded 1970
The distinctive, brightly colored plastic toys produced by the Little Tikes Company are a staple for kids around the…
Little Tikes Company →
Active · founded 1970
The distinctive, brightly colored plastic toys produced by the Little Tikes Company are a staple for kids around the…
Zindart Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1978 · China
After being acquired by Zindart, Corgi introduced Premier Models, which incorporated details not found in most die-cast…
Zindart Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1978 · China
After being acquired by Zindart, Corgi introduced Premier Models, which incorporated details not found in most die-cast…
Infogrames Entertainment S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1983 · France
France's Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
Infogrames Entertainment S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1983 · France
France's Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
Toymax International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
Toymax International, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries and divisions, makes children's toys, leisure…
Toymax International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
Toymax International, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries and divisions, makes children's toys, leisure…
K'Nex Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
K'Nex Industries, Inc.
K'Nex Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
K'Nex Industries, Inc.
Paul-Son Gaming Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Paul-Son Gaming Corporation is a Las Vegas-based company that manufactures a wide variety of casino table game…
Paul-Son Gaming Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Paul-Son Gaming Corporation is a Las Vegas-based company that manufactures a wide variety of casino table game…
Centuri Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
Centuri Corporation is known for Estes model rockets and Cox model aircraft.
Centuri Corporation →
Active · founded 1994
Centuri Corporation is known for Estes model rockets and Cox model aircraft.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. →
Active · founded 1994
Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Spin Master, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1994 · Canada
Spin Master, Ltd.
Spin Master, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1994 · Canada
Spin Master, Ltd.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. →
Active · founded 1995
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
Cranium, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
Three-time winner of the Toy Industry Association's game of the year award, Cranium, Inc.
Cranium, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
Three-time winner of the Toy Industry Association's game of the year award, Cranium, Inc.
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